The Council for the Arts in Ottawa (CAO), in partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada, will be offering a $5,000 cash prize to an up-and-coming artist in the national capital area.
The RBC Emerging Artist Award is part of CAO’s annual awards program and is designed to recognize artistic talent in the Ottawa region. RBC and CAO said they hope to help a fortunate recipient in further establishing their career.
The CAO is the latest municipal arts organization to enter a partnership with RBC, who already supports more than 25 arts organizations nation-wide. Its Toronto program has been in place for three years.
According to Peter Honeywell, executive director of CAO, the partnership emerged through “contacts in Toronto with an organization called Business in Arts — strong advocates for businesses to get involved in arts initiatives.”
The nomination deadline is Dec. 15, with the winner chosen by selected panels of judges and named at the CAO Arts Award Lunch in April of next year, alongside two other finalists — each receiving cash prizes of $1,000.
It will be one of three awards presented at the banquet, the other two being CAO Mid-Career Award and the Victor Tolgesy Arts Award — the latter of which recognizes those who have significantly contributed to Ottawa cultural life.
Potential recipients must have resided in the National Capital Region for at least two years, be involved in the art community and work in a professional capacity.
As well, they must have first been recognized as an emerging artist, as evidenced by their body of work.
Nominees must also have completed “basic training,” which Honeywell describes as having participated in some artistic program in any medium.
He added that it “doesn’t necessarily mean accredited university courses,” emphasizing the “school of life.”
There is no age limit associated with eligibility, as Honeywell noted that some emerging artists have begun their careers later in life.
Applicants are required to submit a 100-word autobiography, as well as a statement describing how the award money would be used — whether as a grant, or as a means to finance an art-related trip.
A selection of their work must also be included.