One week left for artists to submit to province-wide, interactive art adventure

MIꞌKMAꞌKI (NOVA SCOTIA)
In celebration of their 50th anniversary, the Ecology Action Centre is partnering with Zuppa Theatre Co. to present an interactive, multi-medium scavenger hunt of environmentally themed art across Nova Scotia. The two groups are currently looking to commission artists for the project, titled 50 Things: a province-wide, interactive art adventure.

The groups will be publicly showcasing 50 art pieces inspired by stories, places and themes related to EAC’s long history of environmentalism. The art pieces will be embedded in 50 locations across Nova Scotia and can be discovered through Zuppa’s NowHere app. When people using the app get close to trigger locations, the app will “unlock” the art and the associated EAC stories. EAC hopes the project will serve as an opportunity for Nova Scotians to reflect on the impacts of past generations of activists, and to get inspired about the future of environmental action across the province. 

"It's been an incredible experience already to look through our archives of the successes, failures, and stories of the past 50 years of action at the EAC and beyond. We're really excited to see these stories come alive in the hands of artists from across the province,” says Joanna Bull, Community Engagement Manager with EAC. “It's fun to give people such a creative avenue to connect with the past, and to engage with these questions about where our movements need to go from here."

The call for artists is open until Friday, May 28, 2021 with a total of 34 commissions currently available to artists across media and from everywhere in Nova Scotia. The EAC and Zuppa will prioritize diversity across all of the 34 commissioned pieces, but four of the commissions will be designated exclusively to BIPOC artists at a higher commissioning fee. Artists are encouraged to conceive and create pieces on any topic related to environmentalism, climate, conservation, or climate justice. Successful applicants will have six weeks to complete their ecology inspired mini-commission.

“The call has already been met with such excitement and enthusiasm from so many different types of artists,” says Stewart Legere, Associate Artistic Director with Zuppa. “The urgency of the climate crisis is reflected in the passion of the applications we’ve received so far. We are so excited to dive into them.”

Artists interested in applying for 50 Things can visit Zuppa’s website to learn more.

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