VANL-CARFAC
Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador

Shortlists announced for 2017 Excellence in Visual Arts Awards

ST. JOHN’S NL:  The twelfth annual Excellence in Visual Arts Awards will take place on May 26^th at The Rooms, St. John’s, Newfoundland. The EVA Awards are the only awards program solely dedicated to celebrating the visual arts culture 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.  Below are the short lists for this year.
 
The Emerging Artist Award honours the promising start made by an emerging visual artist in the early stages of their career. Sponsored in 2017 by Grenfell Campus, Memorial University. Prize: $2000
 
The Emerging Artist Award Shortlist
Jessie Donaldson
Virginia Mitford
April White
 
The Large Year Award celebrates a visual artist who has enjoyed an exceptional year, with at least one exhibition and critical recognition. Prize: $2000.
 
The Large Year Award Shortlist
Jason Penney
Ned Pratt
D’Arcy Wilson
 
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.  Sponsored in 2017 by Perfect Day. Prize: original artwork by Mike Gough.
 
The Kippy Goins Award Shortlist          
Mary MacDonald
Anne Manuel
 
The Critical Eye Award recognizes a visual arts writer for an exceptional piece of writing on a NL artist in any print or online publication worldwide.  Prize: $2000.
 
The Critical Eye Award Shortlist 
Mireille Eagan
Mary MacDonald
Penelope Smart
 
For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Program Coordinator, Tessa Graham at vanlcarfac@gmail.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.
 

For Immediate Release:
 
 Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL-CARFAC) is expressing concern over the recent renaming and restructuring of the department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development to become the department of Tourism, Industry and Innovation.”VANL would like to know how this renaming and restructuring will impact visual artists and the visual arts sector of our province and, to that end, is requesting a meeting with the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of the Department to discuss the changes,” said VANL-CARFAC board chair, Teresa Kachanoski: “We have been fielding questions from our membership and would like to know if there is a shift in priority and, if so, what this could mean for the cultural sector.”

“The departmental name change has provoked a strong response from the province’s visual arts community and social media campaigns are already proliferating. Artists want answers.” Kachanoski said.

VANL-CARFAC will keep its membership and the public at large in communication about this issue as it evolves.

For media requests or more information, contact Tessa Graham at the VANL offices, 709-738-7303 or vanlcarfac@gmail.com

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