Eleven Calgary murals.
Eleven artists from Calgary, across Canada and one from South Africa.
One big alley party.
The Beltline Neighbourhoods Association (BNA) is well into the second year of its Beltline Urban Mural Project (BUMP) and would you believe it, this one’s not done and they’re thinking of expanding.
This is a project put together by the community to showcase art, drive local tourism and the economy and to bring the area together, said BNA president, Peter Oliver.
“It’s a really fun way to celebrate out with the community and there’s some really cool art going in,” he said.
“It’s really to strengthen community here and to improve the public realm.”
This edition of BUMP will also showcase their first Indigenous artist, who has been commissioned to do one of the murals.
All submissions for the program were juried by community members, members of the city’s arts community and former artists.
Once the art’s finished, there will be a party to celebrate. The BNA will host a three-day festival, with artist talks, mural tours and finishing off with an alley party. Did we mention there will be food trucks and local beer, too?
“This has been in the works for half a year already, so it’s really rewarding and satisfying to see all the fruit of this works and have the community come out,” said Oliver.
“Now it gets really fun.”
The buzz in the area is growing. Oliver said when he’s been touring the murals in progress, curious onlookers are often gathered nearby, necks craned, watching the artists masterpiece take shape.
The paintings are permanent, so people will be able to hit the Beltline for years to come to see the murals on building walls. As long as the painting stands up and the building stays, so too will the murals, Oliver said.
“There’s no shortage of walls in the area any time soon,” said Oliver.
And not only is the Beltline version going to continue, but they hope to expand the program into other city communities next year.
For more information, an interactive map and to join in the celebration, visit yycbump.ca.
