BUMP Festival Arts Society and real estate developer Astra Group have partnered to transform the construction hoarding surrounding Calgary’s former Hudson’s Bay building into a 283-foot public art installation, commissioning four local artists to create large-scale digital works for the downtown site.
The temporary installation stretches along 1 Street S.W. and features original artwork by Leechuts, WAPOSHPYII, Jarett Sitter and Katherin Leivikov. The project turns the construction barrier into an outdoor exhibition exploring the changing identity of Calgary and the future of a prominent downtown property.
The collaboration also provides a new opportunity for BUMP to work with private-sector developers to commission artists and incorporate cultural projects into spaces undergoing redevelopment.
“We see the public realm as a place to have conversations with Calgary, and wanted to explore a question that would invite these artists to play with ideas of transformation and possibility. Public art can question, provoke and offer new ways of seeing the places we inhabit. In moments of change, it creates space for artists to imagine what might come next and contribute their own perspectives to the future of our city,” said Priya Ramesh (CONTRA), creative director, BUMP Festival Arts Society.
Former department store provides backdrop for installation
The installation, centred on the question What Might Exist Here?, features four independent artworks, each occupying an approximately 70-foot-wide section of the hoarding. The works were digitally produced and printed onto vinyl for display along the construction perimeter.
Artists were invited to interpret the theme through their individual creative practices, examining ideas including change, memory, movement, myth and possibility.
The project is located around the former Hudson’s Bay building at 200 8 Avenue S.W., which has been part of downtown Calgary since 1913. The six-storey property originally opened as a major department store and remained a downtown landmark until Hudson’s Bay closed in 2025.
The construction hoarding serves as a protective barrier around the property and helps ensure public safety during the site’s transition. BUMP and Astra said they saw an opportunity to use the temporary structure as a public-facing space rather than leave it as a conventional construction boundary.
For Astra, the partnership reflects an approach to development that considers the surrounding public realm and community experience alongside the redevelopment of physical properties.
“We believe the private sector has an important role to play in shaping the experience of our city, not just through the buildings we develop, but through the spaces and communities around them. Our partnership with BUMP is an example of how collaboration can bring new ideas to life, support Calgary’s creative community and create something meaningful for the people who live, work and visit downtown. We’d love to see more partnerships like this across our city,” said Logan Smith, chief operating officer, Astra Group.
The company has not yet revealed its plans for the former Bay space.
Partnership creates new opportunities for artists
For BUMP, the project expands its public art programming beyond traditional murals and seasonal festivals. The organization said working with a private development partner creates opportunities to commission artists, bring contemporary artistic practices into public spaces and connect creative projects with areas undergoing development.
The four artists were given the freedom to develop their own interpretations of the theme rather than work from a predetermined artistic vision for the property.
The scale of the installation also gives the artists an opportunity to experiment with digital artwork across an expansive urban surface, while presenting their work to pedestrians, commuters, downtown employees and visitors who may not regularly visit galleries.
The project highlights how temporary spaces associated with construction and redevelopment can be used for cultural purposes while properties undergo change. It also creates an opportunity for artists to contribute to discussions about the future identity of Calgary’s downtown.
BUMP has commissioned more than 500 installations
BUMP Festival Arts Society began in 2017 as the Beltline Urban Murals Project and has since grown into an independent charitable arts organization. It has commissioned more than 500 public art installations throughout Calgary, working with artists across multiple disciplines.
In addition to its annual festival, the organization operates year-round programming that includes the Urban Arts Conference, Alley Parties, guided mural tours, workshops and public art commissions.
Astra Group is a Calgary-based real estate development company focused on the redevelopment of underutilized buildings. Its work includes adaptive reuse, development and partnerships intended to contribute to downtown revitalization and community development.
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