PIDC PROJECT – DEADLINE AUGUST 12, 2022
A unique opportunity for 11 artists to collaborate, create, exhibit, perform, record, publish, learn, and earn!
Deadline to apply: August 12, 2022 11:50 PM PST
An open information session on Zoom for potential participants to ask questions and get more details about the project will be held on July 29, 2022 at 1:00-2:00 PM PST
Pre-register for the Zoom Information Session HERE.
Operating within the unceded Coast Salish lands and traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples, the Esquimalt and Songhees, Xchanges Gallery and Studios seeks proposals from artists to participate and engage in a special project investigating the intersections of dance, visual art, and media arts in physical and digital spaces.
This 16-month project will kick off in September 2022 and includes multiple opportunities for 11 artists from a variety of disciplines to collaborate, create, and present works in varying stages of development It includes several performance and exhibition opportunities, creative and artistic support from a team of three curator/mentors and project leadership from three local arts organizations: Xchanges Gallery and Studios, Media Net/Flux Gallery, and the Victoria Arts Council. Our aim is to support physical and digital collaborations between artists and create opportunities for significant new directions, outcomes and inquiries.
The artists will work individually and in collaborative groups (two or more artists of different disciplines) to create unique works and evolve works in iterative phases over 16 months (each working phase is four months long with the fourth phase only dissemination/presentation). The PIDC Project seeks to go beyond traditional virtual galleries and create unique audience experiences that integrate physical and digital spaces simultaneously using contemporary technologies.
About the Community Partners
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| Established in 1967, Xchanges Gallery and Studios is a non-profit charity, founded to provide affordable studio space for practicing artists, a public gallery with monthly exhibitions showcasing the work of emerging artists or those changing direction. Xchanges supports artistic practice with in-person and online life drawing two times per week and utilizes the gallery space for other programming as well such as Artist(s) in Residence or project space for artists. | Established in 1968, the Victoria Arts Council is a non-profit registered charitable organization mandated to connect audiences with art and artists. The VAC focuses on visual and literary art. With a main professional gallery space as well as ten community satellite locations throughout the CRD, a quarterly digital magazine, and a monthly lecture series, the VAC presents the work of approximately 250 artists annually for an estimated audience of two million. | MediaNet was founded in 1981, is a non-profit charitable organization mandated to provide access to specialized video equipment and post-production tools, help artists create independent film, video, and media art, as well as providing learning opportunities and exhibitions. They operate video editing suites, low-cost equipment rentals and learning, as well as FLUX media Gallery, a physical and online gallery space showing media art works by local, national, and international media artists. |
About the Curator/Mentors
Kemi Craig is a film and dance artist whose practice interrogates intersections of racialization, gender, materiality and meaning-making. Her curatorial practice began when she was invited to be a guest curator at the Western Front for the Perspectives on an Archive project in 2008. Since then she has been a guest curator, writer and programmer for local galleries and organizations such as Flux Gallery, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria Arts Council, CineVic: Society of Independent filmmakers and c mag. A woman of African descent raised in the Cherokee territories between North and South Carolina, Kemi has been living in Lekwungen and W̱ SÁNEĆ Territories since 2002.
Constance Cooke is an established Queer Canadian Dance Artist working as a Choreographer for Stage, Dance on Film and Site-Specific Work; as an Educator of Contemporary Dance and Screendance; as a Mentor and Curator. Her work has been presented in Canada, North America, and Europe attracting and cultivating curious, open, and intelligent audiences for contemporary and experimental work for over 35 years. She has created over 60 professional works and self-produced 10 full-length works. Cooke’s focus has been to unravel, redress and evolve gendered narratives. She lives, creates, and works on the unceded Coast Salish Territory of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, in Victoria B.C.
Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé, affectionately known as Ddhälh kït Nelnah, is an Upper Tanana visual artist, curator, and MFA student at Concordia University. She is a proud member of the White River First Nation of Beaver Creek, Yukon and Alaska and resides in lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Territory with her partner Christopher. Teresa’s passion lies in filling curatorial gaps and creating new visual narratives that depict themes around social justice, indigeneity, and self-care. Her curatorial style is much like her art, community-based and heavily influenced by her Upper Tanana worldviews. Teresa currently sits on the board of the Indigenous Curatorial Collective.
The Opportunity
This call is open to all local artists/groups/collectives from all disciplines and practice including but not limited to: digital and media arts (technology-based AI, AR, 3D, video, film, dance for screen), visual art (2d, 3d, installation, performance, video), live performance (dance, music, theatre) and literary arts (spoken word, poetry, graphic novel).
PIDC pays $5,000 per artist/group, and includes group learning, 1:1 mentoring and coaching, access to studio space, and the opportunity to collaborate with other PIDC artists from different disciplines.
Artists whose practice is not technology-based are encouraged to apply. We are looking for artists interested in collaboration, seeking a new direction, or open to experimentation and risk-taking and are interested in creating audience experiences in both physical and digital spaces. We don’t expect all artists to come with an established technical or technology background. This is a chance to take advantage of learning opportunities, to challenge your practice, and learn with others.
We are excited to receive applications from artists with diverse backgrounds including, but not limited to, BIPOC, underserved and underrepresented communities, LGBTQ2S+, disabled, differently-abled, and neurodivergent artists. We are developing inclusive selection processes. We will work with applicants requesting accommodation/accessibility support at any stage of the application process. Please contact us via email.
The Criteria
- Artists will be considered at various levels of professional experience from emerging to mid-career to established artists provided they have at least 2 publicly presented works.
- Geography – This application is open to artists residing on Vancouver Island and adjacent islands including the Gulf Islands including the Northern Gulf Islands (Discovery Islands) Quadra Island and Cortes Island, and the islands located in the Strait of Georgia – Denman Island, Hornby Island, Texada Island, Lasqueti Island, Jedediah Island, and Savary Island.
- A complete application form that includes a maximum 500 word description that outlines how you envision the PIDC Project will expand on your current artistic practice, skills, and knowledge. Explain how this represents a fresh perspective or investigation in your current creative practice and how you imagine working collaboratively with other PIDC artists, and exploring the relationship between live performance, digital media and digital and live presentations.
- Commitment – if your application to the PIDC Project is successful, you will commit to be engaged for the full duration of this project. You will participate in hands-on learning opportunities (guest speaker presentations, learning workshops in technologies), and present your work as it develops throughout this project. You will work with other PIDC artists to create new work, share ideas, and create a mutually supportive, positive, and creative environment.
Successful applicants will receive
- A $5,000 contribution to research and creation costs.
- Up to three performance/presentation opportunities in virtual/digital and live performance spaces.
- Curatorial and mentorship support to provide guidance and provocations
- Access to studio and gallery spaces during the project where possible
- If applicable, contributions towards performance fees for professional dancers/performance artists. Fees are based on (or in some cases better than) CARFAC and CADA.
- If applicable, contributions towards group exhibition fees for artists. Fees are based on (or in some cases better than) CARFAC and CADA.
- Possibility to engage with specialists in diverse areas
- Access to equipment and coaching via MediaNet
- Promotion of work
- Your work featured in a quarterly publication of UNTIL Magazine
Funding Credits/Acknowledgements
Xchanges Gallery and Studios – PIDC Project Funding:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This PIDC Project intern funding is provided by the “Digital Skills for Youth” program coordinated by the Independent Media Arts Alliance and funded by the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
