Presented by

Artist Call: 2026 Road Works

Monday January 12, 2026

Open Call for Calgary & Surrounding Area Artists

BUMP Festival Arts Society is excited to announce the open call for Road Works 2026, our small-scale public art program transforming everyday road infrastructure into sites of creativity, play, and care.

Launched in 2021 in collaboration with The City of Calgary, Road Works is now entering its sixth year. To date, we have programmed over 100 Calgary based visual artists to be a part of this program, creating over 300 unique Road Works barriers that can be found all over the city. The program invites local Calgary & area artists to create original artworks on concrete traffic barriers that are installed across neighbourhoods throughout the city. What begins as utilitarian infrastructure becomes a series of vibrant, welcoming markers in the public realm, art that reframes safety through colour, imagination, and visibility.

In 2025, 24 emerging local artists transformed 100 traffic barriers across multiple communities. Road Works barriers also traveled beyond the city this year, serving as part of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, where they stood as small monuments to Calgary’s creative voice on an international stage.

About the Program

Road Works was developed to support safer, adaptive patios and public spaces using existing road infrastructure. Artists selected for the program are commissioned to create 2-4 painted traffic barriers, encouraging them to think about art that is:

  • Functional
  • Playful
  • Temporary
  • Responsive to the public realm

The program is well-suited for artists interested in working on non-traditional surfaces, experimenting with scale, and exploring how art lives in the city beyond the gallery. For many participants, Road Works is also a valuable opportunity to practice translating studio or illustrative work into public projects.

Painting for Road Works 2026 will take place in early spring 2026.

Eligibility

  • This program is open to artists based in Calgary and surrounding areas.
  • Artists may apply to multiple BUMP Festival application streams
  • Emerging artists are strongly encouraged to apply

Our Values

At BUMP Festival, we value creativity, diversity, and bold thinking. We encourage artists to approach this program with curiosity, intention, and spark. Road Works is an inclusive public art initiative intended to be enjoyed by people of all ages, backgrounds, genders, cultures, and abilities. We are committed to creating safe and equitable spaces where cultural diversity is reflected and celebrated through visual art.

How to Apply

Please review the complete 2026 Road Works Artist RFQ, linked below. The document includes full program details, eligibility requirements, application guidelines, and access to the application portal. Applications that do not meet the outlined requirements may not be considered. 

Application Deadline

Applications must be received by January 30, 2026, at 6:00 pm MST. Applicants are responsible for ensuring their application is received before the deadline. Late submissions will not be considered. Due to the high volume of applications, only successful applicants will be contacted.

2026 Road Works Artist RFQ LINK

[Please note that this is not the 2026 Mural Artist Call. That call will launch in February, and you are welcome to apply to it as well]