Deadline extended for applications to design sculpture outside new Dawson Creek hospital

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Artists interested in putting their creativity and skills to the test for a sculpture outside the new Dawson Creek hospital are in luck, as the deadline has been extended. 

Northern Health is seeking expressions of interest from artists for a sculpture outside the new hospital’s emergency room entrance.

The deadline for the submission of expressions of interest has been extended from March 6th to March 27th. 

Artists who are interested are asked to consider numerous themes while designing their submission, including commemorating the legacy of the old hospitals, celebrating the creation of a new hospital, representing stories and cultural and historical symbols or integrating Indigenous culture and perspectives. 

Along with their submission, artists are asked to provide a resume displaying professional training, as well as a portfolio of similar projects. 

The successful candidate will be required to enter into a written agreement with Northern Health that details the scope of the work, deliverables, timeline and payment. 

The budget for the project is $30,000, and will be distributed in three phases.

Phase one is the design phase. The chosen artist, upon approval of the final design, will be awarded $10,000 for the purpose of the project. 

Following phase one, the artist will be awarded $15,000 for the fabrication phase prior to the completion and delivery of the finalized sculpture. 

The artist will then receive $5,000 upon delivery and installation of the sculpture. The chosen artist is expected to attend an unveiling ceremony.

Once the expression of interest period ends on March 27th, the artist who is chosen will be contacted in the week of April 6th. 

The final design is due by the end of May, and the completed sculpture is expected to be unveiled in September.

The new Dawson Creek and District hospital, which will serve the community of Dawson Creek and the surrounding areas, is expected to open two months earlier than expected, as the completion date has been moved from November 30th, 2026 to September 29th, 2026.

Artists who are interested in applying can contact Dawson Creek and District Hospital replacement community liaison Ashley Pannozzo at Ashley.pannozzo@northernhealth.ca or at 250-219-8641. 

More information can also be found on the Northern Health website.