New Merchandise Design Opportunity for Dellelce Family Bookstore

Western University’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives and Dellelce Family Bookstore are inviting Indigenous artists who are Western students and/or Western alumni to submit design ideas for artwork to be considered as part of a new line of merchandise to be sold at the Dellelce Family Bookstore and online.

All proceeds from this artwork on Orange Shirts and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation merchandise will be donated to the ‘Save the Barn’ campaign for the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. Mount Elgin Residential School, located in Chippewas of the Thames First Nation from 1851 to 1946, has only one remaining structure – the barn – which is intended to be transformed into an interpretative museum.

Proceeds from other merchandise featuring the selected artwork will be donated to the Office of Indigenous Initiatives to support its mission and programming.

The final artistic piece should be inspired by or reflect the work of Truth and Reconciliation, land stewardship, food sovereignty, cultural reclamation and language revitalization, as the mission of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.

Design Guidelines:

  • Submissions can be artwork in any medium, as long as the design can be transferred effectively to merchandise. This includes, for example, high-resolution photographs of beadwork or other physical artworks that can be adapted for printing on items like t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, etc.
  • Designs should be provided in a format suitable for reproduction (e.g., high-quality image files or vector art, depending on the medium).
  • Artists are encouraged to incorporate meaning or significance from all local First Nations.
  • Avoid the use of trademarked or copyrighted images or phrases.
  • If an Indigenous student, provide your student number upon submission.
  • If an Indigenous alumni, provide alumni number upon submission. Register for alumni number here.

Recognition

  • $1,000 cash prize awarded to the selected artist
  • Artist name and biography featured in promotional materials alongside the merchandise

Eligibility:

  • Artist must be an Indigenous student or Alum at Western and will be subject to the Policy for Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship and Membership at Western University
  • Artist can be emerging and/or mid-career with a related demonstrated portfolio.
  • All submissions must be original and created by the entrant.

Requirements IF selected for branding/merchandise line:

  • Be available to participate in a roundtable discussion to finalize the artwork design in collaboration with recommendations from Indigenous Initiatives and Dellelce Family Bookstore
  • Attend the unveiling event of the merchandise line at Western community

Deadline:

August 5, 2025 at 4 p.m.

Questions? Contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at indigenousinitiatives@uwo.ca

Submit your art entries via this link: uwo.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77ecHeuGkUXTIIS