Wood Buffalo Excellence in the Arts Awards

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards (Buffys) is an annual program that recognizes and celebrates excellence in various areas of the arts throughout our region. The program also builds awareness of the incredible contribution artists make to Wood Buffalo. Following the success of 2020, this year’s showcase continues to be a cinematic experience, which will include pre-recorded elements to be broadcast online on October 16, 2021.

Arts Council aims to hire a set designer to design and build an environment to support this year’s theme: Midnight in Technicolor. See last year’s Buffys presentation here: Buffys 2020: Midnight Steampunk.

ABOUT THE COMMISSION

Set Designer will be responsible for building a set inspired by this year’s theme, Midnight in Technicolor, to support the filming of the 2020 Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Awards broadcast.

• Hired Set Designer will report to Arts Council Wood Buffalo Programs Manager, Luay Eljamal.
• Set Designer and screenwriter will collaborate together to ensure that the set matches the narrative.
• A rough set rendering will be due to the Programs Manager on May 1, 2021.
• A final rendering of the set must be submitted to the Programs Manager by July 31, 2021.
• Hired Set Designer will be expected to attend regular Creative Team meetings to ensure that a cohesive vision is maintained for this year’s awards showcase. These meetings will occur monthly, and may increase in frequency closer to the final event.
• Artists will realize this year’s vision by collaborating with others, including videographers, set designers, graphic designers, project managers, performers and nominated artists/artist groups.
• Set designer will build the set in the venue with the support of up to 10 ACWB volunteers.
• All final submissions must be 100% original, royalty-free and free from risk of being flagged for copyright violations.

ABOUT THE VENUE

The 2021 Buffys presentation will be filmed inside the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts blackbox theatre.

• You will have access to 56 SC90 stage platforms to use towards your design. The dimensions of each platform 6’6” by 3’3”. There are 56 x 14” legs, 184 x 28” legs, 56 x 42” legs, 56 x 26” legs, and 32 x 70” legs. Please see link for example: SC90 Platform
• You will also have access to 16 step units, with which to assemble stairs. Each step affixes to the edge of a staging platform and is 7” high at the step, and is 48” wide. A 3D image of an example can be found here labelled as “Step Unit.”
• You will also have access to Pipe and Drape.

SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL

• Please watch last year’s broadcast to familiarize yourself with the set of a typical Buffys showcase, before submitting your proposal: Buffys 2020: Midnight Steampunk.
• All submissions must be emailed to Programs Manager, Luay Eljamal, at luay@artscouncilwb.ca.
• Use the subject heading “Buffys Set Design Proposal — [Your or Your Company’s Name].”
• All submissions must be emailed as one (1) compiled PDF, including the following information:
  • Your name, contact phone number and home/company address.
  • Artistic statement — the philosophy behind how you approach your creative work.
  • A summary of previous creative experiences which highlight the expertise you bring to this project.
  • Set renderings and images from exactly three (3) past design projects.
  • A suggested budget, including the following (and any additional) line-items: prep time, creative team meetings, creation of design, travel, transportation of materials, set build, and potential materials cost. (This will serve as your Fee for Service).

FEE

We ask artists to present their Fee for Service to us as part of their PDF submission (see above).

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Submissions must be received by 12 PM on March 22, 2021. Late submissions will not be considered for hire.

SELECTIONS PROCESS

Artists may be invited to interview. Selections will be made by the Arts Council Wood Buffalo staff. All selections will be final, and successful artists will be notified by March 26, 2021.

Please note that only artists(s) who are successful will be notified.

This event is a celebration of the arts and artists in the Wood Buffalo region and preference in hiring is given to artists that reside within the region. In the event that local Wood Buffalo artists are not available or do not respond to this call, artist residing within Alberta will be considered.

Please note that only artists(s) who are successful will be notified.

QUESTIONS AND MORE INFORMATION

For questions or more information, please contact Programs Manager Luay Eljamal at luay@artscouncilwb.ca or 587-674-1625 x.102.