Call for Syilx artists and graphic designers

Background

The University of British Columbia’s Okanagan Campus, located in the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, hosts a vibrant and growing Indigenous student community. 

The Indigenous Programs & Services team supporting prospective and current Indigenous graduate students at UBC’s Okanagan Campus is working to produce a number of communications materials to support a new program, Indigenous Pathways to Graduate Studies. As part of the program, a cohort of Indigenous undergraduate students will come together to participate in programming that will support their exploration of and preparation for graduate studies.  

Goals of the project include strengthening pathways for Indigenous students to transition to graduate studies and, ultimately, into leadership roles in academia and other sectors; re-affirm the significance and centrality of Indigenous principles, values and ways of knowing and experiences at UBC’s Okanagan Campus; and create a network of Indigenous students, scholars and allies at UBC’s Okanagan Campus. 

When producing communications materials to support the project and the goals of UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan, the team will uphold UBC’s relationships and responsibilities with the Okanagan Nation. 

Opportunity

The 2022 Indigenous Pathways to Graduate Studies Program is currently under development and set to launch in September 2022. The project team is seeking one Syilx artist or graphic designer who will provide original artwork in the form of a program illustration or graphic to be included in the project’s design and on communication materials produced to support the ongoing promotion of the program. 

Scope of work and deliverables

The artwork requested will be used on print and digital communication and promotional materials for the Pathways program, including, but not limited to, banners, social media graphics, webpages on ok.ubc.ca, reports, booklets, and/or pins.  

  • Size: up to a 33”x81” banner size 
  • Must be able to accommodate the UBC logo and other publication content. See section 3.5 of UBC’s Visual Identity Rules for more information. 
  • Format: The artwork should be designed for both print and digital publication  
  • File types: vector images are preferred (such as .ai or .eps). Jpeg files will be accepted with sufficient resolution for printing (300 dpi or higher). 
  • The final designs will be representative of the Syilx Okanagan Nation, while still being welcoming to Indigenous students from anywhere. The designs should project a positive, uplifting, inspirational, and welcoming sentiment, drawing on connections to the land, relationships and community building, and the many pathways Indigenous students may take through their academic journey, from undergrad to a master’s degree, PhD degree, post-doctoral research, faculty positions and beyond.  
  • The artists should be open to at least two rounds of review and feedback from the UBC Indigenous Programs & Services team and other stakeholders before finalizing the designs. The timeline for this review period can be set once the contracts have been awarded. 
  • Must be completed by August 19, 2022. 

UBC will retain exclusive use rights for this artwork to be used in connection with the Indigenous Pathways to Graduate Studies program. This includes, but is not limited to, appearing on the ok.ubc.ca website, being used on our connected social media accounts, being used on communications materials, and being used in email communication to Indigenous students. The artist can showcase this work on their personal website or in their portfolio, but it cannot be used for commercial purposes. 

Remuneration

The project team has allocated a budget of up to $3,000 for this artwork project. 

How to apply

In keeping with UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan, we are seeking artists from the Okanagan Nation. 

Those wishing to learn more about this opportunity are invited to state their interest in the project as follows: 

  • Contact Stephanie Trenholm, Indigenous Graduate Student Advisor: stephanie.trenholm@ubc.ca  
  • Provide a brief summary of your experience along with appropriate portfolio if available (links to websites are acceptable) 
  • Indicate your fee structure 

While a portfolio is requested with your submission, Okanagan Nation students and alumni looking to establish themselves as artists or illustrators are encouraged to apply. 

Timelines

Expressions of interest are requested by June 26, 2022. 

  • All artists will be contacted by July 5, 2022, with the successful candidates being briefed on the project by the week of July 11, 2022. 
  • First drafts are requested by July 24, 2022, with feedback from UBC due by July 29, 2022.
  • Revisions are requested by August 7, 2022, with feedback from UBC due by August 12, 2022.
  • Final artwork will be required before August 19, 2022. 

Contact

For additional information about this opportunity, please contact Stephanie Trenholm at stephanie.trenholm@ubc.ca 

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