Call For Artists: Outdoor Art Along the Dark Sky T’Railway
Looking For Artists
The Western Regional Enterprise Network (Western REN) is inviting artists and creative teams to take part in a transformative public art initiative that celebrates the wonder of the night sky and our region’s natural beauty. Expressions of Interest are now open for Rails to Trails Outdoor Art: Dark Skies Themed—a signature project under the Get Side Tracked program.
This exciting opportunity calls on artists to design and install original, dark sky-inspired artwork along pre-identified locations of the former rail-to-trail system, stretching from Smiths Cove to Barrington. Selected artwork installations will be carried out at identified locations along the trail, blending art, nature, and community, while raising awareness of our globally recognized dark skies.
Honouring Our Stars and Stories
Southwest Nova Scotia is proud to be the first region in North America designated both a Starlight Tourist Destination and Starlight Reserve, officially certified by the UNESCO-supported Starlight Foundation. Local municipalities have adopted dark sky policies to protect this rare natural asset from light pollution—and now, artists are invited to help tell this story through creative, durable public art.
“The night sky has guided, inspired, and united people across time and cultures,” says Brenda LaGrandeur, Special Project Coordinator at Western REN. “This project invites artists to bring that universal connection to life in our communities, through innovative works that will live outdoors and interact with their surroundings by day and night.”
Project Details and Artist Invitation
Artists may work with existing natural and built elements—such as boulders or wooden structures—or propose entirely new outdoor installations. All works must creatively reflect the “Dark Skies” theme, whether through literal depictions or symbolic explorations of light, darkness, and the cosmos.
Eligibility:
- Open to professional and emerging artists or collectives with experience in large-scale indoor or outdoor art.
- Preference given to those with ties to Western REN’s region (Yarmouth, Digby, and Barrington areas).
- Expertise in weather-resistant materials is required.
Key Dates:
- Submission Deadline: May 9, 2025
- Shortlist Notification: May 16, 2025
- Installation Completion: November 28, 2025
Submission Requirements
Interested artists are asked to submit:
- A brief artist statement and vision for the project
- Portfolio of relevant past work
- Preliminary budget and timeline
- Site preferences (if any)
- Contact for one reference
Apply by email to:
Brenda LaGrandeur at blagrandeur@westernren.ca
Subject line: Dark Skies Artwork Proposal
For full details, call 902-653-0369 or visit https://westernren.ca/about-us/tenders/
About the Get Side Tracked Project
Get Side Tracked is a creative placemaking initiative from Western REN aimed at fostering cultural tourism, community identity, and economic development through site-specific art installations along active transportation corridors in Southwest Nova Scotia.