Indigenous Art gets $500K donation from a Calgary library

#CalgaryPublicLibrary; #FirstNations; IndigenousArt; Treaty7; MetisCommunities; #IndigenousPlaceMakingCouncil; #TeneyaGwin; #Jared Tailfeathers​

Ottawa, June 8 (Canadian-Media): The Calgary Public Library is partnering with First Nations on a $500,000 project devoted to bringing Indigenous art to the new building when it opens this fall, media reports said.

The Indigenous art project, said organizers, will ensure the representation of stories, history and culture of Treaty 7 and Metis communities in the new space. 

The project is a partnership with the Indigenous Place Making Council (IPMC).

By collaboration with Indigenous communities, IPMC reportedly seeks to restore Indigenous presence to Canadian communities and to promote reconciliation and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples of Canada.

​Indigenous people. Image credit: Wikipedia

IPMC ultimately aims to transform canadian communities, institutions and public spaces to better reflect the rich and diverse contributions of Canada’s founding peoples.

Unveiling of three permanent art exhibits would be done, in the first part of the plan, when the new Central Public Library opens in November

This would be followed by the addition of four more works in the future.

"Growing up an Indigenous person in an urban setting, I never saw my culture reflected in places we worked, lived and played," said Teneya Gwin, the Indigenous design leader for the new library said.

"So I feel this space, which is going to be an iconic space for Calgary — how beautiful would it be to have this rich, vibrant culture reflected in our urban space, but also as an education tool?"

Most of the half-million-dollar budget, Gwin said, will reportedly be dedicated to the artists and artwork.

A release from the library said that the commissioned artist or artist team will be required to "design, fabricate and install a public art feature that will create a strong and recognizable link to themes of diversity, inclusion and identity." 

Gwin said that the library exhibits will be permanent and the library will also fund an artist in residence.

A display space for temporary exhibitions in the new library would also be funded.

"What our goal is for the artists is to collaborate with nation members, also urban Indigenous members, to get a feel of all the Treaty 7 Nations," said program assistant Jared Tailfeathers.

"We are asking for Treaty 7 artists to apply, most of all. But we're not discouraging anyone from outside of Treaty 7, any Indigenous person outside of Treaty 7 [is invited] to apply as well."

Recruitment of qualified Indigenous candidates in the library to serve on an eight-member art selection committee is being processed.

The committee would comprise of members of the library staff and one art consultant.

​(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
​