Call for Submissions

The Town of Okotoks is thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity for artists to bring the summer stampede season celebration and the magic of the winter holiday season to life through captivating window painting murals.

We seek imaginative individuals or artist collectives with a flair for creating visually stunning and conceptually engaging Stampede/Summer Event and Winter Holiday-themed murals. This project aims to transform our Municipal Centre into a vibrant celebration of the holidays and summer events, fostering community spirit and joy among residents and visitors throughout the year.

Selected artist(s) will have the honour of showcasing their talent and creativity on a prominent platform, contributing to the visual landscape of our community during these special times of the year.

Key Details: 

One to two artists will be selected to design and paint one to two murals at the Okotoks Municipal Centre.

1. One mural for the Stampede/Summer Event mural (open theme)
2. Winter Holiday/Light Up mural with a Whoville theme from The Grinch that Stole Christmas, aiming to recreate the whimsical and festive atmosphere of Whoville in Okotoks, complete with vibrant colours, playful characters, and enchanting holiday scenes.

• Size: 12 windows, 25” x 25” and 12 windows, 25” x 76”
• Shape: see Appendix A
• Fun and colourful murals are encouraged.

Paint dates: 

• Stampede/Summer Event mural - June 24 through June 28, 2025
• Winter Holiday/Light Up Mural - November 4 through November 8, 2025
• Work must take place between 8 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday.
• Materials can be stored on site.

Compensation: 

• $3000.00 per mural
• Including paint, materials, and installation included.

Submission Requirements: 

• Artist Statement: A brief (one page max) artist statement of your artistic background, inspirations, and approach to creating art.
• Portfolio: Showcase a selection of past work that highlights your artistic style, versatility, and proficiency in creating visually engaging artwork. Include images or descriptions of previous mural projects, if available.
• References: Include three references or testimonials from previous clients, teachers, or collaborators to provide evidence of your professionalism and quality of work.
• Concept or Vision: Provide a description or sketch of the proposed design for each mural using the attached template. (See Appendix A)
• All contracted artists are required to present proof of $5M insurance and Workers Compensation Board coverage.

At the Town of Okotoks, we value diversity, creativity, and community engagement. This project is an opportunity to infuse our space with the festive spirit and artistic brilliance that reflects the essence of the summer stampede and winter holiday season.

Interested artists are invited to submit their expressions of interest online using the Call to Artists form. Questions can be submitted to Allan Boss, Culture & Heritage Team Leader at culture@okotoks.ca with the subject “2025 Municipal Centre Window Murals Expression of Interest” by June 2, 2025.

The Town of Okotoks values equity, diversity, and inclusion where every person has a right to equal treatment; and where we are strengthened by diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Building an equitable, diverse, and inclusive community that is collaborative and supportive of all residents is a priority and marginalization is not tolerated.

Application intake for the Alberta Artist in Residence/Arts Ambassador grant is now open. The deadline to apply is June 16. The maximum eligible amount you can apply for is $50,000. This opportunity is open to individual artists from all disciplines.

Program guidelines and application materials can be downloaded from the Artist in Residence website at www.alberta.ca/alberta-artist-residence-apply.

This program seeks to inspire innovation in the arts and to promote a wider understanding and appreciation of the arts and artists in Alberta.

Artists are encouraged to apply for this grant to become Alberta’s Artist in Residence / Arts Ambassador for a one-year term.

Through this grant, the successful artist will:

• work with communities across Alberta as an Arts Ambassador to promote the importance of Alberta artists and the arts
• communicate and share personal perspectives on the artistic process, the role of artists, and the contributions that artists make to Alberta
• act as an advocate for greater understanding of the realities of artists and the communities in which they work
• complete an art project that promotes the value of the arts in Alberta

March 20, 2025 - the official first day of Spring. Yet I just drove to work with snow on the ground. This dichotomy used to cause me grief until I started to take note of the small local changes in season and appreciate natures more subtle brushstrokes.

This practice was one of the inspirations of “Nom Chomp”, our upcoming video game where the Nom makes their way through painted landscapes representing Alberta’s seasons.Following the inspiration of seasons has led to us to the art of Haiku. This form of poetry historically includes allusions to the seasons and we would like to incorporate a poem at the end of each round of gameplay.

The challenge for this competition is to write a traditional or modern haiku (not requiring the 5-7-5 structure) reflecting on your personal experience of ‘Spring in Alberta’. As the Nom moves through the world by eating, additional consideration will be given to poems that reference related terms (such as savouring, tasting, eating, etc.).

The submission period opens May 1, 2025, and will close May 28, 2025, at 11:59 pm. MST. Each participant may enter only once, submitting a maximum of two original, self-authored haiku via email to hoby@copperkettlegameoworks.ca . Please submit unpublished work.

There will be one official winner and four honourable mentions chosen by the crew at Copper Kettle with the guidance of Haiku author Tim Sampson. Winners will be notified by e-mail in early June and then publicly announced June 5th, 2025.

The official winner will receive: Their poetry featured in the game. Their poetry featured on a printed art poster. A cash prize of $120 CAD. A copy of the game upon release. A copy of the printed art poster Various features across social media.

The four honourable mentions will receive: Their poetry included in the game. A cash prize of $20 CAD Various features across social media.

Application Deadline July 9, 2025

Program Dates Jan 5, 2026 - Jan 30, 2026

Overview

The Audio Recording Engineer professional training program is a continuing education opportunity designed for emerging recording engineers with mature artistic insight, advanced practical skills, and either significant professional experience or a high level of professional training. Learning objectives have been integrated into artistic residency programs, inviting exciting opportunities for collaboration and connection in this redeveloped applied-learning program.

Participants will receive mentorship from experienced professionals, enhancing their technical abilities and learning about new equipment, software, and recording techniques while supporting selected musicians in the Banff Musicians in Residence (BMiR) 2026 program and the diverse recording needs of Banff Centre.

Description

Emerging Audio Engineers from around the world are invited to participate in our program to expand their technical proficiency, nurture creativity, and elevate their recording abilities in diverse genres of music. Successful applicants will benefit from: 

• Mentorship by international faculty, staff producers, engineers, and technologists.
• Experience recording live concerts in classical, jazz, world music, and contemporary genres, dependent on the repertoire of accepted musicians.
• Developing communication skills and interactive strategies to engage with musicians for an optimal recording experience.
• Gaining experience in studio recording sessions with diverse repertoire.
• A deepened knowledge of industry trends and best practices.
• Networking opportunities with other audio engineers, professional musicians, artists in other disciplines, and invited guests.
• Access to professionally equipped studio spaces.
• Materials/assets for professional portfolio.

Requirements 

Applicants should have a combination of formal training and/or professional experience or aptitude in audio engineering. Required skills include:

• A working knowledge of Pyramix, and ProTools is desirable.
• A practical understanding of file creation and management.
• Ability to participate collaboratively and thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Applicants should be able to manage resources, produce to schedule, and multitask effectively with strong time management, diplomacy, and communication skills. 

Please note, Banff Centre Professional training programs are instructed in English. 

• 100% scholarship covers tuition fees. Additionally, a 50% scholarship offsets meals and accommodation costs

Apply Now