Call for Collaborators: Interactive Art Experiences - Creativity & Innovation Summit 2025
Submission deadline: July 30, 2025
Artist fees: $2,500 (+HST if applicable)
Business & Arts NL is seeking an artist to develop and facilitate an interactive art activity for the 2025 Creativity & Innovation Summit. Taking place at the Sheraton Hotel on November 4, the event will welcome 200–250 participants from across the private, public, and creative sectors. The Summit features speakers, networking opportunities, and experiences designed to spark new connections and inspiration. This is an opportunity for an artist/artist team to create and present a hands-on, participant-driven experience that unfolds throughout the day and encourages conversation between attendees.
Ideally, the selected interactive art activity will have its debut at the Summit, and become a standalone offering that other businesses or organizations are interested in engaging for their events. With this secondary goal in mind, Business & Arts NL will offer feedback and an opportunity to test the project with a focus group in advance of the Summit.
Project Brief
This event is focused on the value of creativity to individuals, workplaces, and society. Artists and their worldview and expertise are placed at the heart of this conversation. These activities, interspersed between more traditional opportunities to network and inspiring speakers from various creative backgrounds, are an important driver of engagement and conversation at this event.
We’re seeking activities that:
Spark participants curiosity or creativity
Engender “creative confidence” (confidence in one’s own creativity)
Start conversations
Are unintimidating - an easy “nudge for participation”
Are story catalysts, creating an experience that participants will talk about after they leave.
Proposed activities may accomplish any of the following:
Play with data - for instance a form of data portrait, or a creative and innovative way to gather data for impact measurement
Result in a final piece/output that participants contribute to/co-create
Provide something participants can individualize/make their own in dialogue with others
Result in something participants can keep
Logistics
These projects could last mere seconds, or span several minutes. For instance, attendees at last year’s summit checked in by selecting a pin or pins that represented their creative strength/s, and another favourite project saw participants take a small clay fish and some paint back to their seat to paint while speakers were speaking, and later add it to a collective artwork facilitated by Daniel Rumbolt and Amber-Lynn Thorne. The length of time for instructions to be given should be minimal, so that participants can choose how much time they wish to spend engaging with the activity and networking.
We aren’t able to mount works directly on the wall at the Sheraton, and so activities need to be free standing, displayed on a table, on easels etc, and activity materials must be easily transported and able to be set up early on the morning of the event.
Budget
Artist Fee = $2,500* + HST (if applicable)
*Artist fee includes design of the activity, delivery/facilitation and participation in the Summit, and providing materials (bio, photos, artist statement) to support event marketing. Additionally, he cost of materials will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $1,000.
Eligibility
Newfoundland and Labrador-based artists of any/all disciplines, which may include visual artists and craftspeople, designers, interdisciplinary artists, multimedia artists, installation artists, and artists whose practices focus on community participation or engagement.
Emerging, mid-career, and established artists are encouraged to apply
Business & Arts NL is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. We encourage applications from artists of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences.
Selection
The selected activity will be chosen by a small focus group of Summit stakeholders, based on the project’s anticipated impact, and how it fits within the overall program.
Submission Requirements
Please submit the following, combined into a single pdf:
A short proposal outlining your interactive idea (max 500 words) including the cost of materials for 250 participants
A brief bio or CV
Up to 5 images of your previous work
A short note about why this opportunity interests you
Project Timeline
Proposals due: July 30, 2025
Selected artist will be notified by: August 11, 2025
Mid-point test run/feedback (see FAQ for details): Sept 30, 2025
Summit: Nov 4, 2025
Send your proposals to: Lynn Panting - lynn@businessandartsnl.com
Have questions or want to talk through your idea? Reach out to Lynn lynn@businessandartsnl.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
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In order to ensure that your project fits well within the flow, messaging, and vibe of the Summit, we’ll get together on Sept 30 to talk through the setup, space/technical requirements, language, materials etc. We’ll provide any feedback we have and work together to ensure the project is set up for success and maximum impact with Summit attendees. There may be an opportunity to test the project with a small focus group as well.
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Yes, we will offer a travel stipend to cover kilometrage, accommodations and per diem for selected artists living outside of the Avalon Peninsula.