A public bench designed to mirror the landscape of a nearby ravine. A 12-storey mural of an enigmatic figure that, upon closer inspection, depicts the city it towers over in miniature. These works of public art are just a few examples of how Slate Asset Management has partnered with artists to revitalize neighborhoods across Canada, from Halifax to Calgary.
As a real estate investor and operator, our objective is to create places where our people and tenants thrive, and to contribute to our communities. Since 2016, we have sponsored dozens of public art projects of all shapes and sizes, from towering building-sized murals to rotating lobby sculptures. These art installations are not piecemeal projects – they are part of a holistic strategy for creating long-term value for our investors, tenants and the surrounding community.
Not only does public art strengthen a community’s identity and foster a sense of local pride, it also elevates a neighborhood’s cultural relevance, reputation and aesthetic appearance. In this way, public art contributes to tenant satisfaction, tourism and economic vitality, and stronger capital appreciation for our investors. It’s an investment that equally benefits all of our stakeholders.
Most recently, we partnered with the muralist BirdO, the Beltline Urban Murals Project (BUMP) and the Calgary Downtown Association to create a new mural at 441 5th Avenue, which was completed in August. BirdO is best known for surreal, large-scale murals that combine imagery of animals and geometric shapes. And in Calgary he did not disappoint. A peregrine falcon, native to the city’s famous Bow River valley, was selected as the subject.