Extended Deadline For VANL Excellence In Visual Arts Nominations
VANL-CARFAC Questions Place of Culture in Newly Named Department (NL)
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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2017 EVA Awards – Call for Nominations Now Open!
VANL-CARFAC Now Accepting Nominations for 2017 Excellence in Visual Arts Awards!
All artists in the province are encouraged to apply for the 2017 Excellence in Visual Arts Awards. There are five categories for this year’s ceremony,which are:
1. the Long Haul Award for lifetime achievement;
2. the Large Year Award, for an artist who has had an exceptional year;
3. the Emerging Artist Award;
4.the Kippy Goins Award, which recognizes an individual or organization who has helped the growth of the sector;
5. the Critical Eye Award, which recognizes a visual arts writer for an exceptional piece of writing on an NL artist in any print or online publication worldwide.
Cash prizes of $2000 are attached to the awards, with exception of the Kippy Goins, whose recipient will receive an original artwork by artist Mike Gough.
Applications must be received or postmarked by 5 pm, March 31st, 2017. Application forms and full rules can be found here.
As the only awards program solely dedicated to celebrating the achievements of this province’s visual artists, the EVA Awards have become an exciting part of the annual cultural activities in this province. With previous winners from Grand Falls-Windsor, St. John’s, Corner Brook, Pouch Cove and Robinsons, this awards program recognizes excellence province-wide.
For more information about the EVA Awards, please contact Tessa Graham at 1-877-738-7303 or vanlcarfac@gmail.com.
Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador Question Possible Changes to the Rooms Act
For Immediate Release:
December 6th, 2016: Members of Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL-CARFAC) are expressing concern over the imminent changes to the Rooms Act with the impending passage of Bill 56, which, according to the wording of the bill would repeal and replace the current Rooms Act, making substantial changes to the corporation’s structure. According to Bill 56, these changes would include “removing the requirement for separate divisions and directors for the archives, museum and art gallery.”
“We would like to know the reasoning behind such a major change, and how the community was consulted,” said David Andrews, Executive Director of Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador. “The Rooms Act was originally created, in part, through a major public and stakeholder consultation process, and there is an article, written into the Act itself, stating the need to consult the public regarding the strategic plan and major activities.”
The Rooms Act was created in 2005 to merge the Provincial Archives, the Provincial Art Gallery, and the Provincial Museum into a single entity—the Rooms Corporation—and outlines the structure, purpose and activities of the organization.
Andrews, goes on to say: “There are some disturbing omissions in the new Act, that raise serious concerns about the impact that this restructuring could potentially have on the Art Gallery. We’ve requested a meeting with Minister Mitchelmore and hope to get some clarification on these changes and how the consultation process was enacted.”
The text of Bill 56 can be found at: http://www.assembly.nl.ca/business/bills/bill1656.htm
For media requests or more information, contact Tessa Graham at the VANLoffices, 709-738-7303 or vanl-carfac@nf.aibn.com