Call for Submissions – Labrador Grenfell Health – Tree of Hope Project

Labrador-Grenfell Health is seeking an artist or painter in our community to create a mural in the Multi-purpose Room in the Mental Health Unit at the Labrador Grenfell Health Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, slated to open in early summer, 2022. 

This is part of a larger-scale project, to include artworks in all mental health and addictions inpatient units across the province. Artworks in this program will:

1. Honour the voices of individuals and family members’ experiences with mental illness and substance use disorders

2. Actively incorporate the perspectives of Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, disability and migrant perspectives

3. Increase visual connections to land, place, nature and/or human experience as a means of stress and aggression reduction

4. Connect staff, patients and visitors within the facility to images of life and communities across the province

5. Encourage conversation and knowledge exchange

6. Engage the community at large and promote these facilities as a space that promotes the integration between arts, science, and wellness

7. Enhance the health centre experience with the healing power of art

8. Interpret the sensory and restorative aspects of the natural world

9. Be of high quality

10. Make the health centre feel less institutional and more welcoming

This mural will be the centrepoint of the Multipurpose Room, a circular meeting room that will be used for group therapy sessions, cultural activities, and informal gatherings. The room is meant to be a strong, spiritual, healing space and a place that represents the North in its design and feeling. It will feature a wooden ceiling, windows placed in a pattern to represent the northern lights, and walls painted “Labrador Blue” – just like the sky on a “large Labrador day”, in springtime out on the land. 

This mural itself will:

• Feature a tree, an important symbol of growth and hope for the future.

• Fill a wall of 2.7 m x 3.65 m

• Feature a participatory element, designed and facilitated by the selected artist. The Mental Health Unit Committee envisions a participatory aspect involving having staff, administrators, and other community members each paint a natural element (for example, butterflies, birds, flowers etc.) as part of the mural.  This project will help signify the sense of community surrounding the Centre, and will contribute to a sense of whimsy and a relaxed atmosphere in the room. 

We are seeking someone who:

• Has experience painting public murals or large paintings

• Is able to lead a community artwork project to complement the mural

Artist fee: $5,500 including the cost of materials

Interested applicants should submit: 

3 images of your work, 

a 200-word summary of your relevant experience,

and

a brief description (100-200 words) of your vision for the project, including how you would propose to facilitate the community engagement portion

to: info@businessandartsnl.com, no later than April 30, 2022. 

Selection Process

The selection committee will include members of the Mental Health Unit Committee, and a representative from the arts community. 

The committee will or reach out for additional information and materials from candidates whom they feel will create artwork with the right look and feel for the space, do a good job of facilitating the community involvement element of the project, and keep this work rooted in the local community, and the experiences of those living with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.  

FAQ’s

Who is qualified to apply?

We are inviting community members with art or painting experience to apply. This opportunity is intended for a capable artist who is drawn to this project concept, regardless of their status as a “professional artist” or not. All artists with connections to our community are warmly invited to apply, including hobby artists, emerging artists, and professional artists. 

Any experience creating large-scale paintings will be considered an asset, such as public murals, decorative wall paintings in children’s bedrooms, large-scale rock art or folk art, or any other relevant large-scale painting project.   

What format should I be submitting in?

JPGs (under 5MB) submitted by email are preferable. Reach out to info@businessandartsnl.com or call Amy at (709) 745 1611 if you would like to submit in another format. 

When will the painting of the mural take place?

According to current construction timelines, this will take place sometime in late May or early June. 

Is there a limit on the number of pieces I can submit?

Yes, 3 samples of work that demonstrate your painting style would be appreciated. If available, we also encourage you to provide a link to your website, or Facebook / Instagram page to give jurors the opportunity to view a broader range of your work as well. 

Questions?

Contact Amy @ ahenderson@businessandartsnl.com