Notice Board

The Utilities Department in partnership with the Faculty of Fine Arts is seeking artists connected to the University of Lethbridge to create artwork for vinyl wraps that will be installed on utility boxes across campus. The boxes are a variety of styles and are located at prominent locations, including in front of residence buildings and along busy campus thoroughfares. Selected artists will be commissioned to provide artwork for each of the sites but will not be responsible for fabrication or installation. Artists will also be required to participate in a workshop with a project graphic designer in advance of beginning their commissions.

Vinyl is a durable and removable material, with a life span of 3-5 years. It provides flexibility to artists working across a wide range of 2D media (photography, painting, printmaking, drawing, digital work, textiles, and mixed media) to meaningfully contribute to the vibrancy of our campus.

Sites
The selected utility boxes are located across campus, spanning from the Helper Building at the north-end of campus to The Village at the south-end. Examples of these utility boxes are included for reference. Artwork will be aligned with the locations; artists do not need to specify specific sites that they are interested in.

Eligibility
This competition is open to artists with a connection to the University of Lethbridge, whether they are current students, alumni or community members who have contributed to campus life, at all levels of their artistic practice.

Project Considerations
Designs should appeal to a post-secondary audience, contain appropriate content and consider one or more of the following themes:

• Fiat Lux - “Let there be light”
• Community and Connection
• Creativity and Discovery

Project Budget
Selected artists will receive an artist fee of $500.00 CAD (Canadian Dollars)

Project Timeline

• Proposal submission deadline: March 4, 2024, 4:30 p.m.
• Notification to artists: late-March 2024
• Workshop: Date to be determined with graphic designer and selected artists
• Final design submission: May 15, 2024
• Installation: June-September 2024

Evaluation Process
The application process for this project is competitive. The selection committee will review all compliant applications and will select artists based on:

• Strength of proposed design concept (50%)
• Alignment with the thematic considerations (20%)
• Strength of past work (20%)
• Connection to University of Lethbridge (10%)

Submission Process
Interested artists are asked to submit the following:

• Contact information, including email, phone number and address
• Expression of interest (maximum 500 words) that explains your interest in participating in this project and connection to the University of Lethbridge, along with a brief description of your proposed design, including:
• • Thematic considerations in connection with the project
  • Design content and approach to creating (style/media)
  • Indication of colour palette
• Sketches or rough drafts of your design
• Up to five examples of current or past work with an image list

All materials must be submitted as a PDF file. Artists interested in submitting more than one concept are asked to submit separate packages for each design.

Email applications to krystal.minghoniwell@uleth.ca. Please include ‘Campus Utility Box Vinyl Wrap’ in the subject heading. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

A special thank you to Jed Mosher (Utilities) and Katie Bruce (Art) for their work on making the project a reality!