Winners announced for the 2021 Excellence in Visual Arts Awards

 

For immediate release:

JOHN’S NL:  The fifteenth annual Excellence in Visual Arts Awards took place virtually on July 9th. The event was hosted by Emma Burry.  The EVA Awards are the only awards program solely dedicated to celebrating the work of the visual artists of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Emerging Artist Award honors the promising start made by an emerging visual artist in the early stages of their career.  The Emerging Artist Award 2021 went to artist Alex Antle from the community of
Elmastukwek, Ktaqmkuk (Bay of Islands,Newfoundland).

The Milestone Award celebrates a visual artist who has, in the last calendar year, achieved a significant milestone in their career, through exhibition or presentation, a breakthrough in their practice, or new and innovative exploration. This year’s Milestone Award went to St. John’s, Ktaqmkuk-based artist Kai Bryan.

The Mary MacDonald Award is named to honour NL’s beloved arts administrator, curator and writer Mary MacDonald, who passed away in 2017, and who demonstrated an unfailing belief and support for the work of artists and arts organizations as being absolutely necessary and essential to the wider community.  This award, thanks an individual or organization whose efforts have helped to sustain and build the visual arts sector.  The winner of this year’s Mary MacDonald Award is Union House Arts.   

The Critical Eye Award celebrates the best piece of critical writing about an NL artist in any print or online publication worldwide. This year’s winner of the Critical Eye is Bonavista Penninsula’s Jane Walker, for her piece “Keeping the Lights On: Will Gill, Pepa Chan and Mike Gough”

The Endurance Award recognizes the consistent dedication and commitment of an artist to their professional practice, and to sustained creative output and performance.  This year’s winner of the Endurance Award was artist Tara Bryan, who is receiving this award posthumously. 

For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Program Coordinator, Kristen Piercey at vanlcarfac@gmail.com or 709-738-7303.

The EVA Awards are a Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador initiative.

 

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