Since 2021, the Fine Arts Student Community Impact Awards have recognized individual achievements or outstanding efforts made by full-time Fine Arts undergraduate students beyond their traditional studies. Open to submissions from across the faculty, these juried awards are then presented annually as part of the Greater Victoria Regional Arts Awards, this year held November 6 at the Baumann Centre. Including this year’s recipients, Fine Arts has now given over $13,000 to 11 students in the last four years — all thanks to the generosity of our donors.

Congratulations go out to the recipients of our fourth annual awards: Rebecca Fux, Thomas Moore and Claire Jorgensen, each of whom receives $1,000 for their individual projects.

 

Connecting through art

Claire Jorgensen (Visual Arts) receives the award for winning a competitive commission to create a new large-scale mural embodying themes of diversity, community and wellness for UVic’s Island Medical Program — titled “A Dream of Vitality” — which she then painted live over the course of a month in the lobby of the Medical Sciences building.

As Visual Arts chair Megan Dickie points out in her nomination letter, “Over the period of two years, I have seen Claire develop into both an incredible artist and a very caring individual who participates in community development.  Creating an artwork that reflects community, diversity, wellness and place is not easy, yet Claire has produced a place for the mind and eyes to wander, explore and discover. Her mural reflects nature and its power to spark consideration of place and personal past, while also welcoming contemplation and a sense of community and wellness.”

Claire painting “A Dream of Vitality”

For Jorgensen, engaging with the community through her arts practice both encourages reflection and promotes discussion. “My art has provided me opportunities to become involved within the community and allows me to feel connected to the university,” she says, pointing to opportunities like the annual Jamie Cassel Undergraduate Research Awards, her EQHR painting commission “Scenes of Knowledge” and her leadership role in the Visual Arts BFA graduation exhibit Silver Bullets.

“In fourth year. I knew I wanted to push myself further,” she says. “I knew I had a passion for art and wanted to find more opportunities to share this, so I said yes to every opportunity . . . I developed my practice, workflow and discipline. I learned how to write applications, and put myself out there.”

Currently on a year-long academic exchange in the UK, Jorgensen appreciates the financial support this award brings. “I would like to acknowledge and recognize the donors who funded this award as patrons of the arts, for whom I have immense gratitude. I appreciate their contribution as they have made a tangible impact and difference in my life — not only with their generous financial contribution but the validation and recognition that my efforts within art and the community has been seen,” she says. “In the UK, the currency exchange rate is almost double, so this award is incredibly helpful!”

Connecting through performance 

Thomas Moore (Theatre) receives the award for his work directing and producing three shows with Timetheft Theatre SocietyOf Theseus at the Victoria One Act Play Festival, the independently produced Horse Girl, and Carpet at the 2023 Fringe Festival — all of which provided opportunities for young queer and neurodivergent artists.

As Theatre alum, producer and sessional instructor Matthew Payne points out in his nomination support letter, “Thomas demonstrates a skill set that is versatile and strong. His passion for theatre work and his ability to devise complex thematic material has set him up as a key player in the Victoria theatre scene — at the ripe old age of 21. As someone who started a theatre company after university, I cannot imagine having the gumption and chutzpah to start my professional career before leaving university, yet Thomas seems fearless in this regard.”

Thomas (right) in Horse Girl

For Moore, the title of this award is particularly meaningful. “Theatre work — especially indie theatre — is all about community,” he says. “Without having meaningful connections to artists and audiences in the community none of the shows Timetheft produces would be possible. As much as we want to produce theatre to develop our own artistic practice, we are also always thinking about what audiences want to see or what hasn’t been seen.”

This award also reflects the skills he’s learned in UVic’s Theatre department. “Being given the opportunity to learn about all the different departments in theatre has allowed me to organize and develop show teams that can work together,” he explains. “Theatre history classes have also deepened my understanding of the art form and enabled me to be more confident in my directing choices.”

Connecting through artist-run centres

Rebecca Fux (Visual Arts) receives the award for her work mounting two exhibits of new paintings at separate local artist-run centres during her final year of studies: You Can Cry In Front of Me at Xchanges Gallery, addressing aspects of grieving and healing for young women after sexual assault, and The Weather Inside at the Fifty-Fifty Arts Collective.

As gallery coordinator Cindy Wright emphasizes, “Xchanges is unique in that artists are required to stage and sit their own exhibitions over three consecutive weekends as well as being on-hand for the opening reception. Young artists who are still doing their BFA or in the early stages of their careers sometimes struggle with these commitments, but Rebecca was able to meet her deadlines and stage her exhibition without difficulty. And considering we had 27 proposals for the space, which were assessed by three independent jurors, Rebecca’s work clearly stood out.”

UVic Chancellor Marion Buller (left) with Rebecca & one of her BFA show paintings

Artist-run centres have played an important role in Fux’s development as an artist. “I first experienced community in the arts at the Vernon Community Art Centre in 2019,” she explains. “They provided me with invaluable experiences such as mentorships, a residency, employment as an art instructor and were instrumental in my decision to pursue a BFA at UVic. In 2023, I made a goal to once again insert myself into my community, and positively impact local organizations.”

Fux is also proud of the impact her exhibits had on the local arts community. “Women over 50 were fascinated by my comfort in addressing sexual trauma in young girls, and excitedly shared their thoughts with me and others,” she explains. “Many expressed that they could have benefited from the #metoo movement when they were my age. I gained so much from visitors’ generosity with their feelings and I believe their visits to the gallery allowed for the same.”

Congratulations to all!

Other related winners at the 2024 GVRAAs included Theatre alum Kathleen Greenfield, who won the ProArt Mid-Career Artist Award for her work with the local SNAFU Society of Unexpected Spectacles, while current UVic Symphony instructor Giuseppe Pietraroia earned the John Mears Achievement in Music Award for his work with Pacific Opera Victoria, the Victoria Symphony and so many other local organizations. Also among the winners were the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival (CRD Regional Impact Award), currently co-led by Theatre alumni Francis Matheu and Willow Hayes (plus Maddy Hooson-Kirstein) — which has a very long history of being led by and hiring Theatre students and alumni — plus the Pacific Opera Victoria production of Die Walküre  (JAYMAC Outstanding Production Award), which was directed by AHVS alumna Glynis Leyshon.

Interested in applying for the 2025 Student Community Impact Awards? Watch our social feeds for the application call in Spring 2025.

Fine Arts Dean Allana Lindgren presenting the awards at the GVRAAs on Nov 6