On April 4, Humber and the University of Guelph-Humber students presented their artwork for the inaugural Siemens Art Call competition. Three students won the competition, each receiving a $1,500 honorarium and the opportunity to display their artwork at Siemens Canada’s headquarters, joining the list of artists featured in the Siemens Corporate Art Collection.  

Longstanding partners Humber College and Siemens launched the competition in early February, giving students just over two months to work on their pieces. Students could submit original artwork using any physical medium that spoke to the theme of Technology with Purpose.

“This is the first time that we’ve had an art competition involving a partner in Canada,” said Susan Park, vice president of communications at Siemens Canada. “It was so interesting to see how students took this theme and interpreted it with art. Every submission was personal and insightful – it was exciting to see.”  

Students submitted their artwork and a panel of judges comprised of Humber and Siemens’ leadership teams met virtually to choose the winners. The panel included Chris Whitaker, president and CEO of Humber College, Faisal Kazi, president and CEO of Siemens Canada and Dr. Stephan Frucht, artistic director of the Siemens Art Program. 

After great deliberation, the panel announced the three winners, listed in no particular order: Cindy Lam for their piece entitled The Blueprint of Our Future; Rubie Rumbaoa for Through the Touch of Technology; Aleksandra Volkova for The Road We Build. 

“I am beyond excited to see my artwork displayed alongside the two other talented student artists at Siemens,” said Rubie Rumbaoa, a student in the Bachelor of Interior Design program. “This experience has reignited my love for the arts”  

Siemens is known for its development and deployment of technologies and provides many experiential learning opportunities for Humber students.  

“I am extremely grateful for this real-world experience,” said Cindy Lam, a student in the Photography diploma program. “As a mature student who is just entering the creative field, this opportunity is a significant starting point for my career.”  

The Art Call marks Siemens’ first venture with Humber Galleries, which provides access to artistic and creative experiences on campus. Many of the submitted artworks will be showcased in the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation (BCTI). The new installation aligns with Humber’s Campus as a Canvas initiative, which integrates students’ artwork across campus buildings and spaces.  

“Strategic partnerships are fundamental and a key part of Humber’s polytechnic identity,” said Tyler Charlebois, director of the Centres of Innovation Network and Partnership Development at Humber. “We often look for ways to connect our partners with all of our Faculties, COIs and students across the college.”  

“Opportunities like the Siemens Art Call give our students experiences beyond the classroom, allowing them to showcase who they are and let our industry partners see the next generation of shining stars.”  

Part of the inspiration for this competition came from Siemens’ desire to extend its Corporate Social Responsibility portfolio to include opportunities within the arts and culture sector, an area deeply impacted by the pandemic.  

“We’re excited to provide a platform for students to showcase their artwork to jumpstart their careers,” said Park.  

“We hope this project helps put arts and culture back in the spotlight and inspires more collaborations with Humber.”  

Find more information about the 2022 Siemens Art Call on our website.