Emerging Atlantic Canada artist residency brings exceptional visual artists to Banff

BANFF, AB, November 9, 2015 – Thanks to the generous support of the Harrison McCain Foundation, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and The Hnatyshyn Foundation are helping to strengthen cultural connections between eastern and western Canada with a new creative residency for emerging visual artists. Valued at $30,000 each (with a commitment for three years), the Emerging Atlantic Canada Artist Residency is the first of its kind in Canada and will give one Atlantic artist per year the opportunity to explore, expand, and develop their practice during an eight-week, self-directed residency at Banff Centre.

”As champions of professional and artistic development, Banff Centre is honoured to work with the Harrison McCain Foundation and the Hnatyshyn Foundation to bring exceptional visual artists from Atlantic Canada to Banff Centre,” said Jen Mizuik, director of Visual + Digital Arts at Banff Centre. “We look forward to celebrating the wealth of talent and creativity that Atlantic artists have to offer through the Emerging Atlantic Artist Residency.”

The program provides emerging professional artists (under the age 35) who demonstrate the potential to make a significant contribution to the legacy of arts in Canada with the support and mentorship needed to excel in their careers. Successful applicants will benefit from access to cutting-edge visual and digital art facilities, a community of artistic peers, and talks by leading artists, faculty, and curators.

“We are grateful to the Harrison McCain Foundation for their generous support and to Banff Centre for joining us in our mission to enrich the legacy of the arts through direct support to exceptionally gifted artists in all regions of Canada. The new residency program will open doors for emerging Atlantic artists by providing them with access to a wealth of creative and developmental opportunities in one of the world’s most inspiring centres of creative excellence,” said Kim Lymburner, executive director of the Hnatyshyn Foundation.

Applicants must demonstrate a strong personal and artistic connection to the east coast provinces of Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador), and will be selected be way of an open call for applications and adjudication process. Jurors include: Jeffrey Spalding, senior curator at Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, New Brunswick; Jen Mizuik, director of Visual + Digital Arts at Banff Centre, Banff, Alberta; and East Coast artist Eleanor King, finalist for the 2012 Sobey Award. The remaining jury members will be announced.

Established by the late Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, Canada’s twenty-fourth Governor General, the Hnatyshyn Foundation is dedicated to promoting and funding emerging, developing, and mid-career artists and curators in Canada through scholarships and prizes totalling over $180,000 annually. Its programs are funded by donations from government, foundations, corporations and individuals.

For more information about the program and to apply, visit banffcentre.ca/visual-digital-arts

About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity:  Founded in 1933, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is a learning organization built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and creative development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become the global organization leading in arts, culture, and creativity across dozens of disciplines. From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to inspire everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to society through cross-disciplinary learning opportunities, world-class performances, and public outreach. www.banffcentre.ca 

About The Hnatyshyn Foundation: The Hnatyshyn Foundation is a private charity established by the late Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, Canada’s twenty-fourth Governor General, to assist emerging and established artists in all disciplines with their schooling and development, and promote to the Canadian public the importance of the arts in our society. Its programs are funded by donations from government, foundations, corporations and individuals. The Department of Canadian Heritage has provided $5 million in grants to the Foundation. For more information about The Hnatyshyn Foundation’s programs, visit the Foundation’s website at www.rjhf.com