Visual artists are invited to submit qualifications for a major new public artwork, in collaboration with the City of Lethbridge Public Art Program and the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge.
This two-stage public art competition will commission a multi-element artwork installed in the median of the Highway 3 underpass on 13 Street.
The underpass connects the Warehouse District to the 13 Street commercial corridor and is travelled daily by thousands of residents.
The budget for the project is $90,000, with the submission deadline of Apr. 28.
The selected artist will design, fabricate and install a permanent public artwork, incorporating existing low-profile concrete planter frames located in the median.
Suzanne Lint from the Allied Arts Council says right now the location is less than vibrant. “It’s sort of a dark and dull location. The hope is that installing new public artwork in that space will provide some vibrancy.”
Lint notes the Public Art Program is intended to place artworks into publicly-accessible busy places.
“Over the last few years, there’s been a concerted effort to push out of the downtown area and start installing works in other locations,” says Lint. “Public art projects of this nature, which is a fairly substantial project and a large site, will take a fair amount of time. We’re in the initial stages.”
Once artists submit their interest and qualifications, Lint explains, a committee made up of community members, technical experts and an artist will select three top-ranking artists. “Who will then develop more complete project proposals. They’ll really deep dive into what their concept is and create a proposal that includes budget, drawings and timeline information that gives a really good comprehensive look at what it is they’d like to do. Then a selection will be made.”
The hope is to select an artist by the fall, says Lint.
“The next step would be a period of time when the artwork is constructed and installed. With a hope the work could be installed by the end of summer 2027,” Lint adds.
According to Lint, this is the first time the Public Art Program has taken on a project that’s an underpass. “It’s another new opportunity. That’s always a positive thing when we’re looking to expand the reach of the Public Art Program throughout the city and into different kinds of opportunities.”
Full details, eligibility requirements and submission instructions are available through the City’s procurement portal.
