VANL-CARFAC
Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador

Recipient of the 2024 Pivotal Point Grant Announced – Visual Artist, Megan Samms, Awarded $5,000

For Immediate Release:  March 15th, 2024    Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL-CARFAC) is pleased to announce Megan Samms as the recipient of the 2024 Pivotal Point Grant in support of their upcoming exhibition “this is how we can visit.”

Megan Samms (she/they) is an L’nu and Nlaka’pamux interdisciplinary artist who works in a range of media including textile, natural dyes and inks, paint, text, and photography and has shared work in exhibitions, residencies, numerous publications.  Megan is also a regenerative, community-based farmer who lives and works in the Codroy Valley.  Samms was awarded this year’s Pivotal Point grant in support of their project this is how we can visit —a body of work composed of handwoven textiles and photographs.  These works will be exhibited near their home in Codroy Valley, in a wool mill where their great grandmother worked as a weaver and fibre producer.  The project will be documented by Kristin Pope, a photographer and frequent collaborator of Samms.

“Over the course of my career, I’ve had to leave my community to formally engage in artistic activities,” Samms says.   “Hosting an exhibition [in the Codroy Valley] opens up space for more artistic dissemination, provides an example of what practice can look like, and shows leadership in rural art working. And put most simply, I wish to share my work with my people in my place.”

“We are very pleased to select Megan Samms as the recipient of this year’s Pivotal Point Grant,” said the 2024 jury.  “Rooted deeply in place and materiality, Megan’s weaving and textile work is thoughtful, evocative, and challenging. Megan’s dedication to community and intergenerational collaboration is undeniable and we’re confident that their project will continue a practice of building bridges between people and places, past and present. Megan’s work makes a real impact, and we’re thrilled to provide support for this important project.”

The 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, to allow them to evolve their practice and develop their reputation and visibility within the art world.  The jury for this year’s Pivotal Point was Robert Hengeveld (Corner Brook), Matthew Hollett (St. John’s) and Sue Balint (Toronto).

For more information on Megan Samms’ work, or to contact the artist directly, please visit: www.livetextiles.online

For media enquiries, please contact VANL-CARFAC at vanlcarfac@gmail.com or (709)-738-7303.  

The Pivotal Point Grant is an initiative of Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador (VANL-CARFAC) and was generously funded by the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador through CelebrateNL and Year of the Arts

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VANL-CARFAC Pivotal Point Grant

Guidelines and Application 

VANL-CARFAC is once again offering a funding opportunity for visual artists in Newfoundland and Labrador! The Pivotal Point Grant is valued at $5000.

Aim of the Grant 

The Pivotal Point Grant will provide financial support for a project and/or activities that will significantly advance an artist’s career, help evolve their 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: 

February 16th, 2024 

Notification of result: 

By March 15th, 2024

Eligibility 

The applicant must be a current member of VANL-CARFAC.  You may 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 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 they meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • The artist is earning a living through art making or possessing a diploma in an area considered to be within the domain of the fine arts
  • The artist creates work or utilizes techniques learned through methods outside of institutional academia, or within the established practices of their cultural traditions
  • The artist is teaching art in a school of art or applied art
  • The artist has their work often seen by the public or is regularly exhibited
  •  The artist is recognized as such 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 (max. 2 pages)
  • Up-to-date curriculum vitae 
  • Artist statement that provides context for previous work (max. 500 words)
  • Digital documentation of previously created artwork’s (maximum of 10 images), DVDs, audio/video documentation (Original artwork will not be accepted)  

Optional Support Materials:

  • Letters of support 
  • Confirmation of residency or exhibition 
  • 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 March 1st, 2025

Submission: 

Click below to download a copy of the application form.  This form must be filled out and included with your application. 

APPLICATION FORM: Pivotal Point Grant Application 2023/2024

Applications may be submitted via Dropbox, by email to :    vanlcarfac@gmail.com

© VANL-CARFAC 2015