VANL-CARFAC
Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador

Visual Artist, Kay Burns, Awarded $5,000 for Upcoming Project

For Immediate Release

St. John’s, NL – October 30, 2015 – Cox & Palmer and Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL-CARFAC) are pleased to announce that Kay Burns is the recipient of the 2015 Cox & Palmer Pivotal Point Grant. Ms. Burns, who is currently based on Fogo Island, will receive the $5,000 grant in support of her project “The Museum of the Flat Earth.”

“Cox & Palmer is delighted to recognize and support Kay Burns as she undertakes her ‘Museum of the Flat Earth’ project,” said Paul McDonald, partner of Cox & Palmer and chair of the firm’s BRAVO! – Supporting the Arts sponsorship program. “If we didn’t already have enough reason to visit Fogo Island, Kay’s work will be that extra reason to go.”

The Cox & Palmer Pivotal Point Grant is a funding opportunity offered through VANL-CARFAC for visual artists in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was created to provide financial support for working visual artists who have reached a crucial point in their artistic career and to allow them to evolve their practice and develop their reputation and visibility within the art world.
“We were impressed by the number of strong applications submitted by artists across the province, and we had a thorough debate over the merits of each one,” said a representative of this year’s jury. “Kay Burns was selected because of the strength of her current work and her detailed, ambitious plans to expand the complexity and influence of her practice. One of the most important aspects of her application is the plan to create a unique, locally relevant cultural resource within her community on Fogo Island. Based in narrative, humour, healthy scepticism of received wisdom and an unshakable confidence in the power of human experience, Kay Burns Museum of the Flat Earth marks a pivotal point in the artist’s career.”

For media enquiries, please contact VANL-CARFAC’s Program Co-ordinator, Tessa Graham, at vanlcarfac@gmail.com or (709)-738-7303.

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Guidelines and Application

Cox & Palmer has partnered with VANL-CARFAC to offer a new funding opportunity for visual artists in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Cox & Palmer Pivotal Point Grant is valued at $5000 and is awarded annually.

Aim of the Grant

The Cox & Palmer Pivotal Point Grant will provide financial support for a project and/or activities that will significantly advance an artist’s career, help evolve his or her practice and/or develop the artist’s reputation and visibility within the art world. Examples include, but are not limited to: development of new audience/market through exhibitions; publications and presentations; skill set development for use of new media or materials crucial to the creation of a specific body of work; participation in a residency that provides time and facilities to generate new work; or support for creation of a body of work or for exhibition costs at a significant venue.

Deadline for Application
September 11, 2015

Notification of Result
October 30, 2015

Eligibility

Applicants must be a current member of VANL-CARFAC. Applicants can become a member at the time of application.

This grant is open to professional visual artists who are residents of Newfoundland and Labrador:
• Must be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status
• Must be a current resident of Newfoundland and Labrador for a minimum of twelve consecutive months immediately prior to the time of application
• Must be at least eighteen years of age

Definition of professional artist

A creator of visual art has the status of professional visual artist if: earning a living through art making or possessing a diploma in an area considered to be within the domain of the fine arts, or teaching art in a school of art or applied art, or whose work is often seen by the public or is frequently or regularly exhibited, or recognized as an artist by consensus of opinion among professional artists.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses include all reasonable expenses that will be incurred during the course of the proposed activity such as: travel, materials and supplies, technical support, residency costs, fabrication costs, shipping, studio rental, development and publication of promotional materials. The proposed project can be for individual or collaborative projects (include documentation for each collaborator). Other types of expenses will be considered as long as clearly justified by the nature of the proposed plan.

• Travel
• Materials and supplies
• Residency fees
• Studio rental
• Small equipment (up to $2000)
• Training costs
• Wages for assistants
• Consultant fees
• Technical services
• Professional development costs
• Exhibition expenses
• Publication costs
• Contribution towards living expenses

Ineligible expenses:

• Retroactive costs
• Purchase of building
• Renovations or construction
• Tuition

Required application support materials

• Completed application form and detailed budget
• Detailed project description that clearly outlines the program or nature of activities, how this will be carried out within the stated timeline and how this will be beneficial to the advancement of your career and/or artistic practice
• Up to date curriculum vitae
• Artist statement that provides context for previous work
o Digital documentation of previously created artwork– maximum of 20 images, DVDs, audio/video documentation (Original artwork will not be accepted)
• Optional Support Materials:
o Letters of support
o Confirmation of residency or exhibition
o Recent reviews, catalogues, etc.

Assessment Criteria will be based on the following three components:
• Artistic merit of work produced
• Strength and feasibility of proposed activity
• Ability to enhance the artist’s career/artistic practice.

Adjudication Process
All applications will be reviewed by the VANL-CARFAC staff for eligibility and completeness. All applications that meet these criteria will then be assessed by a committee of artists and arts professionals chosen by VANL-CARFAC’s board of directors.

Final Report
A comprehensive final report is required that includes an outline of the project/activities, a budget and the benefit to the artist. This report is due within one month of completion of the project.

Timeline:
Projects to be completed by October 30, 2016

Submission:

CLICK HERE to download the application form. This form must be filled out and returned with your application submission.

Applications may be submitted via dropbox or WeTransfer.com (preferred) or by email to vanlcarfac@gmail.com, or by mail to:

Pivotal Point Grant
Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL-CARFAC)
Devon House
59 Duckworth Street, 3rd Floor
St. John’s, NL, A1C 1E6

Winners announced for the 2015 Excellence in Visual Arts Awards

The tenth annual Excellence in Visual Arts Awards took place on June 5^th at the Rooms, St. John’s, Newfoundland. The event was hosted by Sheilagh O’Leary. The EVA Awards are the only awards program solely dedicated to celebrating the work of the visual artists of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sponsored by LAT49 Architecture Inc., The Large Year Award celebrates a visual artist who has enjoyed an exceptional year, with at least one exhibition and critical recognition. This year’s Large Year Award 2015 went to John McDonald.

The Emerging Artist Award honors the promising start made by an emerging visual artist in the early stages of their career. The Emerging Artist Award 2015 went to St. John’s artist Kyle Bustin. This award was sponsored by Grenfell Campus, Memorial University.

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. The Kippy Goins Award went to the Sharon LeRiche & the Craft Council Gallery. This award was sponsored in 2015 by Perfect Day.

Kent Jones was the winner of The Long Haul Award, sponsored by the Leyton Gallery of Fine Art. The Long Haul recognizes a substantial contribution to the visual culture of Newfoundland and Labrador by a senior artist.

The Critical Eye Award celebrates the best piece of critical writing about an NL artist in any print or online publication worldwide. This year’s winner was Bruce Johnson.

A new addition to this year’s ceremony, in honor of the awards’ tenth anniversary, the People’s Choice Award, was sponsored by Christina Parker Gallery. The winner, chosen by the public through an online voting system, was Mike Gough.

Congratulations to all nominees, shortlisters and winners!