« Call for Nominations for the Barbara Laronde Award for Best New Northern Artist!

About the Award:
 Native Women in the Arts’ (NWIA) inaugural 2015 Barbara Laronde Award will celebrate the career of an emerging Indigenous female artist based in Northern Ontario. This award has been created to acknowledge the achievements of one outstanding female artist from Northern Ontario, and to honour the legacy of NWIA founder, Sandra Laronde, and her vision and commitment to Indigenous artists. Sandra’s 19 years of leadership at NWIA has paved the way for many Indigenous artists at various stages of their careers. Sandra asked to have the award named after her mother, Barbara, who has been the backbone of her family and a leader in the northern Ontario community, Temagami First Nation. Barbara inspired Sandra and her siblings to be creative and entrepreneurial, and it is with this spirit that NWIA launches this new award.

Call for Nominations: This call for nominations is open to self-identified Indigenous female emerging artists living in Northern Ontario.

Please note that you can self nominate or an individual can nominate an artist to receive this award.

Eligibility:
– To be considered for an award the artist must be an Indigenous woman living in Northern Ontario (open to Métis, Inuit, Status and Non-Status peoples)
– Must be 18 years of age or older
– Open to all artistic disciplines including traditional/customary arts
– All Indigenous female artists are encouraged to apply.
– Individuals can submit an application to nominate an artist they feel deserves this award.

To apply please submit the following:
– One-page letter outlining why you or the artist should receive this award.
– Submit images/audio/written/video support material of artwork to support the application.
– A full length bio and resume.
– If you are submitting on behalf of yourself please include a letter of support from someone who is familiar with your career in the arts.

Application Deadline: June 15, 2015
Value of Award: $1500

Definition of an emerging artist:
– Who have some evidence of professional achievement but not a substantial record of accomplishment.
– Who are not recognized as established artists by other artists, curators, producers, critics, and arts administrators.
– Artists who show significant potential, yet are under-recognized.

Please note: The award recipient will be chosen by jury of artists working in various disciplines.

Our Vision: To support and celebrate the achievement of an Indigenous female artist from Northern Ontario, and provide financial support and career enhancing opportunities to encourage their continued excellence.

The Impact: The Barbara Laronde Award will foster the careers of emerging artists from Indigenous (on and off reserve) communities in Northern Ontario by showcasing excellence and innovation. NWIA recognizes the geographic and economic barriers that many Northern artists face, and aims to support artists by creating connections, professional development, and performance opportunities. Over 22 years, NWIA has delivered theatre, dance, music, and spoken word productions and published three books of Indigenous visual art and writing. We also produce a series of community-driven artist talks, leadership and cultural workshops, youth arts projects to audiences interested in arts, culture, and the advancement of Indigenous peoples.

Please share this call on Facebook, Twitter, and email to family and friends.

Must live in one of these geographical regions in northern Ontario:

Far North / Grand Nord
– Kenora District (district de Kenora)

Northeast / Nord-Est
– Algoma District (district d’Algoma)
– Cochrane District (district de Cochrane)
– Manitoulin District (district de Manitoulin)
– Nipissing District (district de Nipissing)
– Parry Sound District (district de Parry Sound)
– Sudbury District (district de Sudbury)
– City of Greater Sudbury (ville du Grand Sudbury)
– Timiskaming District (district de Timiskaming)

Northwest / Nord-Ouest
– Rainy River District (district de Rainy River)
– Thunder Bay District (district de Thunder Bay)

Please submit your application to Native Women in the Arts: info@nativewomeninthearts.com

Contact: Erika Iserhoff, Artistic Producer
Telephone: 416-598-4078« 

Posted with permission from Erika Iserhoff, Native Women in the Arts
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