Ottawa, May 18, 2005 -- The Canada Council for the Arts has approved a new program that changes the way grants are awarded to visual artists, while at the same time continuing its tradition of support for independent artistic research and creation. The new program will also, for the first time, provide two-year grants to allow Canadian visual artists to develop their art and careers. The new program was approved following extensive consultations with artists across the country. It contains significant changes from a previous proposal that would have directly linked all creation grants to a confirmed exhibition. The new, more flexible program will allow artists to choose what kind of support they most need at different moments during their career. "The most important thing that we learned during the consultations is that artists want the Council to continue to support independent research and creation, regardless of whether an exhibition has been confirmed," said François Lachapelle, head of the Canada Council's Visual Arts section. "Important revisions were made to the original proposal following feedback from the community." Mr. Lachapelle said the Council decided to revise its existing program, which was developed in the 1960s, in an effort to respond to the many and diverse opportunities and challenges that visual artists have today. "When the program was first established, the focus was largely on supporting creation because we needed to develop a Canadian visual arts identity. Today, a growing number of Canadian artists have developed international careers," Mr. Lachapelle said. "The new program is both more flexible and more targeted to assisting artists at important moments in their creation, research, production or career development." The new program of Assistance to Professional Visual Artists will have two main components: Project Grants that provide support on a project basis, and Long-Term Grants, that provide support over a two-year period. Under "Project Grants", the Council will support four types of projects: Research/Creation: Grants of up to $20,000 to allow for a period of independent research at a key moment in the artist's artistic development. There is no requirement for a confirmed exhibition. Production: Financial support (up to $20,000) for the production costs of one or more works for at least one confirmed exhibition in a professional context. Career development: Up to $20,000 in support for an artist's professional development and/or for the development of the artist's relationships with a network of partners who would have an impact on his or her career, including art critics, curators, dealers and publishers. Travel: To respond to invitations for public presentation outside the country or in Canada with a professional presenter not already funded by the Canada Council. (Up to $2,500). The two-year Long-Term Grants will provide grants of $40,000 each year. Eligible artists will have at least three years of exceptional professional practice and expect to have a series of opportunities for the next two years in the fields of research, creation, independent production, the production of a confirmed exhibition, or career development. Emerging, mid-career and established visual artists will be eligible for the Long-Term Grants as well as the Project Grants. In addition to the consultations with artists, the new program was reviewed by an advisory committee consisting of artists Kent Monkman (Toronto), Shelley Ouellet (Calgary), Eric Walker (Ottawa), Hank Bull (Vancouver), Marlene Creates (Portugal Cove, NL) and Stéphanie Béliveau (Montreal). The revision also took place in consultation with CARFAC, the national service organization representing Canadian visual artists, all other national visual arts service organizations, as well as provincial arts funders across the country. "We were pleased with the response we received to the revised proposal, as we have been able to deal with the main concerns that were raised during the consultations," Mr. Lachapelle said. He said the new program will be evaluated in two years' time. The first deadline for the Project Grant component of the new program (excluding travel grants) will be Dec. 1, 2005, while the first deadline for Long-Term Grants will be September, 2006. There will be four deadlines per year for travel grant applications. Information sessions The Canada Council's Visual Arts Section will be holding a series of information sessions across the country to familiarize visual artists with the new program. Upcoming sessions include: Ottawa/Gatineau: Tuesday, May 24, 7 p.m., Daïmõn, 78 Hanson St., Gatineau Toronto: Wednesday, May 25, 7 p.m., The Great Hall, 1087 Queen Street W. Vancouver: Monday, May 30, 7 p.m., Emily Carr Institute theatre, 1399 Johnston Street Montreal: Monday, June 6 (French-language session) and Tuesday, June 7 (English-language session), 7 p.m., Maison de la culture Côte-des-Neiges, 5290 Côte-des-Neiges Rd. Saskatoon: Wednesday, June 8, 7pm, Mendel Art Gallery, 950 Spadina Crescent East Other information sessions will be held later this year in: Inuvik, NWT, during the Great Northern Arts Festival in July Calgary and Edmonton in August Moncton (two sessions: one English and one French), Regina, Winnipeg, Quebec City, St. John's and Halifax in September More information on the new program and the consultation process is available on the Canada Council web site www.canadacouncil.ca/visualarts. -30- Media contact: Public Affairs, Research and Communications Donna BalkanSenior Communications Manager1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4134 Email this contactCarole BretonPublic Relations Officer1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4523 Email this contact
