Just a reminder, the eighth annual Excellence in Visual Arts Awards are tomorrow night at The Rooms starting at 8pm. Seating is limited, but there are still seats available. If you’re interested in attending please contact Dave Andrews at vanl-carfac@nf.aibn.com or (709)-738-7303 to be added to the guest list.
Good luck to all of the nominees!
The eighth annual Excellence in Visual Arts Awards will take place on May 24th at the Rooms, St. John’s, Newfoundland. The EVA Awards are the only awards program solely dedicated to celebrating the visual arts of Newfoundland and Labrador.
This year’s EVA Awards jury reviewed submissions from across the province, representing a wide spectrum of artistic mediums and styles.
The Emerging Artist Award honors the promising start made by an emerging visual artist in the early stages of their career. Sponsored in 2013 by Grenfell Campus, Memorial University. Prize: $1000
The Emerging Artist Award Shortlist
Audrey Hurd
Jonathan O’Dea
Michael Young
The Large Year Award celebrates a visual artist who has enjoyed an exceptional year, with at least one exhibition and critical recognition. Sponsored in 2013 by Sheppard Case Architects. Prize: $1000
The Large Year Award Shortlist
Audrey Feltham
Michael Flaherty
Ned Pratt
The Long Haul Award recognizes a substantial contribution to the visual culture of Newfoundland and Labrador by a senior artist. Prize: $1000 and a Lifetime Membership for VANL-CARFAC. Sponsored in 2013 by The Leyton Gallery of Fine Art.
The Long Haul Award Shortlist
Lloyd Pretty
Colette Urban
The Kippy Goins Award – so named for the small pieces of wood one throws on a fire to “keep it going” – thanks an individual or organization whose efforts have helped to sustain and build the visual arts sector. Prize: original artwork by Michael Pittmann.
The Kippy Goins Award Shortlist
Herb Brown
Community Youth Arts Program
Tina Dolter
The Critical Eye Award recognizes a visual arts writer for an exceptional piece of writing on an NL artist in any print or online publication worldwide. This award is sponsored by Emma Butler Gallery. Prize: $1000. There is no shortlist for the Critical Eye. This year’s winner will be announced on May 24th.
For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Executive Director, Dave Andrews at vanl-carfac@nf.aibn.com or 709-738-7303. A limited number of seats for the ceremony will be available to the public. To be put on the seating list, please contact the VANL office.
The EVA Awards are a Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador initiative.
ART=WORK: a public forum regarding arts workers in NL
Eastern Edge Gallery and VANL-CARFAC are joining forces to present a public forum to discuss the status of arts workers* in Newfoundland and Labrador with representation from across the sector.
TUESDAY APRIL 9 at 7PM AT EASTERN EDGE GALLERY
We strongly believe in supporting those workers in our sector and adjacent sectors who have recently been affected by provincial budgetary cuts.
Specifically but not limited to those cuts experienced by The Rooms, but also Education, Health and other community sectors.
In our minds, thriving creative communities require continued support to all of these sectors combined.
Arts infrastructure is integral to present, preserve and share our province’s culture with the world. These cuts will no doubt add significant pressure to artists, arts workers and communities across our province.
Please join us and make your support heard for artists and arts workers this Tuesday!
Public statements will be heard from:
+ ARTISTS – Philippa Jones, Marlene Creates
+ ARTS WORKERS – Christina Parker (Christina Parker Gallery), Mary MacDonald (Eastern Edge Gallery)
+ ARTS ADVOCATES – VANL-CARFAC
+ LOCAL BUSINESS – Dave Hopley (Living Planet, Rocket Bakery, Pi)
+ ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS
Followed by AN OPEN COMMUNITY FORUM moderated by Dave Lane from Happy City to hear your thoughts.
In addition, the evening will including a PERFORMANCE ART piece by April White entitled ASSEMBLE that features both local artists and arts workers at the beginning of the event.
The discussion will be recorded and delivered to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, the Hon. Terry French. The Minister will also be invited to attend and partake in this discussion.
*Arts workers include artists, educators, administrators, curators, arts businesses etc.
Questions may be directed to:
Mary MacDonald (Eastern Edge Gallery 709 739 1882, easternedgegallery@gmail.com)
Dave Andrews (VANL-CARFAC 709-738-7303 or vanl-carfac@nf.aibn.com)
Thank you.
For Immediate Release:
April 5th, 2013: Members of Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador have expressed dismay at the recent cuts in this year’s budget, which have had a dramatic impact on the visual arts sector across the province. Speaking on their behalf, VANL-CARFAC chair Gerri Lynn Mackey has said that the government has undervalued the arts and that such a shortsighted approach to arts funding will damage both the financial and cultural life of the province. “The cultural sector in Newfoundland and Labrador makes a substantial contribution to the economy annually, and is a draw for skilled labour and tourists alike.”
Addressing the cuts to The Rooms, members of VANL’s Advocacy committee say that the arts infrastructure of Newfoundland and Labrador is being dismantled by the cuts and the impact will affect rural populations just as much as it will St. John’s. “Isolated communities count on the staff of The Rooms to train volunteers, offer advice, install art in public buildings, provide direction to community museums and archives, and much more. You can survive the amputation of a finger or toe, but when you cut the head off, the patient dies.”
Mackey calls on the government to consider the indirect damage and ongoing ripple effect that these cuts will have, not only to arts groups but to the general population: “artists wish to work with, not against, the government. With the oil industry arriving on the scene, people are changing, the culture is changing, and we must have a place to share how that is happening or we will lose ourselves, our identities.”
For more information, contact Dave Andrews at the VANL-CARFAC office, 709-738-7303 or vanl-carfac@nf.aibn.com
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