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London Arts Council is requesting $450,000 through this business case to expand the capacity of Arts in Communities programs from the current investment of $50,000 to $500,000. Through four Arts in Communities programs (Artist in Residence, London Arts Live, Cultivating Allyship through the Arts, and Youth Art Incubation), LAC will provide adequate support and equitable opportunities for Indigenous artists, equity-deserving artists, and future arts professionals by supporting their growth and development and ensuring their artistic expressions and participation, thus encouraging their social and economic contribution to the London community. Professional artists are significantly disadvantaged financially, and are one step below the poverty level. According to Statistics Canada, the median personal income of professional artists in Ontario was 41% less than that of other workers in 2020. Arts in Communities programs such as London Arts Live support hundreds of diverse artists with performance opportunities throughout London, while providing inclusive and accessible cultural experiences for Londoners and visitors. These curated activations contribute to the vibrancy and safety of London, especially in the core area, by bringing people together through live art and music performances and thus changing and enhancing the atmosphere and streetscape.

Eunju Yi is a dedicated arts administrator, inspiring arts educator & public speaker and creative storyteller. Meet Eunju Yi Eunju Yi (Post Graduate Diploma in Arts Management (UWO), BA in Theatre (Kyungsung University)) is a strategic arts manager and inspiring public speaker, serving as Executive Director of the London Arts Council (LAC) since 2021 and a board member of the RBC Place London (London Convention Centre) since 2022. Her extensive experience as an artist, arts educator, and arts manager in Korea and Canada contributes to her unwavering support of the arts and culture internationally. Since she joined the team in 2012, Yi has contributed to the LAC in various areas, such as public art, arts education, arts programs, fund development, fund allocation, special projects, diversity & inclusion, and truth & reconciliation, before obtaining the position of Executive Director after a national search process conducted by the LAC board. As the Executive Director, Yi manages the organization’s day-to-day operations and program areas, supports the organization’s governance function through quarterly meetings and reports to the board, initiates high-profile business proposals, and maintains key partnerships by working closely with the City of London Culture Services, and the LAC’s team of six professional Arts Administrators with diverse artistic and cultural backgrounds. Yi represents the organization on local, provincial, and national occasions through professional networks and meetings, as well as various speaking engagements, such as the National Liberation Day of Korea Official Ceremony (2012-2023), Beginning (2022, national conversations for disability art), London Chamber of Commerce Annual Summit (2022), London UNESCO City of Music Conference (2023), London UNESCO City of Music Expo (2023), and many other occasions, as a guest speaker, a panelist, or an emcee. Yi has a strong sense of connection to her Korean culture and history, and her genuine interest and curiosity in international cultural heritage and history are her main sources of inspiration for her creativity and artistic expressions. Her broad spectrum of interests includes, but is not limited to, cultural planning, cultural policy development, international and national practices of the arts, and the roles and functions of intergovernmental organizations. Ask Me Anything - with Eunju Yi What is your artistic background? I studied theatre for my undergraduate program at Kyungsung University in Busan, South Korea. I participated in a number of diverse theatre projects as an actor, play writer, director, production manager, lighting, sound crew, etc. Each project taught me great life lessons, helped me to broaden/deepen my perspectives and gain new insight, led me to push my boundaries/comfort zone, and made me further explore, experience, and learn. Through theatre, I found my language and vocabulary to communicate with the world. I was able to keep my balance between my ideology and reality and discover many ways to reconnect with myself for meaningful self-reflection. What do you think are the best skills that you bring to your job? Intuition. Intuition helps me to collect vast amounts of information about people, situations, etc. in a very short time, which helps me to make sharp and sound judgements and come up with working strategies. What do you want to make sure you do before you die? I want to live in an old castle in a European country with my family and surround myself with antique furniture, objects, artworks, music (including musical instruments), and books. Thinking about historical items that contain hundreds of years of stories about space, era, and people is fascinating. I will enjoy breathing in and living in the space that is filled with stories. Name some favourite films/albums/work of arts/pieces of literature: I love Surrealist artists and their work. Especially, Salvador Dali’s Illustrations for the Bible and Alice in Wonderland as well as Remedios Varo’s ‘The Call’. I like Bong Joon-ho’s films, especially Parasite and Mother and Lee Chang-dong’s Peppermint Candy. I also like Jane Campion’s films. The Piano and her recent film The Power of the Dog are my favourites of her work. Also, Studio Ghibli’s animated films, such as Princess Mononoke, Spirted Away, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Whispers of the Heart, Howl’s Moving Castle, etc. are my most cherished films. I’ve watched each of them at least 5-10 times if not more. Each work contains timeless messages that give me new insight and wisdom every time I watch. Jean-Pierre Jaunet’s Amélie, Naoko Ogigami’s slow movie Glasses, and Satoshi Miki’s Turtles Are Surprisingly Fast Swimmers are also my all-time favourites. What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working? 1) Baking and Gardening with my kids 2) Scribble painting while listening to music 3) Watching era-based movies or photo images of antique furniture and objects 4) Thinking about new stories and perfecting every single factor of each sequence in my mind

(photo of Audrey Cooper from The London Free Press, January 2014) Each year, the London Arts Council invites nominations for the Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List for an honouree in the Arts category. Eligible nominees are professional artists and active volunteers whose artistic excellence or outstanding contribution of service deserves recognition. Through an assessment process, a recipient is then recommended to the City. Audrey Cooper has been named to the 2024 Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List in the Arts category. Congratulations Audrey!!Audrey moved to London from Toronto in 2003, and began her first series of colourful, folk-art paintings depicting her memories of growing up on the Danforth in Toronto two years later, at the age of 76. In 2012, Audrey opened Art With Panache, an exhibition space to promote and share the work of London’s talented visual artists with the rest of the community. Art With Panache has exhibited artworks by local emerging and established artists for over 10 years with the help of volunteers and an artistic director. Audrey is an inspiring figure in London’s creative community, uplifting and encouraging others to pursue and share their artistic gifts! You can find more information about Audrey and her contributions to the community, as well as those of the other recipients on this year’s list, by clicking the button below:

The Gallery In response to demand from local artists for exhibition space and to promote and celebrate our talented local artists, the London Arts Council and the City of London Culture Services have collaborated with RBC Place London to pilot The Gallery program at RBC Place London as part of our London Arts Live (LAL) program offerings. The Gallery at RBC Place London is a pilot project. If successful, the program will be expanded into other locations throughout the city. The purpose of The Gallery is to promote the work of artists and creators residing in London and surrounding First Nations to display original artworks for exhibition, with sales opportunities, on highly prominent and specially designated wall space within this municipally owned building. For the first exhibition of the pilot stage, The Gallery featured artworks created by Tricia Edgar, a well-known local visual artist, artist educator, and a long-standing LAL artist. She has been involved in the London arts scene for many years and has been participating in several of London Arts Council’s programs, including LAL, Arts Education Classroom Experience (AECE), Culture City X (CCX), and Belong-Inclusive Arts Experiences for Children and Youth. These opportunities supported her growth and development as an artist and educator, while also introducing Londoners of all backgrounds to local art. An Interview with Tricia Edgar Q: Tell us the story behind the Tree Energy exhibition. How did it start? What was it inspired by? A: I have a deep love for trees, and now that I’m middle-aged and reflective, I’ve come to see them as a symbol of my upbringing – my roots. I grew up in the Port Dover area, so my roots are rural, and I’ve always enjoyed walking in the countryside, where I can see and feel comforted by all the trees. Being around trees grounds me. I always have a hunger to be in the country though I am a “city person.” I moved here but the feeling followed me. Now, I find trees in the city, especially around Western University and The Coves that I appreciate. Our Roots Are Everlasting was inspired by tree roots near my childhood home – there were all of these old trees that were cleared for farming, and then all of these roots used to line our property and we used to climb on them and play. Eventually, we dragged them into my dad’s shop because people would steal them to use in their gardens or as décor in their homes. There’s something about that, about the necessity of roots. Some of those trees being hundreds of years old, and my ancestors would have been around that area, and then people taking these roots as valuable art pieces for their homes. It really got me thinking about the significance of my own roots, and it was grounding. Q: I like that. Trees do seem very wise and like they want to impart their wisdom. So, walking through nature you hear little whispers of it, you know? A: Yeah! And most people feel something from nature and trees. But let’s hope, perhaps we keep that appreciation going for future generations. The desire to touch nature. Q: What else inspires you as an artist? A: Colour, shape, anything in nature that has repetitive patterns, and I love texture. I just feel really inspired by that visceral experience. Q: How do you transform those inspirations into artwork, then? How does your creative process work? A: Rooted in Inspiration reflects my creative process. First, I see something in my day-to-day life that inspires me, I feel the story/inspiration and want to document it, and then I use my unique method of painting to convey the feeling visually. Q: So, it starts with something that moves you in a way, and then telling the story of that experience? A: Yeah, when I start to think about a voice. Like, an artist can give voice to something, you can give voice to even just feeling. Then it’s a pictorial voice. Some people like writers and poets do that through language, and I like to convey these feelings visually. Q: That’s interesting. A writer has language and words to convey feeling, but as a painter you’ve got to convey a feeling visually in a way that resonates with others. A: Yeah, and for me it begins with me wanting to express it for myself. First off, it should be about the artist and not doing it for anybody else. First, it’s doing it for me and expressing because that brings me joy. That’s where my energy and passion is. And then the cool thing is figuring out if I can share that feeling. And we know that art does that. Some people don’t change the art on their walls for 20 or 30 years, but why? We change our cars, we buy patio furniture, clothing. The message I hope to convey is “Look at what a piece of art can do to your environment – it can give you energy.” A Blossoming Vibe-Energy Tree is a little more whimsical and I have a series of these fun, playful colourful ones that are reaching up, which were inspired by one tree with the most beautiful bark near my house. The bark to me represents pathways and a journey and gets me reflecting on my own journey and thinking about where I am now. Q: Why does creativity matter to you? A: I believe that creativity is so vital, and I see that especially in my work with children and older adults. It’s the unique perspective that each of us have and if you’re able to hone in on it, then you’ve got treasure to share. It makes you feel good. Q: Right. It colours your life. A: It does. It really colours your life. It gives you something, a positive outlet to express your feelings that are going to come out anyway. Q: What gaps currently exist when it comes to supporting the Arts? What kind of support is needed? A: I think it starts with the artist needing to want to be a part of something else. Then, we have to think of ways to overlap the community and the arts and weave them together. There is absolutely a place for traditional galleries, and there is something that will stimulate people everyday when art is brought out into the public realm. For example, I think that the Traffic Signal Box Wraps throughout the city make a big difference. We need more daily encounters and serendipitous moments with art in our daily lives. A gap I see that currently exists in the public’s understanding of what an artist does. Art is often seen as hobby instead of a career that contributes to the economy. What could help solve this is more partnerships like this one, more word of mouth, and more education and opportunities for the public to value artwork and artists more. Q: What do you envision for the Arts in London? A: I would love to see more art clubs, art centres, etc. where artists can go for artistic development, to learn from each other. Q: What made you put yourself out there to work with RBC Place London? A: I’m really proud to live here and feel that my city cares about art. RBC Place London is fostering a lot of community events, and a convention centre is a real catalyst of activity. To have art in a place that is action packed is something that I love. People aren’t coming here specifically to see artwork, but it’s a serendipitous encounter. One of my girlfriends was watching the news and saw my artwork in the background of an interview happening at RBC Place London. That means a lot to me! Q: That’s awesome! Where else can we find your artwork? A: You can see my work during the London Artist Studio Tour, I also have two group shows through the Central Ontario Art Association (one in Etobicoke and one in Ingersoll), as well as some artworks at TVDSB and King’s College. The objectives of the Gallery program are: to create a beautiful, unique, and cultured atmosphere; provide compelling experiences for local, national, and international visitors; educate the public by presenting a series of diverse artworks created by local professional artists; and provide professional opportunities for local artists, including increased promotion, sales, and career enhancement. 100% of the proceeds from artwork sales go directly to the artist, supporting the vibrant and diverse arts community in London, Ontario. For more information about this project or inquiries regarding purchasing artworks, please contact the London Arts Council at info@londonarts.ca

The Gallery In response to demand from local artists for exhibition space and to promote and celebrate our talented local artists, the London Arts Council and the City of London Culture Services have collaborated with RBC Place London to pilot The Gallery program at RBC Place London as part of our London Arts Live (LAL) program offerings. The purpose of The Gallery is to promote the work of artists and creators residing in London and surrounding First Nations to display original artworks for exhibition, with sales opportunities, on highly prominent and specially designated wall space within this municipally owned building. For the second exhibition of the pilot stage, The Gallery featured artworks created by Byungjin Choi, a local visual artist, artist educator, and LAL artist. Choi is a highly experienced Korean visual artist who specializes in various forms of traditional Korean painting. Choi brings traditional beauty into modern contexts through ongoing exploration of non-traditional materials and artistic practices. Since his immigration to Canada in 2016, he has continued his artistic practices by creating new bodies of artwork and teaching young artists at his studio. Choi joined the London Arts Live Program this year and showcased his artwork through multiple live painting sessions. Choi hopes to continue his artistic journey in Canada by sharing his artwork and contributing to the diversity of London’s arts scene. An Interview with Byungjin Choi Maehwa (매화), Plum Blossom by Choi, Byungjin (최병진) (on exhibition November 2023 – February 2024) Q: Tell us the story behind the Maehwa exhibition. How did it start? What was it inspired by? A: Sagunja (Four Gracious Plants) are the foundational painting themes for people who practice traditional Korean visual art, so I never thought I would go back to that style, but I’ve been exploring a lot to develop my own defined style. When I first came to London, I was struggling a bit. So, I stopped practicing my own artwork and instead was teaching students. When this opportunity presented itself, I was thinking about so many different plants and flowers that I wanted to exhibit but none were speaking to me, so I stopped painting them. After contemplating what I would like to paint, I returned to Sagunja and to Maehwa specifically as it symbolizes that experience of perseverance. Q: What inspires you as an artist? A: My inspiration usually comes from nature, and I especially love trees. I see a lot of reflection of human life through trees and other types of plants. For about 10 years, I was really focusing on drawing small evergreen trees and was thinking about my son a lot during this time. I was reflecting on my relationship with my son as I was drawing the trees and see my connection with him reflected in the process. I would like to explore more of the nature in London and try to go further with this. Q: That’s really sweet. Did you have a specific person in mind when you were painting Maehwa? A: I was reflecting on my life a lot through the Maehwa. The challenges that I’d been going through were like a harsh winter and at this point in my life, I feel that I am emerging from that harsh winter, hopeful and starting to bloom, just as the plum blossom emerges at the end of the harsh winter months as the first sign of Spring. Q: What does your creative process look like? A: The reason I like Four Gracious Plants (Sagunja) is because the purpose of this style of painting is not about achievement of realism but about self-expression and self-exploration through the Plants. My Maehwa is not an identical depiction of Maehwa, but a visual depiction of my interpretation of what Maehwa represents – the virtue of perseverance. During my first year of university, I really tried to practice and develop my own style, not by looking at the Maehwa tree, but by studying the Ginko trees as they demonstrated visual characteristics that Maehwa represented to me. So, I practiced the shapes of the Ginko trees through their shadows. My depictions of the Maehwa tree are more focused on what the tree symbolizes and represents to me versus a hyper-realistic rendition of it. People often refer to Sagunja paintings as Eastern Abstract or Expressionism Art. I made all of the frames and glue myself. Since I was working with very thin rice paper, I had to follow vigorous processes to complete the frame. To achieve perfect consistency for the glue, I boiled the correct amount of flour in the water and stirred it consistently by using a wooden stick on medium heat until it was ready. Since the thin rice paper cannot be glued right on to the wooden panel, I glued the rice paper to the backing paper by making sure no bubbles formed or tears were made, and then the glued paper was once again glued to the wooden panel. Q: Wow, that sounds like a very involved process, and every step is personalized. A: Yes, every step is part of the art piece. It’s a really fun process. Q: Why does creativity matter to you? A: André Malraux (1901-1976), a French novelist, art theorist, and minister of cultural affairs, said “Every work of art is created to satisfy a need, a need that is passionate enough to give it birth.” I take this to mean that the reason why people create is to express themselves, and this really resonates with me. There are many ways to express yourself, and for me visual art resonates strongly. Specifically, this style of traditional Korean painting – the entire process, every step involved - really appeals to, and speaks to me. Q: What gaps currently exist when it comes to supporting the Arts? What kind of support is needed? A: When I applied for permanent residence status in Canada, I applied, and was accepted to, the category of “Visual Artist.” But I wasn’t able to do any artistic work for three years, because my life settlement took way longer than what I had anticipated. When I was teaching students, I really felt the need to continue as a practicing visual artist myself. Looking back, even though I was accepted in a specialized category, I never received resources about continuing my creative work here. I’m sure this would be the experience of other immigrants as well. If the Executive Director of the London Arts Council hadn’t reached out to me after seeing my work at a festival and provided information about the London Arts Council, I wouldn’t have known where to start to continue my artistic practice in Canada. Q: That’s too bad that there weren’t resources offered to you. It’s a barrier that we need to work on addressing. What do you envision now for your future in the Arts here in London? A: The London artistic scene is still new to me. I still feel very much like a newbie. But I will continue to learn more and integrate myself more, and my goal is to exhibit once a year at different galleries within the city and hopefully exhibit somewhere else one day as well – in Toronto, or New York is another goal of mine. Q: Those are great goals! What made you most excited about putting yourself out there to work with the London Arts Council and RBC Place London for this exhibition? A: This exhibition is a big turning point for me - for my artistic life and journey, and my personal growth as well. As mentioned before, this was a very healing process for me because I didn’t feel like I had to focus on being any other way than who I am and what kind of artist I truly am. And this process really helped me to reflect on that. As a newcomer artist, I believe that this exhibition opportunity will open up new doors for me. Q: That's fantastic! We hope to see lots more of your artwork around the city. Where else can we find your artwork? A: Currently, I don’t share too much of my work on social media but I plan to work on that in the future and will share that with you once I do. Q: Sounds goods. Thank you for talking with us today. Your artwork is so beautiful, and it makes it even more special to know the story and process behind it. A: Thank you very much. View the Maehwa (매화), Plum Blossom Exhibition at RBC Place London on the following dates: Thursday December 14th (11am-7pm) Thursday, January 11, 18, 25 (11am-2pm) Thursday, February 1 (11am-2pm) **enter via the main doors on York St.** The objectives of the Gallery program are: to create a beautiful, unique, and cultured atmosphere; provide compelling experiences for local, national, and international visitors; educate the public by presenting a series of diverse artworks created by local professional artists; and provide professional opportunities for local artists, including increased promotion, sales, and career enhancement. For more information about this project or inquiries regarding purchasing artworks, please contact the London Arts Council at info@londonarts.ca

Call to Ceramic Artist for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) CALL SUMMARY The London Arts Council (LAC) invites emerging or early-career Clay/Ceramic Artists who are 18 years of age or older and reside in London, Ontario, and three surrounding First Nations (the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; the Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation) to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) to be considered for a mentorship opportunity as a Mentee Artist. The selected artist will be involved with a mosaic design and installation on the entry wall features of Lorne Avenue Park in Old East Village, with mentorship-based development and growth opportunities provided by Clayworx: Ceramic Arts Learning Centre. The project is a collaboration between Clayworx, the Lorne Avenue Park Steering Committee (LAPSC), the City of London, and the London Arts Council. Mentorship funding is provided through the City of London Public Art and Monument Program with resource and materials funding provided by the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative Program. Submissions are now closed. [Photos of Lorne Avenue Park] Project Timeline Project planning begins in Fall 2023 and ends with installation in Spring 2024. Hours per week will vary greatly; the heaviest time-commitment will be Winter/Spring 2024, when public mosaic-tile-making workshops take place. Budget for the Mentee (Up to $7,700) Eligibility and Qualifications Emerging or early-career Clay/Ceramic Artists who are 18 years of age or older and reside in London and three surrounding First Nations (the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; the Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation) are invited to apply. · Previous work (creation/presentation) experience in clay medium (tile making experience is preferred) · Previous experience in collaborative art projects · Previous experience in art workshop facilitation and/or community consultations is an asset. · Able to work outdoors and lift 50 lbs. Emerging Artists or Early-Career Artists LAC defines emerging or early-career Artists as those who are in the early stages of a professional art-related career. They are developing their artistic skills, styles, and methods through active training or practice. They have public presentation/exhibition experiences and seek payments for their work. They are in the process of establishing a foothold in the professional arena. Clay/Ceramic Artists LAC defines Clay/Ceramic Artists as Artists who use clay as a medium to conceive and create functional or artistic articles by moulding clay, glass, and other fusible materials using hand-building and wheel techniques. Application Requirements Artists wishing to be considered must complete all application requirements. Please complete all required fields of the online application form. · Artist biography (maximum 500 words) · Artist statement (maximum 500 words) · An Expression of Interest (maximum 750 words) outlining your artistic experience, desire for growth and development through this opportunity, and if applicable, connection to London/Old East Village · A detailed Artist CV that provides information regarding your past work/volunteer experience · Two references · A minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) previous work examples · A maximum of three (3) other supporting materials that best demonstrate your artistic style and creative process. Note: Artwork examples must be the true representation of your work, original artwork, and the sole intellectual property of the Artist, with no copyright infringements. Please refer to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office website link for clarification on copyright: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02281.html All applicants MUST read the full information package to apply. To download the information package for the Lorne Avenue Park Mosaic Wall Community Public Art Project and this mentorship opportunity, please click: Online Submission Artists/Creators wishing to be considered must complete all application requirements. Please complete all required fields of the online application form and submit the required application documents. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. Applications submitted through other means, such as fax, mail, and email will not be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the application is submitted by the deadline. For any questions regarding this project, please email: info@londonarts.ca For any Call to Artists updates please check the websites at: www.londonarts.ca www.indigenouslondonarts.ca

To celebrate, honour, and share Indigenous culture and history, the London Arts Council (LAC) and The City of London invite Indigenous Artists/Creators to submit expressions of interest (EOI) to be considered for the Indigenous Public Art Mural Project at the East Lions Community Centre. Indigenous Artists/Creators 18 years of age or older who reside in cities, counties, regions, and First Nations located throughout Southwestern Ontario (excluding Greater Toronto Hamilton Area) are invited to apply. Submissions are now closed. Examples of East Lions Community Centre Mural Space: The Total budget for this mural is $14,000 Application Requirements · A minimum of two (2) and a maximum of five (5) previously completed mural project images to be submitted. · A minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6) other supporting materials that best demonstrate your artistic style and creative process to be submitted. · A description of proposed design concept using the theme “Firekeeper”, open to your interpretation to be submitted. · One (1) preliminary conceptual sketch of your proposed design to be accompanied with the proposed design concept description. · Artwork(s) must be the original artwork and the sole intellectual property of the artist/creator, with no copyright infringements. Please refer to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office website link for clarification on copyright: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02281.html To see the full information package, please download: You MUST read the following information package before applying. Online Submission Artists/Creators wishing to be considered must complete all application requirements. Please complete all required fields of the online application form and submit the required application documents. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. Applications submitted through other means, such as fax, mail, and email will not be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the application is submitted by the deadline. For any questions regarding this project, please email: info@londonarts.ca For any Call to Artists updates please check the website at www.londonarts.ca If you require support to complete this application due to accessibility barriers, please reach out to Janet Antone, Specialist, Cultivating Allyship: jaantone@londonarts.ca

The City of London and London Arts Council are excited to unveil Owl Family and Bear Family, two new Indigenous tree sculptures located at the entrance of 122 Baseline Road West, affordable housing development. The tree sculptures were crafted by Indigenous artist, Garrett Nahdee, in collaboration with the City of London’s Public Art and Monument Program and in partnership with the London Arts Council. This initiative is dedicated to fostering environmentally sustainable public art that pays tribute to Indigenous art, culture, and knowledge. Inspired by Indigenous teachings on the importance family, Owl Family and Bear Family showcase Nahdee’s artistic technique combining chainsaw carving and intricate detailing. Walpole Island First Nation artist Garrett Nahdee and his family alongside Bear Family. “In Indigenous belief, owls are the carriers of messages from the spirit world. The message I hope to convey is the importance of family. It’s important to nourish your children’s roots so that they grow and remain strong for their whole life,” says Nahdee, in reference to Owl Family. “Family is so important to spirit; it is our roots and therefore shapes our identity. It’s important to make the very most of the moments we are gifted with each other. Now, as a parent, I have three children, that is the significance of the three baby owls in this piece.” A close-up photograph of Garrett Nahdee’s Owl Family. “I was raised by a single mother for most of my childhood years. As a momma bear, she had to feed, care for, and protect her babies all by herself. Because of this, she embodies the courage of the bear as expressed in the seven grandfather teachings. As such, for the Bear Family sculpture, I exaggerated the roots of the tree in significance of the important role of the mother in creating roots for her children,” says Nahdee, in reference to Bear Family. “A child’s foundation is created by the example the parent(s)’ set in their way of living. We must live a good life and show strength and be a good source of nurturance for our children – remembering that the most precious things you can give to a child is your time and attention.” A close-up photograph of Garrett Nahdee’s Bear Family. City of London Public Art and Monument Program The City of London’s Public Art and Monument Program facilitates the creation of public art in London, which bolsters civic pride, provides focal points for community celebration, creates meaningful employment for artists and attracts tourism and investment. Behind-the-scenes photos of Garrett Nahdee's creation process:

Launched in March 2000, the City of London Community Arts Investment Program (CAIP) is funded by the City of London through the annual operating budget of Culture Services Neighbourhood and Community-Wide Services. CAIP is administered through a multi-year Purchase of Service Agreement with the London Arts Council (LAC) and supports the capacity building of local professional not-for-profit arts sector in a broad range of artistic disciplines, including: film, literature, music, performing arts (dance and theatre), and visual arts: https://www.londonarts.ca/arts-funding. The purpose of CAIP is to increase access to quality local arts experiences and promote a sense of belonging representing all artistic disciplines and equity-deserving groups. CAIP contributes to the creative vibrancy of London and enhances London’s desirability as a community of choice and visitor destination by supporting the growth of local arts sector and its diverse artistic and musical talent. The demand for CAIP funding has been rapidly increasing. In 2023, CAIP Arts Funding Streams received 162 applications with over $2 million in unprecedented requests from 22 arts organizations, 42 artist collectives, and 98 artists, and only 67 applicants received funding through CAIP (see Charts 1-4). London’s investments in Arts and Culture are falling behind the investments of other municipalities. London’s population is growing, the cost of living is increasing, social, and economic challenges are being amplified, rebuilding audiences since the pandemic is critical, and community demands for programs and services for arts and culture are being heightened, but CAIP has never seen an increase since its inception in 2000 (see Charts 2 and 5). London’s culture is an expression of our community’s shared histories, values, beliefs, pride, and traditions, creating a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible city and improving overall quality of life. The arts and culture sector supports multiple segments of London's workforce, diversifies the economy, and brings economic prosperity to London. Between 2011 and 2020, the total GDP contribution of the arts and culture sector in London was over $6 billion in total, on average, over $607 million annually (see Chart 6). London is designated as a UNESCO City of Music - As a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, London must lead musical and artistic development in Canada and demonstrate how London prioritizes creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development (https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/home). Chart 1 shows a steady increase in CAIP requests over five years. In 2023, the requested amount was three times higher than the invested amount. Chart 2 shows a steady decrease in CAIP investments per capita over the past 10 years. Chart 3 shows projections of CAIP investments per capita for the next four years with no budget increase. Chart 4 contains LAC’s comparative research data regarding other municipal arts funding programs in Canada based on the published annual reports. Source: 2021 MBNCanada Performance Measurement Report The measure represents the funding dollars provided for Arts, Heritage, and Festival grants only. The direct municipal investment in arts funding is relative to a city’s service delivery model, size of its arts community and its funding envelope. The increase in London in 2021 was related to London Recovery Community Network COVID-19 recovery grant funding. The decrease in Winnipeg in 2021 was due to a five year- funding commitment to the Winnipeg Art Gallery being completed in 2020. Source: Creative City Network of Canada Cultural Consortium The Culture Statistics Strategy Consortium includes the Department of Canadian Heritage, Statistics Canada, all 13 provincial and territorial ministries of culture, the Creative City Network of Canada (CCNC), more than 30 municipalities, and other cultural sector stakeholders. Additional Information Councils 2023 – 2027 Strategic Plan Strategic Areas of Focus for CAIP include: Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Wellbeing and Safety and Inclusion and Economic Growth, Culture and Prosperity. The London Plan Section 8 - Culturally Rich and Diverse City, London’s Cultural Prosperity Plan, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and London UNESCO City of Music Action Plan are supported by CAIP.

Through a Purchase of Service Agreement with the City of London Culture Services - Neighbourhood and Community Wide Services, the London Arts Council has provided various arts programs for the community over 23 years that build and sustain Londoners’ awareness of, involvement in, and support for all artistic disciplines. These programs have celebrated and supported London’s diverse artistic expressions by providing paid opportunities for professional artists of diverse backgrounds and experiences to develop and deliver artworks and art performances while encouraging community participation in the arts for all Londoners and visitors. Londoners have expressed that they want our community to be welcoming, inclusive, and accessible. The London community believes that the City of London should be a leader in standing up against hate and intolerance by ensuring all Londoners have opportunities for full participation in accessible community programs without experiencing barriers. Londoners have expressed that they want to experience Arts and Culture throughout the city in their everyday lives, which is clearly reflected in growing community demands for diverse arts activations and programming (see charts 1 and 2). London's culture reflects our community's identity, shared histories, values, beliefs, pride, and traditions, all of which are enriched by the diversity of our community. Culturally rich and diverse cities bring communities together by instilling a strong sense of belonging and social cohesion, and our diversity contributes to what makes London a vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive community. As we acknowledge our commitment to Indigenous peoples in London and surrounding First Nations and recognize the growing populations of diverse communities, London must provide adequate support to preserve and promote diverse expressions through arts and cultures. The London Arts Council recognizes the precarious nature of the arts sector and contributes to London’s talent attraction/retention of artists/creators through paid performance/mentorship/collaboration opportunities. The income statistics based on the 2021 Statistics Canada Census indicate that Ontario’s artists are at a significant disadvantage: the median personal income of Ontario professional artists was just $29,600 in 2020, whereas the median personal income of all Ontario workers was $50,400, meaning professional artists’ median income was 41% less than other workers (see chart 7). The London Arts Council also recognizes London’s growing population (see chart 3) especially within culturally diverse communities (see charts 4 and 5). The London region is one of Canada's and Ontario's fastest-growing metropolitan areas. According to Statistics Canada for 2022, international migration accounted for 75% of London's increase, and our diversity continues to contribute to what makes us a vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive community. Recent surveys, however, show that 34% of Londoners have encountered discrimination in the last 5 years due to ethnicity/culture, race/skin colour, and so on (see chart 6), and that 60% of immigrants in London-Middlesex have suffered discrimination and harassment in the last 3 years (London-Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership and Western University: https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/quite-alarming-study-reveals-hostility-toward-immigrants-in-london-middlesex). Since 2022, London Arts Live has received over $250,000 per year in programming requests from artists/creators and various community partners, greatly exceeding the current budget’s capacity. During COVID, London Arts Council successfully leveraged and managed an increased number of outdoor concerts and arts activations through the support of the London Community Recovery Network (LCRN) and other COVID emergency funding programs, meeting the community’s demands; however, these funding programs were discontinued as a result of the government’s decision re: COVID emergency support. London Arts Live and COVID-19 (in-person and online arts activations) Compared to the previous year, in 2020, the number of artists participating in the London Arts Live activations decreased due to COVID 19. During the early stage of the pandemic, the London Arts Council provided daily London Arts Live Online sessions, which provided more than 160 live arts activations through Facebook until the government restrictions were lifted, which explains the sharp increase in the number of activations in 2020. Leveraging COVID Emergency Funds for London Arts Live In 2021 and 2022, the London Arts Council leveraged COVID-19 emergency funding to support artists with outdoor live performance opportunities: My Main Street reimbursement funding in early 2022 for 2021 activations and London Community Recovery Network (LCRN) funds to provide outdoor concerts and arts activations. As a result, in 2022, over 600 arts activations were delivered through London Arts Live, resulting in over $260,000 in artist fees (6.5 times more than London Arts Live's annual base budget). As most government funding programs discontinued COVID emergency support for the arts and culture sector, the 2023 budget was reduced significantly, yet community expectations for live arts experiences and artists needs for more performance opportunities are growing. Chart 3. Population Change Over Time – London vs. Ontario (2017 - 2032) Source: City of London Community Profile: Demographic Trends (2022) According to the 2022 Statistic Canada data, The London region is among Canada’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas and the fastest in Ontario, with its population growing by an astonishing 10 percent (almost double the national average of 2%). Chart 4. Total Percentage of Immigrants by Year – London vs. Ontario (2017-2032) Source: City of London Community Profile: Demographic Trends (2022) According to 2022 Statistics Canada figures, London’s growth was boosted in large part by international migration. In fact, three in every four of the London area’s 16,844 new residents between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, were immigrants. London expects continued population growth, and the total percentage of immigrants is expected to grow faster than the overall population growth. By 2023, the total percent of immigrants will reach 26% of the total population. Chart 5. Total Percentage of Racialized Communities by Year – London vs. Ontario (2017-2032) Source: City of London Community Profile: Demographic Trends (2022) London expects continued population growth, and the total percentage of racialized communities is expected to grow faster than the overall population growth. By 2023, the total percent of racialized communities will reach 26% of the total population. Chart 6. Discrimination – London vs. Ontario Source: City of London Community Profile: Discrimination and Safety (2022) Chart 6 shows that Londoners experience higher numbers of discrimination in comparison to overall Ontario. Discriminations related to ethnicity/culture and race/skin colour were reported as the most common types of discrimination. Whereas the most common situations of discrimination were in work environments and in other common spaces, such as banks, stores, or restaurants. Chart 7. Median Personal Incomes of Professional Artists in Ontario and Canada vs. All Ontario Workers (2020) Source: Hill Strategies, research supported by Ontario Arts Council, using custom data that Hill Strategies requested from Statistics Canada’s 2021 long-form census. The income statistics indicate that Ontario’s artists are at a significant disadvantage, with personal incomes 41% less than other workers. That disadvantage carries over into household incomes that are 23% lower than other workers. The median employment income of Ontario artists was just $11,200 in 2020, which is about one-quarter of the median employment income of all Ontario workers ($42,400). The median personal income of artists (from all sources) was $29,600 in 2020, 41% below that of all Ontario workers ($50,400). Once again, the level in Ontario helps to define the median of all Canadian artists, which is a very similar ($30,200). The chart shows the median personal incomes of all artists in Ontario, all Canadian artists, and all Ontario workers.

Michelle Giroux has made the tough decision to retire from the LAC Board after serving for over 3 years. Thank you for your support, Michelle! We wish you all the best! Michelle Giroux has retired from the LAC Board after serving as a Board Member for over three years. She is a passionate leader, who serves as Associate Dean in the Faculty of Creative Industries at Fanshawe College. Michelle’s appreciation of the arts and support of our team contributed to the appointment of Eunju Yi as our current Executive Director, and the successful leadership transition of the organization. Michelle made the tough decision to leave the LAC Board to focus on her other responsibilities. Thank you for all you contributed while serving on our Board, Michelle! ❤ - The LAC Team

CALL SUMMARY To celebrate, honour, and share Indigenous culture and history, the London Arts Council (LAC) and The City of London invite Indigenous Artists/Creators/Practitioners of Traditional Arts to submit original artwork(s) to be considered for purchase and exhibition for the City of London’s Permanent Art Collection. Examples of the original artwork(s) are included but not limited: • Paintings (e.g. bark, leather, canvas, rock, etc.) • Object Artworks and Fibre Artworks • Wood carvings and sculptures • Textiles • New Media Artworks • Contemporary Indigenous Artworks • Wearable Artworks (e.g. clothing, jewelry, hat, etc.) Indigenous Artists/Creators/Practitioners of Traditional Arts 18 years of age or older who reside in cities, counties, regions, and First Nations located throughout Southwestern Ontario (excluding Greater Toronto Hamilton Area) are invited to apply. Purchased artworks will be professionally curated and displayed on walls and in various spaces within City of London Community Centres and buildings in London for the Indigenous Art Exhibition. Submissions are now closed. PROJECT INFORMATION The City of London is committed to meaningful actions to further their commitment to Truth and Reconciliation through continued support and acknowledgment of the contributions Indigenous communities have made to London and the surrounding community. Therefore, this project will support The City of London in authentically fulfilling its commitments to reconciliation with the Indigenous Community through LAC’s fair and equitable process including the purchase and permanent display of Indigenous artworks to honour the vibrancy and diversity of Indigenous art, culture, knowledge, and history while encouraging visitors and partners to participate in the journey of reconciliation for the Indigenous Community. Rationale and Process Reconciliation work starts with acknowledging the land that we live and work on. Land acknowledgements should recognize the original people of this land and emphasize the settlers’ responsibilities to the land, to the original people, and to Indigenous communities through meaningful actions towards reconciliation. As we have gained from them, we are responsible to acknowledge this and respect Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. In this regard, the City of London land acknowledgement (https://london.ca/city-london-land-acknowledgement) provides strong rationale for this project by answering why we must prioritize working with Indigenous communities in fulfilling our missions and informing the ways in which we can make meaningful actions towards reconciliation. To reflect that, this project will be implemented based on a decolonized approach that emphasizes ongoing relationship building and honouring Indigenous art and culture. As such, artworks created with individual artistic interpretations based on traditional Indigenous ways of knowing and being are encouraged for this opportunity. Examples of past Indigenous exhibition artwork: Eligibility Professional Artist, Creator, and Practitioners of Traditional Arts The London Arts Council defines a Professional Artist/Creator/Practitioner of Traditional Arts as someone who has developed skills through training or practice, is recognized by Artists/Creators/Practitioners of Traditional Arts working in the same artistic tradition, has a history of public presentation, seeks payment for their work and actively practices their work. Short breaks in artistic work history are permitted under this definition. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION **You MUST read the full information package about this opportunity prior to filling out the online application.** This information package includes important information including jury criteria and the design proposal. To view this information package, please download the following file: Online Submission Artists/Creators/Practitioners of Traditional Arts wishing to be considered must complete all application requirements. Please complete all required fields of the online application form and submit the required application documents. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. Applications submitted through other means, such as fax, mail, and email will not be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the application is submitted by the deadline. For any questions regarding this project, please email: info@londonarts.ca For any Call to Artists updates please check the website at www.londonarts.ca If you require support to complete this application due to accessibility barriers, please reach out to Janet Antone, Specialist, Cultivating Allyship: jaantone@londonarts.ca