VANL-CARFAC
Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador

For immediate release: Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador is pleased to announce a new award category in the Excellence in Visual Arts Awards (EVA) program.  The Excellence in Fine Craft Award will promote awareness of, and provide distinction for, Fine Craft in Newfoundland and Labrador by honouring deserving artists and their work.  This exciting new award is co-sponsored by the College of the North Atlantic and the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador.

“The Excellence in Fine Craft Award is a prestigious recognition of outstanding skill, creativity, and mastery that celebrates artists who have made a significant contribution to Newfoundland and Labrador’s culture,” said Davida Smith, Dean of Academics, Applied Arts and Tourism. “College of the North Atlantic is proud to sponsor this award in partnership with the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, an exciting addition to Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador’s annual Excellence in Visual Arts Awards.”

“The Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador is excited to partner with the College of the North Atlantic and Visual Arts Newfoundland and Labrador to create the Excellence in Fine Craft Award,” said Melissa Tarrant, Executive Director of the Craft Council.  “The addition of this award celebrates the artistic value of fine craft in the province and recognizes craftspeople for their significant contribution to the historical and contemporary development of fine craft.”

The VANL-CARFAC Excellence in Visual Arts (EVA) Awards celebrate the achievements of visual artists and recognize the significant contribution the visual arts make to the vibrant and dynamic culture of Newfoundland and Labrador.  The winners of this year’s award will be announced at The Rooms on June 7th 2024.

To view criteria for the Excellence in Visual Arts Award or to make a nomination to the Excellence in Fine Craft Award or any of the EVA awards, visit https://vanl-carfac.com/eva-awards/eva-application-and-selection-process/ 

 

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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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