Coast Salish Mural Commission

ORGANIZATION: Naut’sa mawt Event Management
DEADLINE: May 1, 2026
WEBSITE: https://nautsamawtevents.ca/art-experience/

CALL FOR ARTISTS:
Our Art Collection and Experience Department is inviting Coast Salish artists to submit a mural design for a paid commission.

We are part of Naut’sa mawt Event Management (NEM), an economic development organization owned by the Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council, representing 10 member Nations across southern coastal BC. Our work supports Nation-led initiatives and gatherings and creates space for Indigenous culture, knowledge, and business to come together in meaningful ways.

Through our Art & Experience work, we collaborate with artists to integrate Indigenous art into contemporary event environments in a way that is intentional, culturally grounded, and artist-led.

This opportunity will result in a large-scale, modular mural that becomes part of our art collection and is installed across conferences, cultural gatherings, and public-facing environments. The goal is to bring Coast Salish visual language into these spaces in a way that is grounded in culture, welcoming, and adaptable across a range of settings.

Design Scope & Criteria:

• Design for a large-scale mural approximately 10 ft high x 24 ft long

• The mural will be produced in 6 vertical panels; design must work across panel breaks

• Composition should be clear and legible at large scale

• Must reflect Coast Salish visual language and forms

• May incorporate natural elements connected to Coast Salish territories (ocean, forest, salmon, sky)

• Colour palettes may include traditional red and black, or natural tones such as blues and greens

• Design should be visually balanced and not overly busy, as it may sit behind speakers or alongside event content

• Work should feel welcoming and adaptable across different gatherings and audiences

• Please avoid political themes, as the mural will be used across a range of settings

HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit as a single PDF:

• Your contact information

• A short artist statement (max 250 words)

• One mural design aligned with the outlined dimensions

• A brief description of your concept (max 250 words)

For inquiries or submission support: kmccarthy@nautsamawt.com

FEES/COMPENSATION:

• $500 design fee (paid upon submission of a complete design meeting criteria)

• $5,000 commission fee for the selected artist

• $500 paint/material allowance

• Selected artist will enter a commissioning and licensing agreement and will be profiled wherever the mural is presented