Community art projects

About the Community Art Grant

Three projects of up to $3,000 will be considered each year based on the applications received and reviewed. The program welcomes artists from any discipline and encourages unique and creative ideas.

The Community Art Program supports projects that allow practicing artists to foster meaningful, hands-on engagement with the arts, creating opportunities for connection, expression, and shared experiences with residents within the community.

Projects will be displayed as part of Culture Days, Canada’s largest public participation campaign for the arts over three weeks at the end of September. As part of this program, artwork will contribute to the national celebration of creativity and culture inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to explore, experience, and participate in the arts in accessible and inspiring ways.

The objectives of the Community Art Program are:

• Animate publicly accessible spaces where arts and culture are not traditionally experienced;
• Create temporary, publicly accessible artworks that demonstrate artistic merit and deliver clear community benefit;
• Foster inclusive participation by engaging community members in the creative process and offering accessible, hands-on artistic experiences for a broad range of people
• The project reflects community identity and/or fosters community pride, identity, and social cohesion through shared creative experiences and meaningful dialogue; 
• Cultivate appreciation for the diverse artistic and cultural expressions
• Promote direct interaction between artists and the public, deepening understanding and appreciation of arts and culture; 
• Provide opportunities for artists to apply their practice within community development, contributing to cultural vitality and social sustainability.

What Makes a Strong Application

Applications that demonstrate the following qualities have a higher potential for success:

• Innovation: Unique concepts and creative approaches;
• Scale: Works with a strong physical presence (e.g., installations exceeding 6 feet in height);
• Interactivity: Artworks that engage audiences through participation or responsive elements;
• Lighting Design: Use of thoughtful or advanced lighting to enhance the experience;
• Alignment with Culture Days: Connection to the theme and spirit of creativity, participation, and community celebration;
• Gathering Spaces: Designs that encourage people to come together, interact, and engage with the work and each other.

  Community Art Guidelines           Sample Application        Apply

Animate Kelowna - Obiajulu Nwosisi

Bio: Obiajulu (Obi) Nwosisi is an animator, designer, and storyteller from Lagos, Nigeria. She is currently pursuing a masters in digital arts and humanities at the University of British Columbia, after completing her BFA in animation from the Savannah College of Art and Design. At UBC she is researching how to design interactive narratives for educational purposes. Her work draws inspiration from a variety of different sources such as textiles, paper crafts, and nature. As a lifelong storyteller, animation is just one of the mediums she uses to communicate. She is most passionate about projects that involve education and advocacy, giving a voice to underrepresented communities. Having grown up on 4 different continents she is also interested in world history, global traditions, and languages.

About the project: Animate Kelowna is a community-powered animated short that celebrates the vibrant beauty of the Okanagan region; its landscapes, wildlife, and the people who call it home. Conceptualized and animated by local artist Obiajulu (Obi) Nwosisi, the project brings the community into the creative process by inviting residents of Kelowna to hand-colour individual animation frames. Once completed, the full animation will be projected publicly on the windows outside the Kelowna Visitor Centre.

Shelter - Aaron Broesky

Bio: Since an early age I've had a fascination with technology and design. Through reading every user manual available and taking apart all electronics around me, I gained an understanding of how they worked, and the magic that happens when electricity runs through them. While reassembling, I would paint and modify them to be better in my eyes.

As time went on, I started thinking of how to design the entire product to not only look better, but to function better as well, and the interests grew through electronics to machines. Now I design all types of products from tools to appliances. Currently my focus is on animated lighting fixtures.

About the project: This installation reflects the basics of shelter. The lights represent Fire, Aurora, Sun, Moon, and all of the wonders of light that we experience in this place.

A shelter is safety, it's warmth, it's a place for gathering, a place for sharing a meal, and a place for music. This piece emulates the ever evolving nature of shelters.

Shelter designs constantly change over time, and even though we have advanced technology and modern luxuries, we should remember and reflect on the humble beginnings we all came from, and how little we actually need to survive.

The lights react to sound and respond instantly to voices and music, which gives the sense that the structure is alive and playing along with you. So sing, clap, laugh, have fun with it, and it will have fun with you.

Watch for both of these projects during Culture Days 2026.