Artist Calls


Public art installation of art work on the columns support the Canada Line

Photo caption: A Life to Light, Andrew Talbot

Artists who wish to be notified directly of Richmond Public Art Program artist calls as they are announced, can contact PublicArt@richmond.ca to be added to the email list. Artists are also encouraged to subscribe to the Richmond Arts Coalition e-news to receive up-to-date information on a variety of artist calls, programs, events, workshops, grant deadlines and more.

In advance of applying for a Richmond Public Art opportunity, artists new to Public Art are encouraged to read Guidance for Applying to Public Art Calls, a helpful resource to help prepare applications for consideration by a selection panel. There is also an online video Art at Work: Applying to Public Art Calls for additional guidance.

Current Artist Calls

No.3 Road Art Columns Program

The City of Richmond Public Art Program seeks proposals from artists for the 2024-2025 No.3 Road Art Columns Program. The exhibition will run from August 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025.

Three (3) commissioned artists will each receive an artist fee of $1,500 for four (4) print-ready digital artwork files. Printing and installation costs will be the responsibility of the City of Richmond. Artists with practices in 2D graphic arts, including drawing, painting, printmaking, illustration, mixed-media collage, photography, comics or graphic novels, to name a few are encouraged to apply.

Artist Fee: $1,500.00
Eligibility: Artists Residing or Working in Richmond
Submission Deadline: Mon, May 6, 2024

For more information and to apply, download the Artist Call 

Recurring Artist Calls

Community Mural Artist Roster

“As a local Richmond artist, I was thrilled to paint a mural for the city I grew up in. Throughout the painting process, I enjoyed connecting with the people of West Richmond and truly felt the support of the local community. This project gave me the opportunity to create a piece of public art that will hopefully be enjoyed by others for years to come.”
~ Laura Kwok, artist

Mural artists interested in participating in this program must apply to be included in the Community Mural Artist Roster, which is updated biannually. The Roster is a list of experienced mural artists who are pre-qualified to work with community groups, business or property owners, schools, and/or private developers to design and execute murals in public spaces. The next deadline to apply will be in 2024.

  • Artists or artist teams must reside in BC
  • Artists must have demonstrated experience and skill sets with multiple project stakeholders and with executing indoor and outdoor murals
  • A selection panel adjudicates the artists’ applications to be placed on the Roster.
  • Artists will be notified prior to being placed into consideration for mural projects as submitted by property owners
  • Artists will be selected based on best fit for each project
  • The City of Richmond will manage the project and fund the work
  • Artist fees are based on the scale and nature of individual projects.

Urban Infrastructure Art Program Artist Roster

Artists interested in participating in this program must apply to be included in the Urban Infrastructure Art Program Artist Roster, which is updated biannually. The Roster is a list of emerging and established artists with a body of two-dimensional work in any medium. Artwork will be reproduced digitally to be applied to the surface of functional infrastructure such as utility boxes and construction hoarding. The next deadline to apply will be in 2024.

  • Artists or artist teams must reside in Richmond
  • A selection panel adjudicates the artists’ applications to be placed on the Roster.
  • Artists will be notified prior to being placed into consideration for urban infrastructure projects
  • Artists will be selected based on best fit for each project
  • The City of Richmond will manage the project and fund the work
  • Artists typically receive between $500 and $2,500, depending on the scale of the project

No. 3 Road Art Columns

Richmond artists are invited to display digitally reproduced artworks in the large circular backlit display cases located under the Canada Line guideway at Aberdeen and Lansdowne Stations. This Call for Artist is issued annually to visual artists who work in any 2D media. Six artists are selected each year. The next deadline to apply will be in Month, 2023.

  • Artists or artist teams must reside in Richmond
  • A selection panel adjudicates the artists’ applications
  • Each of six selected artists will provide four artworks that will be displayed for a period of six months.
  • The City of Richmond will manage the project and fund the work
  • Artists receive a flat fee of $1,500

Engaging Artists in Community Program

The Engaging Artists in Community Program supports artists with socially-oriented art practices who wish to work collaboratively within communities in Richmond. The program fosters 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.

Interested artists are invited to apply to the annual Call to Artists. The next deadline to apply will be in Summer, 2023.

  • Artists or artist teams must reside in BC
  • A selection panel adjudicates the artists’ applications
  • There are typically three opportunities per year, each with a different community group wishing to explore a different topic.
  • Typical length of artist projects is 6 to 12 months
  • Commissioned artists will be supported with City staff and community partners to provide assistance with promotion and identifying in-kind resources that may include work space, public art activation space, equipment and materials.
  • The City of Richmond will manage the project and fund the work
  • Commissioned artists projects will receive a minimum $10,000 budget. Additional funding and in-kind resources may be provided by Community Partners. An additional $1,000 will be provided by the City for artist project materials

Previous Engaging Artists in Community projects:


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