The City of Burnaby is looking for public art proposals for its new South Burnaby arena.
The city currently has an open call on the B.C. Bid website (where public bodies post for a variety of construction, infrastructure and other projects) for public art for the new arena, which is under construction at 18th Street and 10th Avenue.
The city has specified a budget of $300,000 for public art to stand in a landscaped area along the 18th Street side of the building, next to the main entrance plaza. The arena is intended to house two NHL-sized rinks with 200 to 300 spectator seats in each, plus skate shop, concession, meeting and multi-purpose rooms and a variety of activity spaces.
The bid documents say the chosen public art “will enrich the experience and enjoyment for South Burnaby Arena’s diverse array of multi-generational users, fostering and encouraging community engagement and connectivity while providing a significant cultural contribution to the City of Burnaby.” They note the project allows for a site-specific artwork, or series of related artworks, with a “wide range of possibilities in approach, media, form, including the use of light and other innovative media.”
The city is calling for an “enduring artwork” (with a life expectancy of at least 20 years) that will speak to diverse audiences, invite engagement and dialogue, and foster community identity.
The documents call for a shortlist to be announced in the week of Sept. 14, with the final agreement awarded in November. The project is slated to be completed by September 2021.
The bid is open until Aug. 24. For full details, see the bcbid.gov.bc.ca website.
