Domestic Stories

Naval Centennial Project: Call for Artists

This notice is to advise that the Canadian Navy, as part of the Canadian Naval Centennial Project 1910 - 2010, intends to commission six official paintings to mark one hundred years of naval service to Canada.  This notice solicits the interest of established Canadian artists for selection as one of the artists to produce these works.

The aim of the Naval Centennial Project is to build and strengthen in Canadians an appreciation for the navy and its contributions to Canada during a century of service, 1910 - 2010. It will promote the navy of today, the requirement for the next navy and the navy after next through the achievements of the past and the present and will endorse the role the navy plays, within the construct of the Canadian Forces, in a maritime nation like Canada.

The centennial will be officially marked from summer 2009 until winter 2010 and planning has commenced.  The navy is in preliminary discussions with Canada Post, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Canadian War Museum and several naval associations like HAIDA, SACKVILLE, WRENS associations and naval museums across the country, just to name a few. Much activity will be centered on the 24 Naval Reserve Divisions, which remain today the most visible manifestation of naval presence across the country.  Events being planned include:  exercising (or obtaining) Freedom of the City, open houses, interactive displays and, performances of the Naval Reserve Band. Several other activities being strongly considered are fleet reviews, ship port visits, an historical conference, a traveling road show comprising musical review, gun run, bands and an accompanying art show. Various parades, dinners, commemorations will be organized as well.

With regard to the paintings, the aim is to produce, based on the theme of  “ One Hundred Years of Naval Service to Canada”, six paintings (36² X 24²) that represent significant highlights of the last one hundred years; specifically, WWI, WWII, Korean War, Cold War, Operation Friction (Persian Gulf War) and Operation Apollo (War Against Terrorism).

Ideally, the navy would like to have one artist represent one era, however, this may not be achievable and will not be a determining factor in the selection process. Each chosen painting would be reproduced for approximately 50 artist’s proofs, 500 signed prints and other smaller, unsigned prints and cards, and would potentially be used in any other promotional material that the navy deemed appropriate. The Crown would be granted full title to and copyright in the works and be provided with a permanent waiver of all of the artist’s moral rights in the works. Interested artists would submit one artist’s study (10² X 12²) on each era they wish to represent for selection by a jury to be established by the project. Paintings will be judged on artistic merit and historical significance by a panel.  The navy is not able to assist with, or fund, research for, or production of, the artist’s study. The artist’s study would be returned on completion of the selection process.

Paintings and print reproductions need to be completed by spring 2009 and thus, the deadline for the submission of the artist’s studies is 31 August 2006.  As well, artists need to include, when they submit their artist’s study, what their fee would be for both the painting and associated copyrights as described earlier in the text, in the event that their submission is selected. In due course, a permanent home for the paintings will be determined; however, initially, they will be on permanent display to the public at locations across the country.

An indication of interest noting the particular era or eras an artist wishes to paint is requested by the end of December 2005. Letters of interest may be sent to the following address:

Project Manager,
Canadian Naval Centennial 1910-2010,
National Defence Headquarters
C/O Chief of the Maritime Staff
101 Col By Dr,
Ottawa, ON, K1A

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