Expression of Interest: Lansdowne 2.0 Indigenous Public Art Facilitator

Ottawa is built on unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation. The people of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation have lived on this territory for millennia. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. The City of Ottawa would like to honour the people and land of the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation.

The City of Ottawa would also like to honour all First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, their elders, their knowledge keepers, both young and old, their ancestors and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

Lansdowne has always been a place of history and civic pride. For 175 years, it has been a gathering place for neighbours, residents of Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, and for tourists from across Canada and around the world. It is a place of connection and celebration for sports, cultural and community events and now welcomes over 4 million people annually.

In 2012, City Council entered into a 30-year partnership (now a 40-year partnership) with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) for the renewal and revitalization of Lansdowne with a new South Stadium Stands, new mixed-use retail and reimagined public realm spaces and subterranean parking.

Commencing in 2020 City staff started considering options for addressing the 50+ year old arena and north stadium stands complex at Lansdowne (formerly known as the Civic Centre) that was becoming functionally obsolete.

Aerial view showing new Events Centre located between the stadium and Lansdowne Park

Rendering showing the exterior of the new Events Centre facing Lansdowne Park and the canopy over the main building entrance.
 

In May 2022 Council approved a new Lansdowne concept plan, in principle, that included a new multi-use Event Centre (including a 5,500 seat arena), north-stadium stands including 11,200 seats, a retail podium and new housing units.

A new 5,500-seat Event Centre that will be the home of the Ottawa 67’s and Ottawa BlackJacks and capable of hosting world-class arts and entertainment concerts and events. The Event Centre is designed to be a standalone facility that will join the new North Stadium Stands to the existing South Standing Stands in the east stadium endzone. The Event Centre will include a “live” green roof that aesthetically forms part of the berm that will tie the Event Centre in with the greenspace of the Great Lawn.

The Lansdowne Guiding Principles which were jointly developed by the National Capital Commission, Parks Canada, the City of Ottawa and OSEG, and informed by community consultation, provide a framework for the proposal development for the next iteration of the site:

• City and Capital Context which embraces, celebrates and enhances Lansdowne’s history, and creates an urban lifestyle district and ‘Landmark’ which capitalizes on the location by the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rideau Canal and gateway to the Glebe and Old Ottawa South
• The Overall Site providing a year-round canvas for events, festivals and leisure activities integrating the use of the built environment in addition to public spaces and local transportation
• Sustainability through being a shining example of sustainable design and operational practices
• The Site Components ensuring that public spaces support year-round programming such as the Farmers’ Market, proximity to Rideau Canal and Queen Elizabeth Driveway and the historic design of the existing Aberdeen Pavilion
• Programming opportunities on a variety of scales, which ensure that the site is unique and considers the needs of all audiences including residents and tourists alike.

Indigenous public art facilitators are invited to submit an Expression of Interest for an opportunity to lead a significant public art commission project for Lansdowne 2.0 in Ottawa. The Indigenous public art facilitator should be from the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation or at least one member if applying as a team, and the facilitator(s) would connect with their networks in the Host Nation visual arts community to identify potential artists who could develop proposals for one or more public art commission opportunities at Lansdowne 2.0. The Indigenous public art facilitator(s) would support artists in preparing their proposals, lead the procurement process for Host Nation artists for each opportunity in liaison with the Public Art Program, offer mentorship/support to artists as artwork designs progress through fabrication and installation stages.

The Indigenous public art facilitator(s) should have a strong conceptual ability and be well versed in local Indigenous art practices and cultural protocols in order to select a collection of artwork proposals which form a cohesive visual narrative for the Lansdowne 2.0 development. The commissioned Indigenous art in and around the facility will create a welcoming and inclusive space that will represent strong and forward-thinking artists. The selection of Indigenous public art designs will be an inclusive and balanced representation of Host Nation communities.

Several spaces have been identified for public art on the exterior of the Events Centre and further information on these can be found in Appendix A. These opportunities would suit Host Nation artists who have experience in 2D art mediums in addition to those who may not have had prior public art experience. These opportunities have been developed in direct response to discussions between the City of Ottawa Public Art Program and Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Cultural Centres.

This expression of interest is open to Indigenous public art facilitators who reside in Canada. The Indigenous public art facilitator should be from the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation or if applying as a team, at least one member should be from the Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation.

City of Ottawa employees are not eligible to apply.

$175,000 facilitation fee for the duration of the project (2025 – 2027) to deliver the scope of the work outlined in the Indigenous public art facilitator opportunity above.

The artwork designs and specifications for the identified opportunities should be complete and finalized by March 17, 2025 at the latest. Support with the implementation of the designs into the facility will follow and a timeline will be determined in line with the construction schedule.

The submissions will be reviewed by a Peer Assessment Committee which will include Indigenous community representation, and the selection will follow a one-stage process:

Stage 1: Expression of interest (submission deadline Friday, December 13, 2024, 12:00 pm (EST)

Submissions will be evaluated by a Peer Assessment Committee consisting of artists with public art experience, Algonquin community representatives and representatives from the Lansdowne 2.0 project. This Committee will review and evaluate submissions and will select a successful facilitator/facilitator team.

Your Expression of Interest submission should include:

• Artist statement: outline your creative practice, thematic trends and your creative approach to creative arts facilitation

• Expression of interest:

  • What aspect of this opportunity inspires you?
  • What connects you and/or your work to this project?
  • What perspective/approach will you bring to the facilitator role of this project?
  • How do you propose to engage with the Host Nation visual arts community?
  • How will this project complement your creative practice?
  • Describe your availability to be present in the Indigenous arts community in and around Ottawa.
  • If applying as a team, describe your past collaborations and how you plan to work together on this project.

• Current CV/resume: a current resume highlighting relevant experience on project similar to, or directly related to this opportunity

• Images of your work (if applicable): maximum of 5 images of previous artwork

Please email your submission documents to publicartprogram@ottawa.ca by the deadline on Friday, December 13, 2024, 12:00 pm (EST)

If you have any questions about the process or submission requirements, please email publicartprogram@ottawa.ca

The spaces identified for public art commissions in the new Events Centre facility at Lansdowne 2.0 include:

1. Design on a rooftop metal screen This is designed to be a vertically mounted metal screen to hide mechanical components on the roof. The screen will have a perforated design treatment, and artists can propose a design which determines the layout and size of the perforations. There may also be the opportunity to determine the outline shape of the screen.

2. Exterior glazing designs There are two opportunities for exterior glazing, which include:

   Larger artwork design This is an opportunity for a larger artwork design across exterior glazing surfaces of the Events Centre.

   Smaller artwork design This small design graphic will be applied as a repeated pattern across the exterior glazing to comply with the best practices advised by Safe Wings Ottawa(link is external) to deter birds from flying into the glass windows and doors. This could be a standalone design or could be a small component of the larger artwork design for the glazing, providing a visual connection between the two artworks.

3. Canopy This is an opportunity to design an artwork to be installed on the underside of an exterior canopy outside the main entrance to the Events Centre. The canopy protrudes approximately 10ft from the building, and presents an opportunity for artists to propose a design which connects and/or extends artwork designs proposed for the exterior glazing.

The Lansdowne 2.0 project schedule for the tender process and construction: