This is My City Artist Trading Card project

The Artist Trading Cards on this site were created by homeless participants at workshops held at the various agencies as well as ‘Project Homeless Connects’ (a one-day service provision for the community).

ATCs are small format works of art (2.5 x 3.5 in) that are made in any medium and about any theme. One does not have to be a trained artist to make ATCs, just have something you want to say. The idea was started in 1997 but Swiss artist m. vanci stirnemann and brought to Calgary that same year by artist/instructor Don Mabie. The New Gallery in Calgary has held regular trading sessions since the beginning.

ATCs were part of The City of Calgary’s ‘This is My City’ project from September 2008 to March 2010. TMC became a nonprofit art society in September of 2010 and ATCs have continued to be part of the programming.

‘This is My City’ was initiated by the City of Calgary to facilitate the engagement of homeless citizens in art-making. TMC will provide artistic tools and mentorship to enable homeless art-makers to find their creative voices and encourage them to use their art-making as a conduit for public advocacy and dialogue. Artist Trading Cards fit into this mandate perfectly as a means of exploring creative expression on a small scale and in an open environment. The workshops allow one to experiment with different techniques as well as foster communication and community among the participants.

Since ‘the trade is the thing’ with ATCs, this aspect of the project aims to encourage not only the trade of art (noncommercial aspect) but also build community through the trading network. The homeless card-makers are encouraged to attend the monthly trading session.

TMC does not pretend to be a solution to the homeless crisis. Rather, the project intends to enable homeless citizens to speak on their own behalf through the power of creative self-expression.