northeast lrt extension public art opportunity

Call for Expressions of Interest

Northeast LRT Extension Public Art Opportunity – Artist embedded in a design

September 25, 2025: Applications open

October 16, 2025: Information Session

November 19, 2025: Application deadline

Late January 2026: Interviews for shortlisted applicants

Early February 2026: Notification of results

Applications must be submitted by 4:30pm MT on the deadline date.

We encourage submitting your application as early as possible. Please see the Deadline Extension Policy for information about extensions.

Project Overview

Calgary Arts Development (CADA) is seeking a professional artist/artist team to join the design team for the proposed Blue Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) Northeast Extension station plaza at 60th Street and 88th Avenue NE. Embedding an artist into the design team at this early stage of the project facilitates the development of artwork and creative space as integral to the station plaza design. While the artist’s concept may creatively extend beyond the boundaries of this site (for instance, through sound, light or other ephemeral media), the station plaza is the physical site.

Currently, this call is for envisioning and creating a public artwork concept and design. The station plaza is not yet designed, and the selected artist will participate in the process from the beginning. The artist will share their ideas with the design team and work out possibilities through discussion about engineering and architectural requirements. This will be a collaborative effort with the artist leading with their vision and working with the team towards the creation of a feasible design. The artist will have agency over artwork concept, but must be open and flexible around the practicalities of creating a truly integrated artwork.

This opportunity is open to local, national and international professional artists/artist teams working in various media. This process is slated to take place throughout 2026.

Pending approval of the total project funding, the selected artist may also be engaged to complete the process of realizing the public artwork, from completion of detailed design to fabrication and installation, beginning in 2027. See more information under Project Timeline.

A consulting team including architects and engineers has been engaged by The City of Calgary for the plaza design. This team includes AECOM as the prime consultant and Dialog as the subconsultant responsible for the plaza design. The selected artist/artist team will:

• Participate with the design team in collaborative co-design of an integrated site-specific public artwork.
• Lead meaningful engagement with community as part of research towards creating an artwork that is responsive to this place and the people who use it.
• Work with the team to schedule collaborative meetings led by the artist, including introducing their practice, leading a design discussion, sharing research, presenting results of community engagement and holding a design session.
• Participate in one-hour meetings every other week for design updates.
• Visit the site and join at least one in-person meeting with members of the design team early in the design process (initial visit travel to be paid for by Calgary Arts Development). Participate in additional site visits as needed for community engagement and concept development.
• Participate in meetings to discuss materials and concepts with The City of Calgary’s Conservator to ensure longevity of the artwork.
• Design a new site-specific artwork that considers the area’s dual context as both a local community hub and a transit hub, engaging both local residents and those passing through.
• Submit 90 per cent detailed design drawings by the end of the year-long project, representing a highly developed design stage where detailed plans, specifications and materials are almost finalized, requiring only minor adjustments before submission for fabrication or installation.

Expectations for time spent working on all aspects of the design process will be discussed and determined with the selected artist/artist team at the beginning of the project to ensure predictable work balance and fair pay.

Potential for the project design is open. The selected artist/artist team may consider any type of public artwork including but not limited to permanent sculpture, functional design, light and media-based works, open programming space and curated programs. Artists will be given creative license and freedom to explore and experiment with diverse approaches. Artist-led community engagement must be conducted as part of developing the artwork concept. Prior engagement conducted by The City of Calgary has shown there is community interest in future programming opportunities in the plaza space.

As funding for the second phase of this project is not yet confirmed, the selected artist/artist team will work with the design team to develop a public art concept that is scalable based on potential funding outcomes.

Site constraints:

• Project must incorporate Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.

Commitment to Equity

We acknowledge that the land we gather on, Mohkinsstsis, is the ancestral territory of the Siksikaitsitapi - the Blackfoot people - comprising the Siksika, Kainai and Piikani Nations, as well as Treaty 7 signatories, the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the îyârhe Nakoda Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations. Today this land is home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Districts 5 and 6 as well as many First Nations and Inuit from across Turtle Island.

We acknowledge that there has been art, music, dance, storytelling and ceremony on this land since time immemorial and it is in the spirit of this land and its people that we do our work.

Calgary Arts Development is committed to the process of eliminating institutional racism, ableism and barriers in our programs, policies and practices by centring the creativity and leadership of those communities most impacted by structural inequities. Read our full Commitment to Equity statement on our website.

Information Session

Need Help Applying?

Calgary Arts Development is committed to open, fair and transparent processes. We recognize that barriers within the arts community exist, particularly for equity-seeking communities, and that there are many different entry points into an artistic practice and career in the arts. Our Applicant Support & Accessibility Policy is available for applicants who may need support from program staff, or financial assistance to access support from someone outside of Calgary Arts Development. We will work one-on-one with people to help find solutions that suit their abilities and situations. If you have any questions or need any help completing an application, please contact the project lead at caroline.loewen@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

Who Can Apply

This opportunity is open to local, national and international professional artists and artist teams working in various media.

We encourage submissions from artists who are typically underrepresented, including: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour), LGBTQIA2S+ identifying individuals, D/deaf persons and persons with disabilities.

Community Context and Public Realm

The Northeast LRT Extension site is located on a three-acre parcel northwest of the intersection of 60th Street and 88th Avenue NE in the Saddle Ridge neighbourhood of northeast Calgary. The site selected for public art integration is the station plaza, which will be separate from the station platform structure. The plaza may be located off Savanna Road, which is a commercial main street with angled parking, or at the north end of the parcel pending final confirmation. The portion of 60th Street adjacent to the LRT station will be twinned as part of a separate development agreement.

Minutes from the Calgary International Airport and bounded by the Saddle Ridge Industrial Area to the west, this primarily residential community is home to nearly 25,000 residents of whom 62 per cent are newcomers to Canada.

Saddle Ridge is well serviced by amenities catering to its fast-growing population. Located just west of the proposed future LRT station is Savanna Bazaar, a shopping plaza with multicultural markets, social spaces and businesses. Saddletowne Station to the south is the area’s current main public transportation connection to other areas of Calgary. The Route 100 (Airport) bus acts as the city’s airport connector from Airport Trail, making the Saddle Ridge area many visitors’ first introduction to the city as they transfer from the airport bus to the LRT. As an active and diverse community with a varied workforce, Saddle Ridge is always bustling, with busy periods at different times throughout the day and night.

The Saddle Ridge Community Association anchors the strong sense of community in the area by organizing events and facilitating community engagement. The well-used green spaces in Saddle Ridge include Saddlecreek Ponds and Bear Park, which have walking and cycling pathways. The Genesis Centre, located in neighbouring Martindale, is a 20,000-square-metre (225,000-square-foot) multipurpose complex and major gathering space for residents of all ages from Saddle Ridge. Community members attend the Genesis Centre for sports, recreation, chess games, library visits, community kitchen events, business meetings and cultural celebrations.

Background Resources

The LRT Extension public art opportunity is tied to the City of Calgary’s Blue Line LRT Northeast Extension, which focuses on extending the existing Blue Line further to 88th Avenue NE from Saddletowne Station as part of a long-term plan to improve public transit across Calgary. This project provides bus connections within the northeast, and LRT service to Saddle Ridge and high-density northeast Calgary communities. This extension also supports the Airport Transit Connection, integrating the north central and northeast Calgary workforces with the second-largest employment hub in the Calgary region by accessible transit, and providing a critical transfer point to connect the Blue Line LRT to the Calgary International Airport.

PROJECT FEATURES:

· 1 km extension from Saddletowne Station

· 1 new station with plaza

· Future connection to Calgary International Airport via the Airport Transit Connection

· ‘Park and Ride’ parking area, a plaza and a bus loop

· Located within a Community Activity Centre

Blue Line LRT Northeast Extension | Engage

Blue Line LRT Extension

Ward 5 profile

Ward 5 survey outlining shared community priorities and sentiment

Project Goals

The intention of this project is to design an integrated public artwork that:

• Is site-specific and responsive to the context of the station within Ward 5 communities
• Considers all potential perspectives and interactions related to the ways people travel through the area, such as pedestrians in the station plaza, passengers on the train while at the stop, drivers on the nearby road, etc.
• Considers public space thoughtfully and creatively
• Considers Calgary’s variable climate
• Engages the public
• Makes accessibility of the artwork central to the design
• Rewards short- and long-term engagement
• Encourages creative discourse
• Contributes to the public art landscape of Calgary

CADA’s Public Art Values and Intent

As the city’s arts development authority, Calgary Arts Development’s public art program is engaging, relevant and accountable. Public art in Calgary reflects the rich diversity of our city, including Indigenous voices that tell the past, present and future stories of Calgary, known as Mohkinsstsis in Blackfoot. We remain committed to working with communities that have historically been underserved, guided by the core principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

Public art is one of the most approachable forms of art; it exists in common space, it’s available to everyone, and it’s free to access. It makes our city a vibrant and interesting place to live; it generates conversation, creates points of interest, connects us to this place and to each other, supports our economy, and is part of Calgary’s identity. It is a result of the incredible creativity and ingenuity of artists and the many people and industries they collaborate with.

Public art can help us to better know and understand our city; the times we live in, our stories and what is important to us. It can enliven our urban environment, increase livability and safety, and allow us to experience something extraordinary in the midst of our everyday lives.

When we hear the words “public art,” we often think of large-scale iconic sculptures. However, public art has evolved and includes so much more. At its core, public art is working with an artist and a community to realize ideas in public space. The resulting artwork can be interactive; it can make use of digital technology; it can be temporary; it can be functional; it can be social; it can be a living artwork such as a garden — the possibilities are endless.

Public art exists in collective space and everyone brings different histories, experiences, ideas and responses to it. It is often designed to generate dialogue and engagement; and can serve the purpose of initiating important conversations that we need to have as a community. It can uplift those histories and stories that have been forgotten and shed light on underlying issues and concerns. Calgary Arts

Development will engage in productive conversations about public art and the important dialogues that stem from it.

Project Timeline

The selected artist/artist team will begin working with the project’s design team in early 2026 and will realize the final public art concept and design by the end of 2026.

Pending funding of the construction project, the artist/artist team’s contract will be renewed and they will execute the fabrication and incorporation of their artwork on site between 2027 and 2030.

Regardless of the funding outcome, the artist will own the copyright to their design and no part of the creation of their artwork will go forward without the artist’s permission and/or involvement.

Project Budget

The artist fee for the first phase of this project is $75,000 + GST (inclusive of any withholding taxes for international artists). This phase will take place in 2026 and involves working as an integrated member of the design team, conducting meaningful community engagement, and developing a public artwork concept including 90 per cent detailed design drawings for the Northeast LRT Extension station plaza that is scalable depending on funding outcomes. This budget does not include the fabrication or installation of the public artwork.

Pending approval of funding, the selected artist/artist team’s contract may be extended, and the artist/artist team may be invited to complete the full process of realizing the public artwork, beginning in 2027. The budget for the second phase of the project is to be determined, but would include completion of detailed design, fabrication, installation, all additional artist fees, and associated travel (including any withholding taxes for international artists).

Submission Guidelines and Assessment Process

Stage 1 — Submission of Expression of Interest

Calgary Arts Development invites qualified artists/artist teams to apply by submitting a Letter of Interest through our online application portal.

Submissions will be reviewed by the assessment committee, from which artists/artist teams will be shortlisted.

Submissions will be evaluated on the following criteria (rated out of 100 points) and should include:

1.Letter of Interest (50 points)

• Why does this opportunity appeal to you?
• What experience do you have working within cross-disciplinary teams?
• What is your approach to and experience with community engagement?
• What is your understanding of public space and the potential for impact through creative design?
• What methods do you use to navigate conceptual and practical discord with team members and/or community in your work?

2.Curriculum Vitae (20 points)

• Demonstrated, relevant experience in completing ambitious, creative and engaging art projects.
• Experience participating on a design team for public infrastructure or experiences that demonstrate the ability to collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams and with stakeholders who do not have arts knowledge or understanding.
• Past work with meaningful community engagement.

3.Media (30 points)

• Examples of ambitious, creative and engaging art projects, similar in scale to this opportunity.

4.Two references (letters are not required at this time, only names and contact information).

Applications should not include a concept proposal for this opportunity.

Scoring Process

Committee members will review applications and rate the level to which they agree or disagree with each of the program considerations listed in the section above, based on the information provided in the application.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Stage 2 — Interviews of shortlisted artists

Shortlisted artists/artist teams will be interviewed by the assessment committee, which is made up of artist peers, community members, subject matter experts and members of the City’s project management team.

Shortlist interviews will be 45 minutes and will focus on the artist/artist team’s previous work, methods of working with integrated design and teamwork, and approach and aspirations for the project. Interview questions will be shared one week in advance of the interview.

Shortlisted artists/artist teams will be provided with an honorarium of $1,000 for their participation in the second stage of the assessment process.

The successful artist/artist team will be selected by the assessment committee after all interviews have been completed and following a period of discussion and deliberation.

How Are Assessment Committee Members Selected?

The membership of the assessment committee will be chosen through public nominations and staff expertise. Anyone can ask to participate on a Calgary Arts Development assessment committee by completing the Assessor Nomination Form or by emailing publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

Assessment committees are chosen to represent the broad diversity of Calgary and its artistic communities, including but not limited to: artistic discipline, gender, sexuality, age, religion, beliefs, nation, physical and neurological identities, etc.

Conflicts of Interest: Calgary Arts Development defines conflicts of interest as close family members, people who are involved in the activity being applied for or where there is a real or perceived financial benefit. If in doubt, assessors are encouraged to talk with Calgary Arts Development staff.

If a committee member has applied to the program or declared a conflict of interest, they will not assess those specific applications or be present for any discussions of those applications. Anyone can ask to participate on a Calgary Arts Development assessment committee by emailing publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

How to Apply?

Applications are accepted through our online application portal. Applicants must create a profile to apply and should fully complete their profile before starting their application.

Successful Applications

Successful applicants will be notified of their results by email.

We use electronic fund transfers to make payments. If your application is approved, you will be required to provide a void cheque or direct deposit form with your banking information. Please let us know if you need any help with this.

About the Public Art Program

The City of Calgary will continue to fund public art by setting aside one per cent of eligible capital project budgets. This model remains responsive to upturns and downturns in the economy. Both Calgary Arts Development and The City adhere to the Public Art Policy which directs how municipal funding is used to commission new artworks, acquire existing artworks, deliver public art activities and events, provide access to the public art collection, and maintain and conserve the collection.