Mobile & Local: A call for community submissions at FLEET: Edmonds

A project of Other Sights for Artists’ Projects, in partnership with Burnaby Public Art

Introduction

FLEET is a studio space on wheels that has arrived in Edmonds Park for 16 months where it will create space for artists and cultural activities. It was created by Other Sights for Artists’ Projects and a team of artists and professionals as a collective effort to provide adaptable studio spaces for artists that can be situated in many contexts.  

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Project Context

Burnaby is located on the ancestral and unceded homelands of the hənqəminəm and Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh speaking peoples. Burnaby is also a richly diverse community and is one of the few Canadian cities without a majority ethnic group.  FLEET: Edmonds welcomes applications from artists and community members or groups, with special consideration for those engaging in culturally diverse work in the Edmonds area. We encourage engagement that tends to the strength and resilience of cultural expression by local communities.  FLEET is mobile, and will be located in Edmonds from May 2024 until September 2025. Over the course of its stay, we aim to explore site-responsive projects, processes and connections for artists and community.

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Call to Artists & Community Members

This is an open call for participation.  The FLEET Project is working with the City of Burnaby to locate a mobile artist studio in Edmonds Park from May 2024 to September 2025. It will provide space for artists or groups to create connections between artmaking and community involvement. We are inviting proposals from artists and community members to activate the FLEET studio to spark dialogue and celebrate arts and culture for short or longer terms over the course of the project.

FLEET asks for contributors to consider what is possible and to share proposals that can connect with the community. Through this Open Call we will select proposals by artists, collectives, community organizations, cultural groups, and community members to activate the FLEET studio. Some possible engagements and activations may include:

Visiting Artist Studio: use the studio to make art and share it with the public

‍Community workshop: make or lead programs, or hold a reading group

Skill Sharing: share your skills or cultural activities and ideas

Talks and Presentations: many formats welcome! Artist’s talks, informal conversation or discussion groups

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Our formats of support include:  

Radio or Podcast : record audio for online streaming and download at fleetstudios.org or Currentsandwaves.org  

Event facilitation: host a program or event at FLEET or in Edmonds Park

Studio space: work on a project or idea in the studio space, use the space to gather, or to share and show art of all kinds

Program mentorship: use the space to share ideas, develop networks, and strengthen collaborations

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When applying, please specify the length of desired use. Some example uses and timelines are:

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SHORT TERM

- Hold an afternoon workshop about dying with plant material (1-2 weekends)

- Hold a reading group about public art (meets every weekend for 2 hours for 4 weeks)

- Make signs together, then go to a demonstration (one day)

- Hold a pop-up exhibition (occurs over a week or weekend)

LONG TERM

- Studio usage to create a project (up to 2 months)

- Studio takeover by a community or cultural organization (up to 1 month, or every weekend for a month)

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How to Apply

Please submit the following to fleetstudios@othersights.ca by 11:59 PM on Monday, July 15, 2024.

1) A Project Proposal - 1 page  

2) Short (50-100 word) biographies of participants describing their relevant background

3) Preferred timeline, and if you are flexible on timeline

4) Optional support material, which may include:

- Links to participants websites to show past work or projects  

- Images of past work, programs or events made into a PDF portfolio

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Fees

In addition to providing space, there may be an opportunity for FLEET to financially support projects. The range of projects, uses, and supports will vary.

If you have questions, please email fleetstudios@othersights.ca.  

We support and encourage submissions from all people regardless of ability, age, background, ethno-cultural identification, gender, gender identity, immigration status, income, heritage, life experience, housed or unhoused status and sexual orientation. There is no requirement to self identify but you may describe your background if you wish.  

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Info Session Dates

May 30, 2024 (Thursday) at 6:00 pm, online

July 4, 2024 (Thursday) at 4:00 pm, in person at FLEET Studio, Edmonds Park

To register for the online info session, please email fleetstudios@othersights.ca.  

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Acknowledgements

FLEET working group is grateful for visionary support from the BC Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, City of Burnaby Public Art Program, City of Vancouver, and CMHC-Granville Island. Special thanks to Terris & Company General Contractors Ltd. for fabricating the first two studios of the FLEET. A full list of project construction and programming supporters, donors and contributors can be found at fleetstudios.org.