Good news for all you artsy types—the City of Victoria is turning 150 in 2012 and, to celebrate, City Hall has announced they’ll be developing “a memorable and exciting line-up of 150th anniversary programming for delivery throughout 2012.”
What does that mean for Fine Arts faculty, staff and students? Why, the opportunity to apply for some funding, of course! In order to retain Victoria’s “prominence as one of the top places to live, work and play in Canada and the world” (as long as you can afford to live here, of course, and find a job), the City of Victoria wants to “celebrate our rich history and create a window to our equally promising future.”
All cynicism aside, however, there is an opportunity here to get in on the two grant programs available to help the community celebrate Victoria 150 (both grants are made possible by the support of Canadian Heritage and the Greater Victoria Spirit Committee). Project grants will range from $1,000 to $20,000. Here’s the official word:
“CALL FOR PROPOSALS: 150 PEOPLE AND PLACES
1) Addressing Art and Heritage – This exciting and unique art and cultural grant program project will highlight iconic locations and addresses in Victoria by encouraging and supporting the creative interpretation of their significance by artists of all disciplines. The result will be an exciting, dynamic and inspiring range of artistic endeavours that will bring to light the beauty and history of Victoria’s most valued spaces.
2) My Community Celebrates 150! – This grant program is designed for neighbourhood associations, community groups and community based non-profits to produce their own participatory celebration or project.”
You can find complete background information, application details and a PDF for download here, but here’s the quickie breakdown on what’s acceptable: “Artistic expression may include sculptures on site, lighting installations or projections on buildings, photography or paintings of featured locations (displayed on site or elsewhere), en plein aire paint-in events, site specific theatre, dance or musical performance, pop-up theatre festival, or other. The connection to the location may be direct (on site) or implied (through subject matter).”
Further, “All artistic disciplines are eligible, including but not limited to, visual art—including paint, sculpture, mixed media and photography—performance disciplines including theatre, dance, music and performance art, as well as new art forms, including multimedia and lighting.”
In other words, pretty much everything we do here in Fine Arts. The call for proposals is open to individual artists, collectives or established arts groups. (Note: there must be a professional artist to lead the project; community artists and students may contribute under the leadership of an established professional.)
The deadline for applications is January 15, 2012—so put your thinking caps on over the holidays, and get those grant-typing fingers going!