Archiving Black Futures: Revisioning Public Art will address long-standing barriers preventing Black artists from engaging critically in the Canadian public art sector. This project will specifically focus on the engagement of Black artists in Ontario (Toronto, the National Capital Region, and the Niagara Region), British Columbia (Vancouver and Surrey), Quebec (Montreal), Nova Scotia (Halifax), and Alberta (Calgary).

Our audiences of engagement will be primarily Black artists (emerging, mid-career, established) across the locations listed. Our secondary audience of engagement includes public art curators, arts service organizations/municipal public art officers – commissioners, planners, and developers. With the support of community consultants, it is our goal to engage participants in a series of interviews and focus groups. These sessions intend to shed light on systemic detriments to artists thriving and all artist will be compensated for their participation..