Mount Allison University invites Mi'kmaq basket makers and Mi'kmaq-led artistic teams to submit Expressions of Interest for the creation of a permanent public artwork celebrating the basketry traditions of Mi'kma'ki for the R.P. Bell Library Centre for Innovation and Learning. Situated within the unceded and ancestral territory of Mi'kma'ki, Mount Allison University recognizes the deep and enduring relationship between the Mi'kmaq people and these lands and waters.
This commission seeks to honour Mi'kmaq cultural knowledge, artistic excellence, and basketry traditions. Basket weaving is more than an artistic practice; it embodies relationships with the land, intergenerational knowledge, language, community, and the responsibilities that accompany living in relation with place. The selected artwork will serve as a lasting expression of these teachings within one of the university's most significant public spaces.
The project should include: Artistic design and fabrication of a permanent Mi'kmaq basketry installation; an indoor suspended installation appropriate for a high-traffic public environment; a design that demonstrates Mi'kmaq basketry traditions, materials, or contemporary interpretations; respect for Mi'kmaq cultural protocols and artistic sovereignty; durable materials suitable for a minimum design life of 30 years; compliance with accessibility, circulation, structural, and life-safety requirements; consideration of sustainability and long-term maintenance. Lighting may be incorporated where appropriate and must comply with applicable codes and certification standards.
Artwork proposals are not required at this stage. The successful proponent will work collaboratively with the university to develop the final design. This concept was proposed by an Indigenous Talking Circle consisting of Elders, representatives from various First Nation communities, Indigenous students, Indigenous faculty, and Indigenous design professionals, guided by the Indigenous architectural firm Two Row Architect.
While the rendering illustrates illuminated baskets, artists are not required to incorporate lighting into their design.