We respectfully acknowledge that our work takes place on the unceded territories of the Qayqayt First Nation. Our work does not start and end with this land acknowledgement; it is one important action towards reconciliation, honouring the land and Indigenous heritage, which dates back since time immemorial.

The Project

The Indigenous Students’ Caucus of the British Columbia Federation of Students (BCFS) are inviting Indigenous, Canadian-based artist(s) to submit proposals for the design of digital artwork to be used for imprinting on stationary, apparel or other membership development materials.

This call is open to all Canadian-based, Indigenous artists which includes but is not limited to First Nations, Inuit, Métis, or Non-Status First Nations. Up-and-coming artists and Indigenous students are strongly encouraged to apply.

The artwork is to represent First Nations, Inuit and Métis learners who attend post-secondary institutions across British Columbia with the intent of celebrating the diverse experiences of Indigenous learners studying at colleges, institutes, and universities, and that captures the realities of living and studying away from home communities. The artwork will serve as the logo or as an image for the Indigenous Students’ Caucus of the BCFS, a body of Indigenous learners advocating for Indigenous learners across the province.

Artists submitting proposals should not feel restricted to any artistic or regional style; the composition of Indigenous Caucus changes yearly, meaning that the life experiences and multiplicity of identities represented in Caucus spaces are defining characteristics of the Indigenous Students’ Caucus.

The goals for this project are to:

  • represent the diversity of experience of Indigenous learners;
  • promote awareness among students of the work of the Indigenous Students’ Caucus and the BC Federation of Students;
  • foster a sense of connectedness for past, present and future Caucus members through a shared symbol or artwork;
  • promote and support the work and talent of Indigenous artists working and living in the province
About the British Columbia Federation of Students (BCFS)

The BCFS is a provincial student organisation that represents more than 170,000 students at 14 institutions, in every region of BC.  Founded in 1975, students across British Columbia saw the need to work together with a single, united movement in order to be an effective voice for provincial and national change. The Federation provides a venue for students to effectively communicate, collaborate, organize, and mobilize to advocate collective interests locally, provincially, and nationally. All positive changes to public education in the last century have come from people working together to fight for something better. When it comes to building better communities and better public services, we are stronger when we work together than when we are working alone. Working together through the Federation gives students across BC a united voice and influence on public policy.

Indigenous Caucus has been a standing committee of the Federation for many years.  It recognises the need for specific and targeted advocacy efforts, given that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis learners face additional and particular barriers to accessing post-secondary education.

Instructions to Bidders

This Request for Proposal (RFP) specifies a request to have commissioned an Indigenous artist or team of Indigenous Artists for the creation of digital artwork to be used for imprinting on various membership development materials and documents distributed by the Indigenous Students’ Caucus.

Artists are requested to provide the following:

  • Contact information: artist’s contact information including name, address, phone number, email and artist’s website (if applicable).
  • Background: a brief description about you and your work (eg. this may include but is not limited to an artist statement, CV/resume, short bio and/or a description)
  • Samples of work: no more than 5 examples of past work
  • Description of proposal: a short narrative of your artistic vision for the proposal
  • Timeline: a timeline for completing the artwork if selected
  • *Optional* sketches, mock ups or supporting documents that may be helpful in conveying the vision of your proposal

Selection Process: A selection panel comprised of members from the Indigenous Students’ Caucus will review proposals and recommend an artist for the proposal. 

Digital Art Specifications (completed artwork to be submitted by the successfully selected artist) should meet the following requirements:

All artwork files must:

  • Be vector graphics
  • Be saved in Adobe Illustrator format (.ai) or Encapsulated Post-Script format (.eps)
    • Photoshop/raster files will not be accepted.
  • Have all fonts or artwork elements packaged with the final files
  • Not contain tints, transparent objects, or gradients
  • Be supplied with the solid coated pantone colours referenced. CMYK files will be accepted and matched as best as possible to a solid pantone colour but may not be 100% accurate

The following will be considered an asset for artwork proposals:

  • Submissions that can be used on multiple membership development materials (example apparel, notebooks, pens, totes, stickers etc.)
  • Scalability for large and/or small items
  • Artwork options that consider both a rectangular and square/circle imprinting specifications
  • Artwork options that consider full bleed and 1 or 2 colour imprinting
Budget

Responses to the RFP must contain a quote for the proposed work.  For reference, the available budget for the project is $2500.00 CDN, which will include taxes, concept development and revisions.  The following payment scheme will be included in the contract signed by the artist(s) selected

  • 1st payment: 25% of the awarded contract upon receipt of a signed contract;
  • 2nd payment: 25% of the awarded contract upon 50% completion of the commissioned art;
  • final payment: 50% within 30 days of receipt of the commissioned art.
Inquiries during Proposal Process

For all inquiries regarding this RFP please email:

Submission of Proposal

Please email materials and/or a copy of the proposal to [email protected] and [email protected] 

The Indigenous Students’ Caucus and the BCFS reserves the right to accept any proposal submitted or to reject all proposals. It is anticipated that the successful bidder will be notified no later than August 4, 2023.

Proposal Submission Due:
Friday, July 28, 2023

 

Ownership of Artwork:

The artist will retain ownership of any and all ideas submitted for consideration until a final selection has been made and a contract is signed between the BCFS and the selected artist. At that time, the BCFS will obtain 100% ownership of the artwork produced, in whatever stage of completion, and the artwork becomes the property of the BCFS as a work made for hire as defined by the copyright laws of Canada. In addition, the artist will represent being the sole author of the artwork and that all services are original by artist and not copied in whole or in part.