The 13 Street underpass in Lethbridge. (Image Credit: Google Maps)

By David Opinko

Help design art for 13 Street underpass in Lethbridge

Mar 2, 2026 | 3:09 PM

Artists in Lethbridge are asked to help turn “a daily commute into a landmark experience.”

The City of Lethbridge Public Art Program, in partnership with the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge, is inviting visual artists to submit qualifications for a new major public artwork piece.

The goal is to commission a multi-element artwork installation in the median of the Highway 3 underpass on 13 Street. It is one of the four primary routes linking north and south Lethbridge.

“The project aims to bring vibrancy, visual interest and a strong sense of place to a highly visible piece of civic infrastructure that serves as a gateway to north Lethbridge,” reads a news release from the City of Lethbridge. “The underpass connects the Warehouse District to the 13th Street commercial corridor and is travelled daily by thousands of residents.”

The selected artist will design, fabricate, and install a permanent public artwork, incorporating existing low-profile concrete planter frames located in the median.

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“Given the site’s function as active transportation infrastructure, the project carries important design considerations. The artwork must maintain clear driver sightlines, discourage physical interaction, avoid visual confusion with traffic control devices and withstand year-round exposure to sand, salt and winter maintenance. The final installation must also be safe, durable and maintainable without requiring future lane closures,” the City says.

More details have been provided below by the City of Lethbridge:

Project Overview

• Location: 13th Street underpass at Highway 3
• Budget: $90,000 + GST (inclusive of all project costs)
• Submission Deadline: April 28, 2026
• Installation Deadline: September 30, 2027

Two-Stage Selection Process

Stage I – Request for Qualifications Artists are invited to submit:

• A Letter of Intent
• A current CV
• Up to 10 images of relevant past work

Submissions will be evaluated on experience, demonstrated excellence and overall suitability for the project.

Stage II – Final Design Proposal (Shortlisted Artists Only) Shortlisted artists will receive an honorarium of $2,500 + GST to develop a site-specific final proposal. An in-person site visit will be required, with travel reimbursed.

Final proposals will be evaluated on artistic merit, originality, safety and durability, feasibility within budget and timeline, and responsiveness to the site’s unique conditions.

Who Can Apply

The competition is open to Canadian professional visual artists, as defined by the Canada Council for the Arts. Individual artists and artist teams are eligible.

Project Timeline

• RFQ Posting: February 27, 2026
• Qualification Submission Deadline: April 28, 2026
• Shortlist Notification: Mid-May 2026
• Site Visit: Late June 8-18, 2026
• Final Proposal Submission: October 2, 2026
• Commission Award and Announcement: November 2026
• Installation Complete: September 30, 2027

Most of the funding for this project comes through the City’s Public Art Program.

This initiative continues the City of Lethbridge’s commitment to integrating art into civic spaces, enhancing public infrastructure with meaningful, high-quality artistic experiences.

Full details, eligibility requirements and submission instructions are available through the City of Lethbridge’s procurement portal.