Call for Submissions: Shelter DINING HALL vinyl Window mural
Call to Artists: Request for Proposals (RFP)
Project: 1015 East Hastings Street
Commission: $13,000
Proposal Deadline: July 30th, 2025
Overview
The Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society (VAFCS) is seeking design proposals from Indigenous artists for a new art installation on the main windows of the shelter dining room at 1015 East Hastings. The selected artwork will be printed on transparent vinyl and applied to the glass to create a stained-glass effect. The design should reflect the values of the Friendship Centre and the community it serves—centering themes such as connection, healing, community, and cultural identity.
Scope of Artwork
VAFCS is commissioning a custom digital design to be printed onto a transparent adhesive vinyl to be applied to the courtyard facing windows of our shelter's dining room at 1015 East Hastings Street.
The full span of the glass windows measures approximately 21.64 metres in total length, encompassing both the south-facing dining room windows and the west-facing hallway windows. Individual glass panels vary in width from approximately 1.27 metres to 2.08 metres, and in height from 2.73 metres to 3.18 metres. Artists are requested to create a design that fills the highlighted areas on these window sections, as shown in the provided architectural drawings. The yellow-highlighted sections represent the designated design area for vinyl application, measuring 1.59 metres in height and covering a total surface area of roughly 32 square metres across the entire window length.
Selected final artwork must be submitted as high-resolution, scalable files (vector format preferred: AI, EPS, or PDF; or raster files at 300+ DPI). The selected design will be digitally printed onto high-quality, exterior-grade transparent vinyl and professionally installed on the exterior surface of the windows to achieve a stained-glass effect. The application of vinyl will be handled by professional installers; the artist is responsible for the design only.
Designs should reflect themes central to the Friendship Centre—such as healing, resilience, community, and the cultural identity of the urban Indigenous population the Centre serves. Proposals must also include examples of past work or other relevant projects to demonstrate the artist’s experience, technical skills, and artistic style.
Some familiarity with large-scale or printed formats is helpful but not required. Artists will receive guidance from the VAFCS team and fabricators to ensure that their designs translate effectively to vinyl and glass.
The Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society (VAFCS) seeks artwork that reflects the diversity and richness of the urban Indigenous community it serves. We welcome inclusive and accessible designs that align with our mission to provide culturally grounded programs and social services to Indigenous peoples from different nations and backgrounds.
Submission Requirements
Artists are required to submit the following by email:
- A Concept Sketch or Digital Rendering: A preliminary concept sketch or digital rendering that illustrates the proposed artwork, complete with a description of the sketch and concept.
- Artist Statement (Maximum 500 Words): Describe the concept, cultural significance, and how it connects with the project themes.
- Portfolio or Samples of Past Work: Up to 5 images showcasing previous artwork relevant to this project.
- Artist Biography (Maximum 250 Words): Highlight your background, artistic journey, and connection to Indigenous communities.
- Contact Information: Full name, email, phone number, and mailing address.
*note: Larger files can be submitted with Google Drive link
South Facing Windows
West-Facing window
Birds Eye View
Housing Project Background
The supportive transition housing project will be located in Vancouver, BC, on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Named Ho’-kee-melh Kloshe Lum – meaning “to gather, good spirits” – this new Indigenous-focused housing project will provide nearly 170 homes and 80 shelter beds in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. It will also serve as a vibrant new hub for Indigenous art in the city, creating a unique opportunity for both established and emerging artists to have their work showcased. Through this call for art, we aim to reflect the spirit of the community, emphasizing themes of connection, identity, culture, and healing.
