Indigenous artists, storytellers invited to submit proposals for upcoming installation
A unique installation focusing on Indigenous storytelling and art is planned for downtown Kingston. Members of the local Indigenous community, allies, and the Downtown Kingston Business Improvement Area (BIA) are working together on this installation and invite local/regional Indigenous artists and storytellers to submit proposals for the project.
According to a release from the Downtown Kingston BIA, the project has two streams and is looking for:
- Local/regional Indigenous storytellers to tell traditional winter stories from the local/regional Indigenous culture. The storyteller would be recorded using audio and possibly video.
- Artists to design and build outdoor art installations that represent the recorded stories.
Artists and Storytellers are invited to submit their proposals together or as individuals. The BIA noted that an individual can also submit the art and storytelling idea together, and teams can also submit ideas.
“Work can be created specifically for this call or you may reformat an existing work,” the BIA said. “Appropriate compensation will be awarded to artists, storytellers, and translators that are chosen for the project.”
The submission deadline for proposals is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
“The installation is scheduled to be installed in Confederation Park, a popular and accessible city park between City Hall and the Marina,” the BIA said. “In light of truth telling, and confirmation of locations of 215 Children from the Residential ‘school’ out of Kamloops B.C., Sacred Fires have been lit monthly in this park since May of 2021. This Park has become the site of very momentous Truth and Reconciliation with full support for the Sacred Fire by City Hall.”
Through this project, the Downtown Kingston BIA said it is actively working on “continuing to develop authentic relationships that focus on reconciliatory efforts and actions put forward by Downtown Kingston.”
According to the release, the collaboration and willingness of the local Indigenous community on this project “creates an authentic cultural experience for visitors.”
For more information or to submit a story and/or an art installation concept for a traditional story, call 613-542-8677 and ask for Marijo Cuerrier, or email [email protected]