OPPORTUNITY for Indigenous artists to create art for the entrance to Sooke Region Museum.
Artwork created by Indigenous artist(s) from the local communities of T’Sou-ke, SC’IȺNEW̱, and Pacheedaht located at the Museum entrance will provide the visual expression and connection to this place where the T’Sou-ke people have lived since time immemorial and the broader Sooke Region served by the Museum, as the land of SC’IȺNEW̱ and Pacheedaht peoples.
The work(s) of art will build awareness of the different artistic styles and cultural traditions of the Coast Salish (T’Sou-ke and SC’IȺNEW̱) and Nuu-chah-nulth (Pacheedaht) and how these Nations and people have distinct cultural traditions and artistic styles.
The Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Centre welcomes over 40,000 visitors each year. Visitors inside the Museum include local residents, visitors from elsewhere on Vancouver Island and British Columbia, Canada, USA and all over the world. The main Museum building includes the Sooke Visitor Centre, a gift shop and the Museum. Visitors come to the space for information about local attractions and are then drawn through the gift shop to the Museum where they can get a sense of the place they are visiting. This original artwork will communicate that this has been inhabited and cared for by T’Sou-ke since time out of mind, and as they explore the Sooke Region, they are also visiting land of the SC’IȺNEW̱ and Pacheedaht peoples.
CONTEXT
The Sooke Region Museum is in the process of updating interior exhibits to prepare for the 50th anniversary of the Museum in June 2027. This update presents an opportunity to mark the Museum entrance with original art by local Indigenous artists. The Museum building also includes the Sooke Visitor Centre and gift shop that visitors pass through before entering the Museum exhibits. Plans for updated exhibits are underway and will include cedar, hemlock and maple within the display materials.
As the art will be at the entryway inside the Museum space, public will be physically close and may touch the work. Proposals for art/installations that do not require intense or costly maintenance, electricity or technology are encouraged.
Artists interested in submitting a proposal are invited to contact staff for a site visit.
Two-stage Artist Proposal process
STAGE 1
ARTISTS INTERESTED IN BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS PROJECT to include:
– visual examples of previous, related work
– description of their proposed work and how their proposal meets our objectives
– why they chose the materials, design, form, placement of their proposed work
– maintenance plan/requirements
– budget (including artist fee (conception, creation, supplies, materials, installation)
STAGE 2:
ARTISTS FROM STAGE 1 SELECTED FOR STAGE 2 WILL SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE:
– artist concept statement or creative approach
– draft artwork and design proposal (scaled drawings or in situ representation of the proposed art work
– project plan outline including detailed timeline
– references
-artists selected for Stage 2 will receive a Proposal Fee of $3,000 for the preparation of stage 2 requirements
Timeline
October-November 2026 – site visits, responding to questions from artists considering or preparing proposals
30 November 2026 – submission deadline Stage 1
14 December 2026 – selection panel meets to select artists invited to Stage 2
– artists invited to prepare proposals for Stage 2 (8 weeks to prepare proposal)
1 February 2027 – Stage 2 Proposal Deadline, forwarded to selection panelists
15 February 2027 – selection panel meets to determine selected artists
– selected artists contracted and coordinated timeline established
March – Sep 2027 – artwork creation, fabrication
8-17 Sep 2027 – artwork installation
For further information, clarification and to arrange site visits, contact:
Michelle Richard, Executive Director, Sooke Region Museum
250-642-6351 director@sookeregionmuseum.ca
Detailed call available here Job Postings – Sooke Region Museum.
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The Sooke Region Museum & Visitor Centre welcomes over 40,000 visitors each year. Visitors inside the Museum include local residents, visitors from elsewhere on Vancouver Island and British Columbia, Canada, USA and all over the world.