Surrey council approves public art contract for 100 street poles
Published 11:10 pm Monday, February 23, 2026
Surrey council has approved a city staff recommendation to hire artist Julia Vasileva to design the city’s 2026 public art street banners. Her design is to adorn roughly 100 street poles here.
“Public art street banners provide an opportunity for artists to share their creativity with the community, while also enhancing the City’s public realm,” Laurie Cavan, Surrey general manager of parks, recreation and culture, noted in a corporate report before council. “The intention of the public art street banners is to enhance the experience of the streetscape for drivers, cyclists, transit riders, and pedestrians. Fabrication and installation of the banners is coordinated as part of the City’s Town Centre Street Banner Program. New banners are installed in the spring each year.”
A panel was struck to review 76 design proposals.
Vasileva is a Vancouver-based artist who writes and illustrates children’s books. She also has other work on the go, including greeting cards, posters, public art and graphic design.
“She creates in both digital and traditional media, incorporating hand-cut stencils, stamps, and paper-cut elements to bring texture and depth to her illustrations,” Cavan noted in her report.
“Vasileva’s design titled Flora in Motion begins with the dual panels of the banners, which suggest butterfly wings. The wing pattern features native BC plants, including Pacific Bleeding Heart and Nootka Rose, grounding the piece in local ecology and a sense of place. Bright, bold colours and clear shape help the banners read at a distance and activate the streetscape with warmth, vibrancy, and playfulness.”
The project is funded by the Civic Street Banner Program, within the Community Enhancement Budget, with an annual budget of $125,000 to cover materials, labour and provides banners at 1,015 locations city-wide.
“Types of banners include Town Centre Identity Banners, Surrey Gateway Banners, and Public Art Banners. Of these, approximately 100 would feature the public art design. The artist fee for the public art street banner design is $3,000,” Cavan explains.