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Arts Council hosting business workshop

The first workshop of the new year in the Art of Business series has a particularly public theme. The workshop follows two high-profile installations of public art in as many years.
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An art installation of celebratory balloons can be seen in front of Rolling Mix Arena on Dominion Street.

The first workshop of the new year in the Art of Business series has a particularly public theme.

The workshop follows two high-profile installations of public art in as many years.

The first was placed on the lawn of Rolling Mix Concrete Arena downtown. The granite and steel depiction entitled Celebrations is meant to represent balloons at the moment they strike the ground following a celebratory drop. It was a creation by Mary Ann Liu and Paul Slipper of Vancouver, installed in 2017.

The parkade dancer was a creation by Facundo Gastiazoro from Smithers. It depicts a stylized happy human figure on large panels installed on the wall of the parkade at Fifth Avenue and Queensway. It was installed in 2018.

Mayor Lyn Hall also got involved in displaying public art by turning over the walls of city hall's fifth floor (where the mayor's office and other senior public servants have their work spaces) to an annual rotation of local artists.

Some local creators and general public have responded enthusiastically about the city and other funding partners (the B.C. Northern Real Estate Board was a major sponsor of the parkade art) putting a progressive emphasis on public art.

Others have been upset that the two latest installations of public art have been by out-of-town artists.

To add firsthand knowledge to this dialogue, the Community Arts Council (CAC) is hosting a pair of experienced figures in the municipal arts scene.

The CAC's description of this workshop is: "Preparing for a request for submission for exhibition or public art - a conversation with George Harris (Curator and Artistic Director, Two Rivers Gallery) and Doug Hofstede (Community Coordinator, City of Prince George)."

These two will lead the discussion, touching on topics like:

How to create a professional submission;

How to read and understand submission requirements;

What jurors look for in a winning submission package;

Insights into the adjudication process;

Dealing with both acceptance and rejection.

The workshop is open to anyone interested in public art and it is free to attend. It happens Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. at Studio 2880 (upstairs in the Artisan Gift Shop building).

Space is limited so please signal your attendance with an email to arts@studio2880.com.