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2027 Street Banners - Call to Youth Artists

Deadline: 11:59pm Pacific Time, September 27, 2026
*Online Submission Form below*

2027 Street Banners - Call to Youth Artists (PDF)

About the Program

The City of Nanaimo is seeking art from youth (ages 19 years and under) for its 2027 Street Banners.  

This program offers artists an opportunity to submit proposals for original banner artwork that will be hung in Nanaimo’s downtown area. Banners will be put on display in spring 2027, in the Arts District downtown, along Bowen Road, Third Street and other major routes, creating a vibrant visual presence. 

The selected youth artist will receive an honorarium of $2,500 for their banner design. Fabrication and installation costs are covered by the City and are not included in this fee.

An artist/ designer from the City’s Urban Design Roster will be made available to serve as a mentor to the youth artist in the final development of their design, should this be deemed necessary and/or helpful to the selected youth artist. 

A drop-in information session will be held at the Bowen Complex (500 Bowen Rd.) in Room 5 (lower level) on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 from 4:30 - 6 PM. This is an opportunity to meet the Culture team, ask questions, and brainstorm ideas with guidance.

Should you experience challenges or barriers in this application process or require additional support, we encourage you to reach out to:
cultureandevents@nanaimo.ca (250-755-4483).

Street Banners Past Years 2026-2024

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to youth artists (ages 19 years and under) at all levels of experience, currently living in British Columbia.

THEME: The Art of Belonging – Youth Perspectives on Home

The 2027 banner theme invites young artists to reflect on the places, people, and experiences that create a sense of belonging. Home is more than a location; home is identity, memory, culture, and connection. The Art of Belonging invites youth artists to explore what grounds you, what comforts you, and what makes you feel part of something larger – what makes you feel you belong. Through art, you can express the moments, relationships, and symbols that shape your sense of home, whether rooted in family, community, land, or a personal story.

Submissions to the 2027 Street Banner program under this theme might include depictions of meaningful landscapes, cultural traditions, neighbourhood scenes, or the people who make you feel supported and understood. They might explore the textures of daily life, the beauty of familiar routines, or abstract interpretations of comfort, safety, and belonging. Your artwork could honour your heritage, celebrate your community, or express the personal symbols that represent belonging to you.

Your creativity has the power to transform city streets into a vibrant expression of identity, connection, and community. Show us what belonging looks like through your eyes. Help bring the Art of Belonging to life across Nanaimo.

What to Include:

The applicant is responsible for offering a design that illustrates their own interpretation of the banner theme. The City of Nanaimo will be responsible for the fabrication and installation of the banners.

Note: Requirements for this opportunity have been adapted for youth. Some requirements (such as a written statement and biography) will be evaluated with the age of applicant in mind.

Your submission will include:

  1. A completed application form;
  2. A written statement about your proposed design/ art (one page). This should support how your art supports the banner theme;
  3. A biography (up to 300 words, tell us about you);
  4. A colour rendering of your design. The banners are printed using digital files. Original drawings/paintings/sketches may be submitted. Computer-generated images will be rendered from your design idea. This may be done by the youth artist using the format outlined in design specifications below, or this will be completed following selection with the help of an artist from the City’s Urban Design Roster who will serve as a mentor in this process. For submissions, we accept digital images in JPG, PDF or TIFF format. For production, we will produce vector files in a scalable vector format (usually PDF or EPS).  Design Specifications are included in the PDF linked below.

    Important Note: Your art should include a left design and a right design as banners include a right and left banner. You can propose up to three (3) different banner designs (each of which include a right and left side). Only one banner design will be selected.
Street Banners Example

Design Specifications and Print Application Form

Find more details, design specifications and a print copy of the application form in this PDF:  2027 Street Banners - Call to Youth

How to Submit Your Proposal:

Submissions must be received no later than 11:59pm, Pacific Time, September 27, 2026. There are two ways to submit your design:

  1. Submit your application and required documents ONLINE using the form (see below); or
  2. Drop off your application and required documents IN-PERSON to the Culture & Events Dropbox, located at the Bowen Complex (500 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo). The Dropbox is located on the lower level of the building near the tennis courts (Pine Street entrance). Hand-delivered applications must include one (1) original hardcopy of documents. A USB stick may be provided in addition to hard-copy. The application must be enclosed and sealed in an envelope/ package clearly marked:
Your Name
Street Banner Program 2027
City of Nanaimo

Culture and Events

Bowen Complex Drop-Box Location

Terms and Conditions

Once submitted, the application is subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The City advises applicants that submissions may be subject to the provisions of FOIPPA and the Community Charter.

Personal information provided in the submission will be collected pursuant to FOIPPA and the Community Charter. Personal information will not be released except in accordance with the FOIPPA. Questions about the collection of your personal information may be referred to the Legislative Services Department at (250) 755-4405, or via email at foi@nanaimo.ca.

Questions

Thank you for your interest! Applicants will only be contacted if their art is chosen. Questions regarding the Street Banner Program may be directed to Culture & Events at cultureandevents@nanaimo.ca ATTN: Street Banner

Program, or 250-755-4483.

Note: A drop-in information session will be held at the Bowen Complex (500 Bowen Rd.) in Room 5 (lower level) on Tuesday, September 15, 2025 from 4:30 - 6 PM. This is an opportunity to meet the Culture team, ask questions, and brainstorm ideas with guidance.

Online Application Form

Submit your application online using the form below.

If applicant is under the age of 18, please provide name of parent or guardian.

If applicant is under the age of 18, please provide parent/guardian email address.

If applicant is under the age of 18, please provide phone parent/guardian phone number.

Note: Requirements for this opportunity have been adapted for youth. Some requirements (such as a written statement and biography) will be evaluated with the age of applicant in mind.

Your submission will include:

  1. A completed application form;

  2. A written statement about your proposed design/ art (one page). This should support how your art supports the banner theme;

  3. A biography (up to 300 words, tell us about you);

  4. A colour rendering of your design. The banners are printed using digital files. Original drawings/ paintings/ sketches may be submitted. Computer-generated images will be rendered from your design idea. This may be done by the youth artist using the format outlined in design specifications below, or this will be completed following selection with the help of an artist from the City’s Urban Design Roster who will serve as a mentor in this process.

    For submissions, we accept digital images in JPG, PDF or TIFF format. For production, we will produce vector files in a scalable vector format (usually PDF or EPS).

    Important Note:

    Your art should include a left design and a right design as banners include a right and left banner. You can propose up to three (3) different banner designs (each of which include a right and left side). Only one banner design will be selected.

Please note, the maximum file size for any individual file is 100 MB.

Statement

This field is required

PDF - A written statement about the proposed design, and how it supports the banner theme (one page)

Biography

This field is required

PDF - A brief biography (up to 300 words)

A colour rendering of art/ design

This field is required

This may be an original sketch, painting or computer-generated image of the design idea, following the format outlined in the design specifications. We will accept digital images files in JPG, PDF or TIFF format, under 10 MB each. You may propose up to three (3) different banner designs as one single submission. NOTE: Final images must be supplied as a vector design file (.ai, .eps) or as a full size print file in JPG TIFF or PDF at 300 dpi. You can click Add another to upload multiple documents.

Add another

Important Information About Privacy

Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Personal information will only be used by authorized staff to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally collected, or for a use consistent with that purpose.

For further information regarding the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, please contact the Legislative Services Office at 250-755-4405 or at foi@nanaimo.ca

Last updated: June 8, 2026

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Important Information About Privacy

Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Personal information will only be used by authorized staff to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally collected, or for a use consistent with that purpose.

For further information regarding the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, please contact the Legislative Services Office at 250-755-4405 or at foi@nanaimo.ca