Assistance to Culturally Diverse Curators for Residencies in the Visual Arts
Deadline
Applications and all support material must be postmarked no later than 1 February. If this date falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Program Description
This initiative supports professional development in all aspects of curatorial practice in the visual arts for culturally diverse curators at their chosen host institution. For this program, the visual arts include painting, sculpture, mixed media, installation, media arts, new media, photography and craft. The purpose of this program is to expand the national pool of curatorial professionals who are of African, Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern origin, and to advance knowledge and expertise in Canadian visual arts institutions.
Eligibility
The curatorial resident and the eligible host institution must apply jointly. Priority will be given to applications that clearly demonstrate that the details of the residency are mutually agreeable to the individual and the institution. The minimum duration of each residency will be one year.
Individuals
Eligible individuals will have past experience and/or education that demonstrates their commitment to further development in the curatorial profession. Such experience can include cultural activities within communities as well as some basic level of training (for example, curatorial internships or museum/gallery work).
The curatorial resident must be of African, Asian, Latin American or Middle Eastern origin and be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
Host Institutions
Eligible host institutions will have a demonstrated commitment to the collection, exhibition and documentation of culturally diverse visual and media arts. Eligible institutions comprise public galleries, art museums and artist-run centres in Canada.
Note that meeting the eligibility criteria allows you to apply to the program. It does not, however, guarantee that you will receive a grant.
Other Restrictions
Students are not eligible to apply to this program.
You may apply for only one Canada Council Grant to Professional Artists program (or to one deadline of that program) in any fiscal year (1 April to 31 March).
You can receive a maximum of two Grants to Professional Artists from the Canada Council in any 48-month period.
Grants cannot be used for projects that have already been completed or for expenses already committed before the program deadline. Retroactive funding is not available.
Grant Amount
This program provides subsistence support to a maximum of $35,000 per year (requested amounts may vary depending upon the range of permanent salaries at the institution and upon the associated living costs). The grant will be payable to the curatorial resident.
Host institutions are responsible for all other expenses associated with the residency, including the costs of exhibition and curatorial research, presentation, circulation and publication. Host institutions may seek further support from the Canada Council for the Arts towards the costs of these activities through other programs of the Visual Arts Section.
Applicants awarded a grant agree to carry out the project described in the application.
Major changes to the residency, including changes to the financial structure or work schedule, must be brought to the attention of the program officer before they are carried out.
Assessment of Applications
Applications are assessed by peer assessment committees, which are composed of experienced professionals (curators, artists, cultural workers, etc.) recognized as such by their peers and selected on the basis of their specialized knowledge. Assessment committee members are chosen to provide a balance of expertise, cultural diversity, regions and genders. New committees members are formed for each competition.
Before they meet, peer assessment committee members receive photocopies of all eligible applications for examination. At their meeting, they study the applications and support material, discuss their relative merit and choose those that will receive grants.
Assessment Criteria
Each application will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
- demonstrated commitment by both the individual and the institution to the long-term development of professional curatorial practice in the visual and media arts
- an appropriate "match" between the individual's goals and the institutional mandate
- provision of qualified professionals as teachers/mentors/advisors to the curatorial resident
- presentation of a realistic, detailed work plan outlining curatorial responsibilities, e.g. research, writing, and exhibition planning and development, and
- the potential impact of the residency for both the host institution and the curatorial resident.
Priority will be given to institutions that demonstrate a long-term commitment to the development of culturally diverse curatorial practice in the visual and media arts, beyond the scope of this residency.
Application Form
Or
Further Information
Pao Quang Yeh
Visual Arts Section Officer
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa ON K1P 5V8
Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or (613) 566-4414, ext. 5094
TTY (TDD) machine, for hearing-impaired callers: (613) 565-5194
Fax: (613) 566-4332
November 2006