The Reconciliation Mural crafted by Indigenous artist Kevin PeeAce, with input from 185 Humboldt students, has become a well-known fixture overlooking Civic Park. Now the mural and the efforts of the team who brought it to life have been recognized with a national award.
On Thursday, October 5, the non-profit national arts organization Creative City Network of Canada, awarded the City of Humboldt Cultural Services and the Public Art Committee the 2023 Public Art Sustainability Award.
Award presenters at the Creative City Summit in St. John’s, NL, where the award was presented and streamed, noted, “Great community engagement and age diversity upped the game relatively to population numbers. It was a great impact for a community of that size. School children who walk by the mural will say ‘I was a part of that.’”
The mural was unveiled in 2022 on the National Indigenous Peoples’ Day when artist Kevin PeeAce attended along with many of the students involved with the project. At its unveiling, PeeAce said that seeing his collaborators gathered together for a photograph and celebration was a moving experience.
Presenters at the conference relayed comments from Humboldt’s Cultural Services Director Jennifer Fitzpatrick.
“[This work of] collaborative art has become a symbol of what can be achieved when we strive to form genuine relationships and learn together about Reconciliation."
The jury also recognized the valuable learning and engagement experiences afforded to students from Greater Saskatoon Catholic and Horizon Division Schools. As the students worked collaboratively on the project, they also took in vital information about Reconciliation, Treaties, the value of working together, and significantly, the power of art to contribute to transformative change.
A group of Cultural Services staff and Public Art Committee volunteers gathered at the Gallery on Thursday to share in the live streamed announcement and presentation. The group was understandably jubilant on hearing the news. Carol McLaren delivered a response on behalf of the Committee.
“Thank you to the Creative City Network of Canada for honouring the City of Humboldt with the Award for Public Art Sustainability. On behalf of the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery Board, thank you to Kevin PeeAce and Jennifer Fitzpatrick for their vision for the mural and their willingness to involve the students in this project.”
McLaren went on to acknowledge the mutual respect evident in the project, and she thanked board members, volunteers, students, and all who came together in the project.
Humboldt was recognized among art projects from much larger cities such as Edmonton and Surrey, BC. Programming through the Museum and Gallery continues as part of the year long pilot project, Reconciliation Through Living Heritage.
The Reconciliation Mural in downtown Humboldt is a perennial reminder for local residents to consider thought and action toward Truth and Reconciliation. Now the collaborative project has outreach to the rest of Canada, a testament to what community partners can do with vision and cooperation.
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Hear the response by Carol McLaren below.
Thu, Apr 25, 9:00 AM
Contract, Administrative
