TORONTO – August 2, 2013 –
The Gardiner Museum is excited to present the 3rd Annual RBC Emerging Artist People’s Choice Award,
which recognizes the ceramic artist whose work receives the most votes
from Canada’s participating public with a $10,000 cash prize.

Each
year, a panel of experts nominates five outstanding artists from
Canada’s artistic scene. The talented nominees for 2013 are Robin DuPont (British Columbia), Michael Flaherty (Newfoundland and Labrador), Monica Mercedes Martinez (Manitoba), Amélie Proulx (Quebec) and Linda Sormin (Ontario).

The
Gardiner Museum-appointed nominating committee is comprised of artists,
educators, art critics, and/or curators from different regions across
Canada. Each of these five experts is invited to select an emerging
artist for nomination. To be eligible, participating artists must be
Canadian citizens or permanent residents, out of school, practicing for
at least three years and no more than 10 years. They also must have
participated in at least one exhibition at a recognized gallery, museum
or other arts organization.

The five selected artists have the
opportunity to showcase new works created specifically for the
competition, which will be on display at the Museum from September 3 – October 15, 2013, with voting closing on October 13, 2013.

During this time, visitors are invited to vote for the artist of their choice, either at the exhibit or online by clicking here. The Gardiner Museum will post voters’ comments on its website to stimulate dialogue about Canadian art and ceramics.

The
winner of the 3nd Annual RBC Emerging Artist People’s Choice Award will
be announced at a public reception at The Gardiner Museum from 5:30 –
7:30 pm on Tuesday, October 15, 2013.

This year’s nominees were chosen by the following panel: Katrina Chaytor, Ceramics Faculty, Alberta College of Art + Design, Calgary; Bruce Cochrane, Ceramic artist, Mississauga, Ontario and former head of ceramics, Sheridan Institute; Gloria Hickey, Curator and writer on crafts, St. John’s Newfoundland; Jean-Pierre Labiau, Curator of Exhibitions and Decorative Arts, Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec; and Grace Nickel, Professor Ceramics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg;

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About the Gardiner Museum

The
Gardiner Museum connects people, art and ideas by offering an intimate
look at one of the world’s oldest and most universal art forms –
ceramics. The Museum’s collections span continents and time, giving a
glimpse into the development of ceramic processes, decoration and form.
Year-round, the Museum mounts special exhibitions, events, lectures and
clay classes to complement its permanent collection. The Museum also
features the Gardiner Shop, which specializes in artist-designed,
artist-made merchandise. More information about the Museum and its
exhibitions can be found online at www.gardinermuseum.com.


Members of the media can register to access the Gardiner Museum’s online media room (www.gardinermuseum.com/news-and-media/mediaimagegallery) where they may download images and additional media materials.

For more information and complete artist bios, please contact:

Lisa Raffaele
PUNCH Canada
416.360.6522 ex. 239
[email protected]