The Edmonton Arts Council, on behalf of the City of Edmonton, is accepting qualifications from Indigenous artists and artist teams for six public art opportunities at the new mistahaya wîkihk Community Recreation Centre in Edmonton.
About the Opportunity
The new recreation centre has been gifted the Cree name mistahaya wîkihk, which translates to “The Big One’s at his home/Grizzly Bear’s Home.” The public art program will recognize and highlight Indigenous culture, history, and connections to the land through a series of permanent artworks located throughout the facility.
There are six separate public art commissions available. Two opportunities are specifically open to Indigenous artists or artist teams who are members of Enoch Cree Nation, while the remaining four are open to Indigenous artists and artist teams residing across Canada. Emerging public artists are strongly encouraged to apply.
Available Public Art Opportunities
- Interior Three Storey Wall – $240,000
Open to Indigenous artists or artist teams who are members of Enoch Cree Nation. - Twin Arena Interior Glazing – $20,000 design fee
Open to Indigenous artists or artist teams who are members of Enoch Cree Nation. - Edmonton Public Library Interior Wall – $200,000
Open to Indigenous artists or artist teams residing across Canada. - Monumental Exterior Sculpture – $400,000
- Small Scale Exterior Sculpture – $175,000
Open to Indigenous artists or artist teams residing across Canada. - Exterior Wall Sculpture – $175,000
Open to Indigenous artists or artist teams residing across Canada.
Project budgets include artist fees and applicable costs related to design, engineering, fabrication, and installation, depending on the project.
Selection Process
This is a two-stage Request for Qualifications process. Artists will first submit their qualifications, and a shortlist of candidates will then be invited to provide additional information. Interviews are expected to take place in October and November 2026.
Project Timeline
- RFQ Deadline: October 5, 2026 at 11:59 a.m. MT
- Artist Interviews: October–November 2026
- Artist Concepts Due: April 2027
- Interior Artwork Installation: June–December 2027
- Exterior Artwork Installation: Spring 2028
Dates are preliminary and may change due to construction or weather conditions.
Application Deadline
October 5, 2026 at 11:59 a.m (noon) MT.
Learn More
To learn more about the mistahaya wîkihk Community Recreation Centre Public Art Projects, including full eligibility requirements, project details, and application process, visit the Edmonton Arts Council website.
