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Nooks & Crannies Festival

Applications now closed. Check back in 2021!

Apply here

Nooks & Crannies is a festival where artists create temporary site-specific installations in downtown Okotoks. This art festival sees artists repurpose and animate forgotten places with ‘forgotten’ materials, bringing public art to forgotten corners of downtown Okotoks. Individual artists and teams use recycled products to create installations that raise environmental awareness, animate spaces, and entertain audiences.

The 2nd annual Nooks & Crannies Festival opens July 18, 2020 with the art installations available for viewing until August 22, 2020.

What are we looking for?

We seek proposals from artists to create temporary public art installations in the forgotten nooks and crannies in downtown Okotoks, Alberta. Because the materials used in all installations will be recyclable items from the Okotoks Eco Centre, environmental awareness and sustainability will be key themes. While not required of all accepted artists, our jury will favour artist proposals that include a public engagement or collaboration component. We’d like to see engagement with community members and/or community groups (i.e. schools, seniors centres, community organizations and/or local businesses). In your application, please clearly state that you will work or are willing to work with, team up with or lead a local group.

Deadline to submit a proposal: June 19, 2020

Who Creates the Art?

We have places for all sorts of artists. There are four categories of submission. All artists/artist teams choose whichever category they feel they best fit. Remember that the competition stiffens as you move up in category. And remember, that team applications in any category are encouraged.

Participating artists will have the opportunity to collect recyclable materials from the Okotoks Eco Centre in the month prior to installation. Artists will install artworks on June 17 and 18; installations must be complete by 2:00 PM on June 18.

These temporary public artworks will be installed from July 18 to August 22, 2020 in locations throughout downtown Okotoks.

Nooks and Crannies only accepts submissions from Alberta artists. In the inaugural year, there is no funding for accommodation or food. If you’re applying from outside the Okotoks area and will need accommodations, let us know. We’ll put a call out to see if we can find you an inexpensive place to stay or maybe even a billet in someone’s home for a couple of nights.

Artists must ensure:

  • All materials used must be provided by the artist or the Okotoks Eco Centre
  • Artwork does not pose any risk to the public. Artwork must not fall or blow over (art will require tie-downs and/or weights), must not have sharp edges or be made of anything that can break or shatter. Submissions will be judged on safety and stability. Upon completion, each installation will be inspected by the town to make certain that they meet safety requirements; should an artwork not meet these requirements, the artist is required to make changes to ensure safety and stability. If an installation does have problems throughout the summer, the artist must repair it or it will be removed prematurely.

  • Doorways and walkways are not blocked; no installations can be under stairs.

  • At the end of the festival all artists must recycle their artwork on August 22, 2020 between 4 PM and 5 PM. Recycling bins will be available on site.

  • If artists choose to keep their creation, artwork must be removed on August 22 between 4 and 5 PM. Transportation and removal is the responsibility of the artist.

Please note: Artwork may be damaged or vandalized throughout the summer. Should this happen, it is the artist’s responsibility to repair or remove the artwork as soon as possible.

All artists and teams will be required to take an OH&S orientation prior to installation.