VANL-CARFAC
Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador

Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador (VANL-CARFAC)  Position: Administrative Coordinator  Salary: $35,000 + contribution to a basic health and dental plan. This position is 35 hours a week for 50 weeks. In-person position located in downtown St. John’s. Deadline for application: January 27th, 2025   Job Description:  VANL-CARFAC is the primary umbrella advocacy organization for the visual arts sector in Newfoundland and Labrador and as a member’s-based group, VANL-CARFAC’s official motto is “artists working for artists.”     The Administrative Coordinator will be tasked with maintaining the VANL-CARFAC office and will serve as the primary contact for members and for non-member artists and organizations.  In this capacity the coordinator will be required to address individual concerns of artist members, locate and dispense the information and resources they may need and/or filter appropriate calls/emails to the Executive Director, the board or committee chairs.   In addition, the Administrative Coordinator is responsible for (but not limited to) the following duties:  * Producing the weekly E-Bulletin highlighting exhibitions, gathering news from the visual arts sector, residencies and job opportunities, and sending it to the VANL membership.  * Bi-weekly bookkeeping, processing memberships and keeping the artist member databases current.  * Email membership/information packages to new members.  * Coordinate with the Executive Director and Board of Directors on all events and programming for the organization as they occur over the course of the year: including the Excellence in Visual Arts Awards, annual general meeting, board meetings, Professional Development workshops, Artist Talks, etc. and work with necessary committees to actualize all details of these programs. * Maintain updated media, gallery and patron contact lists as well as artist’s websites.  * Managing mail orders and memberships * Maintaining the VANL office * Managing VANL’s website and social media and overseeing member communications. Skills * Ability to self-direct and set ongoing goals and objectives, as well as ability to work with board of directors, committees and staff  * Good communication skills * Familiarity with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MailChimp, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, WordPress will be considered an asset * Completion of a visual arts related degree from a post secondary institution, or the equivalent in professional experience in visual arts or a related field is not required but would be considered an asset. * Some experience or specific interest in arts advocacy/policy.  * Organized, deadline oriented and a self starter.  Qualifications This position is funded through the JobsNL Wage Subsidy program, and must adhere to the following: * Applicants must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Newfoundland and Labrador and reside in the province. * Applicants must be unemployed or underemployed (underemployed being someone who has been employed on average less than 20 hours per week or in a field not related to their training) – verification of hours required.   For more information, or to email a resume and cover letter contact: (toll free) 1-877-738-7303 or vanlcarfac@gmail.com * Please include references with your resume.

For Immediate Release:  March 15^th, 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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