Call for Canadian Artists on the Theme of Resistance

Call for projects by Canadian Artists Deadline : May 1, 2013

Manif d’art
Major biennial of contemporary visual arts on the Canadian
scene, Manif d’art presents in Quebec City and its area the work of
nearly 100 artists originating from every horizon. Approximately 30
cultural and artistic groups from Quebec City and worldwide collaborate
in this must-see artistic manifestation held between May and June every
two years. In addition to the exhibitions, the event offers a host of
activities evolving around a central theme, unique to each edition.
Manif d’art is meant for the initiated public as well as uninitiated
visitors who enjoy a vast section dedicated to the discovery of
contemporary art.

Theme
The guidelines of Manif d’art 7, as defined by curator Vicky
Chainey Gagnon, will be deployed around the theme of resistance. The
event will begin by a recognition of the critical role played by visual
and media arts in the documentation of conflicts and of manifestations
of resistance. As pointed out by the curator, their contribution to the
expression of personal views on politics, war, social injustice and the
human condition will also be examined : “Current events are marked by
various disturbing trends such as extreme fundamentalism, the
exhilaration of speculation and consumption, combined with rampant
unemployment, through banking crises and the overheating of stock
markets, not mentioning the ecological issue. Within the very recent
context of a global economic collapse, it seems a favourable moment to
take a look at contemporary artistic productions which bespeak the modes
of expression of resistance today.”

The curator will detail the theme by approaching the numerous
tactics and strategies which shape radical contemporary practices. In
each case, it is the political function of art, of cinema, of video and
of performance which will be scrutinized.

Curator
Vicky Chainey Gagnon is the director/curator of the Foreman
Art Gallery, established at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec
Province. She holds a bachelor’s degree in cinema and art history
(Concordia University, Montreal, 1999) and a master’s in
interdisciplinary studies (York University, Toronto, 2005). Until 2011,
she pursued doctorate research on public museology at Concordia
University’s Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and
Culture.

Since 2005, Vicky Chainey Gagnon has organized numerous
projects at the Foreman Art Gallery among which the series of
international residencies How Does Art Teach? In 2009, she
launched the Laboratoire communautaire d’art (community art laboratory),
a special mediation project aimed at exploring pressing contemporary
social questions from a creative point of view and the way they affect
our communities directly. Her essays and other writings were published
in ETC, in Curator: The Museum Journal and in works
published by the Art Gallery of York University and the Art Gallery of
Nova Scotia. She taught museology within the history and art theory
curriculum at Bishop’s University and was member of many committees for
the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, as well as the Canadian
Council for the Arts.

Contents of the digital application file :

1. A letter of intent or project letter (250-word maximum) in Word or PDF format;
2. A two-page (max.) document explaining your artistic approach;
3. 10 pictures in PDF or JPG format (72 dpi) of a maximum
   of 500kb each, accompanied by a descriptive list including the title of
   the work, the medium, dimensions and date;
4. A link to your web page;
5. A curriculum vitae (5-page maximun) for each participant
   in Word or PDF format, including his/her contact details (postal
   address, date of birth, citizenship, telephone, e-mail).

Details :

• Send the digital application to [email protected] before May 1, 2013.
• Applications following the theme, conforming to
  instructions and received before the deadline only will be forwarded to
  the curator.
• Applications sent in digital format only will be accepted. Documents sent by surface mail will not be forwarded or returned.
• Do not send video files by e-mail. Supply links which allow online viewing.
• Collectives must identify an official leader.
• A notice of receipt will be sent by e-mail upon
  reception of the application. We are not responsible for unreceived
  applications.
• Only candidates whose application has been selected will receive a reply.
• This call for projects concerns Canadian citizens only. Selection of foreign artists is by invitation only.

Information :
[email protected]
1-418-524-1917