City introduces Artist in Residence Pilot Program
October 6, 2022
The City of Fort St. John introduced an Artist in Residence Pilot Program for 2022 as a way to enrich the community through various art forms, community workshops, engagement with various community builders, and other initiatives.
The pilot program, consisting of artists Richard Bell and Indigo Hamer, has supported and collaborated on many initiatives within the community since it began in early 2022, such as:
- Pop-up Art Galleries in partnership with Peace Studio North
- Pop-up Chalk Art at the Pomeroy Sport Centre
- Community Mural and public engagement at Music in the Park
- Community Doodle Board found at various community events
Through the fall and winter, the Artist in Residence Pilot Program will be partnering with the Indigenous Artists' Market to bring unique and engaging programming to the community. This includes the upcoming Skateboard Factory program for youth and young adults to design their own skateboard, with registration now open. Watch for more programming coming soon, including an electric guitar design class, Indigenous-led creative opportunities, and the community-favourite doodle board at various locations for the public to enjoy.
“We are incredibly excited to introduce this pilot program that will allow increased professional arts opportunities and create connections with the community in new and creative ways. We look forward to continuing the development of this program and enhancing arts and culture in our community,” stated Arts & Culture Manager, Eryn Griffith.
For additional details about the Artist in Residence Pilot Program, visit https://www.fortstjohn.ca/EN/main/parks-rec/arts-culture/artist-in-residence.html.
Artist Biographies
Richard Bell
Richard studied illustration and graphic design at the Alberta University of the Arts and moved to Fort St. John in 2020. He has spent the past 15 years working on a wide range of projects, from event pageantry with Hockey Canada to game and character design for many video games. More recently, Richard’s focus has shifted to portraiture, street art aesthetics and finding ways to use his artwork to interact with the local community.
Indigo Hamer
Indigo is a Montreal-based multimedia artist working with inks, paints and digital mediums. He began drawing at a young age as a way of bringing to life the characters and worlds that exist in his mind. Indigo learned most of what he knows from books, online courses, and workshops but also attended the Illustration Program at Dawson College. Indigo’s work displays the explorative and energetic perspective of a young artist.
Indigenous Artists’ Market
A social enterprise, in partnership with the Northeast Aboriginal Business Centre and Treaty 8 Tribal Association, the Indigenous Artists’ Market showcases the best traditional and contemporary crafts and art pieces from artists and artisans locally and across Turtle Island.
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