The Ontario Arts Council Launches Two Pilot Programs for Francophone Visual Arts in Ontario

Toronto, September 9, 2010 – The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is launching two three-year pilot programs to address the needs of Francophone visual artists, arts organizations and collectives in Ontario.

The Government of Canada is joining this project by providing support of $250,000 over three years (2010–2011 to 2012–2013) through the Cultural Development Fund. This fund was announced as part of the Roadmap for Canada’s Linguistic Duality 2008–2013: Acting for the Future. Support for this project reiterates the Government of Canada’s leadership and commitment toward our two official languages and the vitality of official-language minority communities. The Roadmap is an unprecedented government-wide investment of $1.1 billion over five years that spurs 15 departments and agencies to action.

The Ontario Arts Council will contribute $250,000 from 2010/11 to 2012/13.  These two francophone visual arts programs will have a total budget of $500,000 over the three years.

“The pilot programs recognize the distinctive culture and history of Ontario’s diverse francophone visual arts community,” said John Brotman, OAC Executive Director. “They will support the work of individual artists, exhibitions and other activities and will build audiences for French-speaking visual artists.”

Lise Leblanc, who is the coordinator of the Table des arts visuels de l’Ontario
(Ontario Table on Visual Arts), which is composed of BRAVO, Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario, Laboratoire d’art, Glendon Gallery, Galerie SAW Gallery and Centre d’artistes Voix Visuelle, and coordinated by AGAVF (Association des groupes en arts visuels francophones), commented on this new initiative.

“For the Franco-Ontarian visual arts community, the announcement of new programs in visual and media arts and in crafts in OAC’s Franco-Ontarian Arts Office has symbolic meaning. It confirms that the visual arts have their place in the development of the Franco-Ontarian community. In addition, these programs will provide the opportunity for real sectorial development by establishing professional measures in Ontario’s Francophonie.”

The Office of Francophone Affairs (OFA) congratulates those involved in this partnership administered under the auspices of the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French Language Services, an agreement administered by OFA on behalf of the province of 'Ontario.

Two Programs:

Francophone Visual and Craft Artists (information in French only)
Francophone Visual or Craft artists will be able to apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on whether they are emerging, mid-career or established visual artists. The program will offer support towards the time and materials necessary to create new work or continue work in progress or to explore new techniques.

Media Artists:
Francophone Media Artists will continue to be served by OAC’s Avance médias program (information in French only).

Francophone Visual, Media Arts and Craft Projects (information in French only)Francophone visual arts and craft organizations, artist-run-centres or collectives as well as independent curators/programmers will be able to apply for project funding to support:

• exhibitions;

• film/video screenings;

• catalogues, publications, directories;

• lecture series, artists’ talks;

• artist residency programs offered by an organization

• artistic fees and activities associated with conferences or panels;

• professional development seminars, workshops or master classes;

• All outreach or education activities related to the activities above.

Grants up to $12,000 will be available for these activities. 

2010 Deadline:

• The deadline for the two programs this year is November 30, 2010.  The program deadline may change in 2011.

Both program component applications and guidelines are now posted on OAC’s web site at www.arts.on.ca

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is the province of Ontario’s primary funding body for professional arts activity. Since 1963, OAC has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts and artists for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians.

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