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Engaging Artists in Community Program

Harvest Moon Parade
 Minoru Stories Postcard
 Great Blue Heron
Harvest Moon Festival
Marina Szijarto,
2016
 Minoru Stories,
Catrina Megumi Longmuir, 2017
 Great Blue Heron
Bryn Finer, Donald Gunn, 2018

The Engaging Artists in Community Program supports artists with socially-oriented art practices who wish to work collaboratively within communities in Richmond. The program targets culturally-diverse and multi-generational audiences and aims to foster cross-cultural exchange, inclusive community building and education on issues and topics of relevance to communities. 

Community-based artworks can express a shared goal or theme and provoke dialogue on ideas related to cultural identity, social history or the environment. Artist projects can leave a physical or social legacy for the community and may include, but is not limited to public performances, sculptures, participatory art installations, hands-on art activities, workshops, exhibitions, digital media based artwork and other socially engaged art forms. Projects commissioned from this program provide community participants with a greater sense of self, identity, community and place through art-making experiences. 

Community Partners
Interested Community Partners can apply to engage an artist or artist team for a community-based project to work in collaboration with their community members and/or partner organizations. If successful in their application, City staff will work with them to define the artist opportunity and lead an artist selection process.

  • Richmond Public Art will provide $10,000 for each commissioned project budget. Community Partners have the option to contribute additional funds.
  • Project duration can be a minimum of six months to maximum of 12 months.
  • This program will not commission community murals. Visit the Community Mural Program page for more information. 

Eligibility

  • Community Partners must be based in Richmond or provide services to Richmond residents.
  • Community Partners must be able to allocate one staff member to be the main point of contact for the project.

PDF Document Community Partner Application

Artists
Interested artists must apply to the annual open Call to Artists for this opportunity (typically issued in the summer and posted to the Call to Artists page). Artists are invited to subscribe to the Arts and Culture eBlast to receive up-to-date information on artist calls, programs, events, workshops, grant deadlines and more. 

2022 Engaging Artists in Community Program
This year’s projects are in partnership with Richmond Fitness and Wellness Association, Turning Point Recovery Society and Urban Bounty. Visit the project website links below for current updates, free public program offerings and more information.

Art Cultivation from Nature
By Edward Fu-Chen Juan
“Art Cultivation from Nature” is a project-based artist residency in partnership with Urban Bounty at Paulik Neighbourhood Park. The residency will explore ink extraction and paper making from native plants, plant fibres and food scraps contributed by participants. A series of free, outdoor printmaking workshops will run from April through to October 2022, including the making of a legacy art project. The project aims to build community and raise awareness for sustainable urban food systems.

Visit the artist project blog for more information on upcoming events.

Walk
By Sebnem Ozpeta
“WALK” is a digital storytelling project by filmmaker Sebnem Ozpeta, presented in partnership with Walk Richmond and the Richmond Fitness and Wellness Association. The artist will lead a series of free sound recording workshops in Richmond parks and trails in May through July. Participants will be invited to walk, listen and record sound around them and then share their experiences, stories and memories.

Visit the artist project blog for more information on upcoming events. 

Wayfinding Art Studio
By Mickey L.D. Morgan
“Wayfinding Art Studio,” is for residents of the Richmond Emergency Response Centre operated by Turning Point Recovery Society. Local Richmond artist, Mickey L.D. Morgan, will engage the residents in a variety of art workshops from May through June, including drawing, painting, craft-making and storytelling activities. The project will wrap up with a public art exhibition to raise awareness on issues surrounding homelessness.

Visit the artist project blog for more information.

2021 Artist Projects
Whimsical Garden
By J Peachy, supported by Pat Calihou, Melissa West Morrison, Yolanda Weeks and Tiffany Yang. 
This project is currently underway and offers grade 4 and 5 students at William Cook Elementary (8600 Cook Road) the opportunity to activate outdoor spaces in their school yard through a series of virtual and outdoor in-person art activities and workshops incorporating Indigenous carving, puppetry and eco-arts. Once complete, the legacy artwork will be installed on the school grounds by June 2022 to be enjoyed by park visitors and neighbourhood residents alike. 

Visit cookcreativecafe.wordpress.com for more information about this project.

Exploring Ecology Through Place
By Rachel Rozanski
Exploring Ecology Through Place is presented in partnership with the Richmond Public Library and invites community members to make art inspired by Richmond’s natural heritage and unique ecological network. From May through October, Ms. Rozanski will present free art and ecology-based workshops including, Gyotaku printmaking, printing with ocean life, field book creation and drawing, and Cyanotype printing.  All activities will comply with the latest COVID-19 Provincial Health Orders and will be presented in a safe and controlled way. The project will conclude in November with a celebration of the collaboration with community participants and the presentation of the final legacy project to be unveiled for public display at a Richmond Public Library branch. 

Visit exploringecology.wixsite.com for more information about this project.

Stories of Home: Past and Present
By Jean Bradbury
What do you miss from home? What do you love about your new home? Newcomers who speak Arabic and Farsi are invited to join artist Jean Bradbury in a community-based public art project. The artist will lead a small cohort of participants in a series of art workshops to create simple comic book style drawings, combining painting and drawing. Participants will be invited to share their stories of home, culture and community. A final legacy artwork will be produced and presented in collaboration with project participants. The workshops will be held every Saturday, beginning August 7 to October 9, 2021 from 10 am to noon at Richmond Multicultural Community Services, #210-7000 Minoru Blvd. All ages welcome. Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. These workshops will take place outdoors at Brighouse Park or Minoru Park in small groups. A COVID-19 safety plan will be in place to ensure the safety of all participants, volunteers and staff. Language translators will be present during the workshops. To register for the project, visit rmcs.bc.ca.

Visit www.storiesofhome-pastandpresent.blogspot.com for more information about this project.

Previous Engaging Artists in Community Projects

Join the Arts, Culture and Heritage Artist Directory to be updated on future artist calls, workshops, events and professional development opportunities.

Contact publicart@richmond.ca for further questions.

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