By Staff
November 26th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Indigenous Gathering Space, Mountainside Recreation Centre
Deadline: Monday January 27, 2025
Award: $15,000
The City of Burlington invites First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists, groups and artist-led teams living in Halton Region (Burlington, Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills) to submit an expression of interest to create a mural for the Mountainside Recreation Centre.
Entrance area of the Mountainside Recreation Centre
The City is partnering with the Burlington Indigenous Talking Circle to create a gathering space at Mountainside Recreation Centre (2205 Mt Forest Dr.). This room will provide space for First Nations ceremonies and Indigenous activities, such as beading and skirt-making. The goal is to create dedicated space for local Indigenous arts and culture to flourish in Burlington, honouring the history and importance of the Indigenous community in Burlington.
The mural will help to set the tone and intention of the space, and ignite reflection and conversation. It will help nurture connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, serving as a publicly accessible site available for hosting a variety of recreational and educational opportunities.
Mural design proposals are not required at this time. The selected artist(s) will be given time to develop their artwork concept. This will include a site visit and collaboration with the Burlington Indigenous Talking Circle and City staff.
Visit the Calls for Artists page to learn more and apply online.
I’m not sure that the Mayor and her advisors have done much good for either the indigenous community or ‘the arts’ with this latest “effort”. The timing of the announcement, coming on the heels or in the midst of a contentious budget exercise, is truly unfortunate. Is this yet another example of Meed Ward’s singular tendency to “double down” when faced with public controversy or criticism?
“Public Art” is “Not a need or a Necessity”. This is a “Nice to Have”!!
When will our mayor and city council realize the difference? Blinders on.
I am sure that residents suffering from Food Insecurity or living in tents would be far better served with a donation of $15,000 dollars.
Burlington City Council must give their heads a shake and stop promoting themselves with “Our Property Taxpayer dollars”.
Interesting that $15,000.00 is available for” Public Art recognizing Indigenous Gathering Space”. This amount equals the same amount that the Mayor keeps indicating on Facebook that the budget had to be increased to cover the cost of keeping the Public Washrooms Open at Spencer Smith.
I am not saying that Public Art should not be purchased. The point I am trying to make that priorities seem to be a little skewed.