Request for Proposals: Muster Point
Sunday December 15, 2024
The time to gather is now. Muster Point is more than a project; it’s a response to our times. It is a place for reflection, connection, and action, exploring themes of urgency, escape, assembly and more. Artists are encouraged to interpret the underlying themes of a ‘Muster Point’ in any way that resonates with them—embracing the strange, the unconventional, and the whimsical. We invite you to bring your vision to life in this unique project. With just three weeks to submit your idea, we’re calling on artists to act with the same immediacy that defines the heart of Muster Point. Respond swiftly and boldly — applications close on January 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM MST.
A downloadable PDF version of the Muster Point RFP is available here.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
We invite proposals from artists and artist teams to create immersive, thought-provoking, temporary installations for the Muster Point project, running from February to April 2025. This series will feature three distinct installations that respond to our time and place, exploring themes of gathering, connection, urgency, emergency, and escape. The installations will occupy a publicly accessible space conceptualized as a “Muster Point” — a place of safety and regrouping during times of uncertainty.
Muster Point invites artists to reflect on the metaphors and realities of assembly and emergency. We have been thinking about what it means to gather in turbulent times. What forces push and pull us into fight or flight? Where does our imagination take us when we rethink the act of gathering, exploring its boundaries, possibilities, and contradictions? Proposals are encouraged to engage with the concept of a Muster Point in innovative, experimental, and meaningful ways.
To provide a deeper contextual and interactive experience, two public gatherings will be held in February 2025, prior to the start of the installation timeframe. These gatherings are intended to engage the community in conversations and activities inspired by the project’s themes, setting the stage for the installations. From March to April, the Muster Point will be activated through three installations, each exhibited for 2–3 weeks. While all installations will occupy the same space, each artist or artist team may bring a unique perspective and interpretation of the theme.
Artists or artist teams selected for this residency will receive a total fee of $7,000, which includes artist fees, materials, and installation costs.
ABOUT THE SITE
The Muster Point installation venue offers a distinctive and adaptable canvas for your creative vision. Spanning roughly 750 square feet, the space is an empty rectangular room, providing a versatile foundation for various installation styles and concepts.
Key features of the site include:
- Two expansive windows facing a bustling main street: These windows serve as a unique interface between your installation and the public, offering an opportunity to engage passersby and extend the visual narrative beyond the confines of the space.
- A long countertop at the back of the room: This feature can be incorporated into your installation as a functional or conceptual element or used as a workspace during your activation.
This setting is ideal for artists seeking to experiment with space, light, and interaction, transforming the venue into a dynamic Muster Point that invites reflection, connection, and creativity. Whether your approach is immersive, sculptural, or multimedia, the venue’s layout encourages innovative uses of its features to bring your boldest ideas to life.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We are seeking proposals that creatively address the themes of emergency, escape, time, place and more while engaging with the concept of a Muster Point as a gathering space for safety, transition, or assembly. Artists are encouraged to interpret the underlying themes of a ‘Muster Point’ in any way that resonates with them—embracing the strange, the unconventional, and the whimsical.
Proposals can explore diverse mediums, such as:
– Immersive or interactive installations
– Multimedia projects (film, soundscape, projections)
– Sculptural or architectural works
– Performative or participatory elements
Artists, collectives, and teams of all disciplines are encouraged to apply.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please submit a single PDF document containing the following information on this google form: https://forms.gle/1ctaKShMH771WbmY6
– A written concept outlining the proposed installation and its connection to the Muster Point theme.
– A preliminary visual plan, including sketches, mock-ups, or renderings of the proposed work.
– Artist or team biography and CV.
– Examples of previous work.
There is no word count or page limit for your proposal.
If you have questions about this project or need further details, please contact projects@beltlineyyc.ca or creative@beltlineyyc.ca.
Submission Form: https://forms.gle/1ctaKShMH771WbmY6