CARFAC seeks to honour a professional artist from Alberta, who has made a significant contribution as an advocate for the Canadian visual arts community. This contribution may be national or regional in scope, and is a wonderful opportunity for a local arts advocate to gain national recognition and thanks for their work.
This year, the National Visual Arts Advocate Award will be presented during our national AGM to be held June 3rd in Edmonton. The winner will receive a craft-based artwork, made by an artist from Alberta.
The inaugural award was presented to Kim Ondaatje and Tony Urquhart in 2008, in celebration of CARFAC’s 40th anniversary. The award was presented to two of CARFAC’s founding members, who diligently worked towards the creation of an organization that represents and protects the professional interests of visual artists across Canada. A new era of arts activism was born under their leadership, and through this award, we pay tribute to further achievements made by artists in the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of visual artists, and the overall well-being of the visual arts community. Past winners include Pierre Tessier, Marlene Creates, Todd Janes, Sarah Petite, Pat Durr, Bill Horne, Johnnene Maddison, and Holly Faye.
Eligibility
All professional visual artists who are permanent Canadian residents living in Alberta are eligible*, and any member of the public can nominate an artist for the award.
Professional Visual Artists, as defined by the International Association of Art and adopted by CARFAC, must fit at least one of the following criteria:
A “professional artist” is one who:
- earns a living through art making;
- possesses a diploma in an area considered to be within the domain of the fine arts;
- teaches art in a school of art or applied art;
- whose work is often seen by the public or is frequently or regularly exhibited;
- is recognized as an artist by consensus of opinion among professional artists.
* Current CARFAC National board members and staff are not eligible for nomination.
Jury
The CARFAC National Board shall choose the three members of the Awards Committee, which shall have national and regional representation.
Nominations
Anyone can nominate a visual artist(s) for this award by completing the nomination form and forwarding it to CARFAC National: award@carfac.ca.
Please put “CARFAC National Visual Arts Advocate Award nomination” in the subject heading.
All nominations are kept confidential.
All nominations must include:
- a 1 page support letter
- the artist’s current CV or biography
- a completed nomination form which is supported by at least two nominators
Deadline for receipt of nominations is April 21, 2017.
For further information about these awards, or to submit a nomination:
Visual Arts Advocate Award Committee
c/o CARFAC National
Toll-free: (866) 344-6161
Phone: (613) 233-6161
Fax: (613) 233-6162
director@carfac.ca