Application Guidelines – Visual Arts
OVERVIEW:
The Canadian Women Artists’ Award is a $5,000 grant designed to provide financial support to Canadian, women artists ages 25-40 in New York State. The award can be used in any manner the recipient deems necessary to further their artistic goals. It is supported by funding granted to NYFA by the Canadian Women’s Club (CWC) of New York as a way to continue its philanthropic work when it disbanded.
In 2022, three $5,000 awards will be distributed, one in each category.
WHO CAN APPLY?
The Canadian Women Artists’ Award is open to women artists who are:
1. Canadian citizens, and able to provide proof of citizenship with legal documentation upon receipt of the award.
2. Between the ages of 25 and 40 by Tuesday, September 13, 2022 (extended from Tuesday, August 30).
3. Current residents of New York State.
4. Applying in only one of the eligible discipline categories.
5. The originators of the work, i.e. not awarded to interpretative artists.
6. Not previous recipients of the Canadian Women Artists’ Award.
7. Not a NYFA employee, member of the NYFA Board of Trustees or Artists’ Advisory Committee, and/or an immediate family member of any of the above.
Students in bachelor’s or master’s degree programs are eligible to apply.
ELIGIBLE DISCIPLINE – VISUAL ARTS
• Crafts/Sculpture
• Interdisciplinary Work
• Painting
• Photography
• Printmaking/Drawing
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Required:
- Artist Statement – up to 100 words
- A short concise statement giving an overview of your artistic practice. This statement should give a brief introduction to ideas, themes and methods in your practice. This is not an Artist’s Bio.
- Work Statement – up to 100 words
- A statement explaining your artistic vision as directly related to your submitted work samples. This is not an artist statement, but should instead reflect only the ideas and inspiration relevant ONLY to the work submitted.
- Work Samples
- Up to 10 digital images and/or two videos of up to 2-minutes in length
- Resume
- A 1 page PDF resume detailing your artistic career as it relates to the discipline in which you have applied. Resumes may be submitted in either CV (bulleted) or bio (paragraph) format.
Optional written statements:
- Excerpt Explanation – up to 400 words
- A supplemental statement further explaining the context, concept, and execution of your work sample(s).
- This statement should explain how the excerpted work sample relates to the entire original piece. Within the Excerpt Explanation you can itemize each submitted work sample(s) and talk about them individually.
- Technical Statement – up to 200 words
- A supplemental statement describing the key technical aspects of the work. Use this statement to highlight your role in creating/executing the work.
- Be sure to note whether your work samples represent documentation of a performance, installation, experience, etc. You can also describe the circumstances in which the viewer/audience should experience the work. Please include instructions on how to navigate your work if it’s interactive.
WORK SAMPLES
You have the option of submitting two different types of files depending on the type of work you create. Work samples are a representation of your artistic work created within the last five years.
You do not need to submit both images and video, if only one type is appropriate when showcasing your work.
IMAGES
Please upload up to 10 digital images using the following specifications:
File name: Labeled with applicant’s last name and a number, e.g “Smith01.jpg, Smith02.jpg, etc.”
File size: No larger than 4.0 MB (each image)
File format: .jpg
Image files should be numbered 01 – 10 in the order the applicant would like them to be seen. Once each image has been uploaded, caption fields will appear within the application. Please provide descriptions for each image that include the title, date, materials, dimensions, and any additional information. Documentative images should be labeled accordingly.
Quick Tips for Image Work Samples:
– You do not need to submit 10 images if you feel your work is represented well with fewer, and submitting fewer will not detract from the review of your application.
– Composite images are not allowed.
– Ensure your images are in focus, were taken in good lighting, and represent your work well.
– Be sure to note whether an image is a (detail) or (installation view) in the title.
VIDEOS
If you are applying in the Interdisciplinary Work category, you may also include video/film work samples.
You may upload up to 2 video excerpts of your work. Each excerpt cannot exceed 2 minutes in duration. Excerpts can be taken from one individual work or two separate full length works. Please use the following specifications for each work sample:
File name: Labeled with your last name and a number, e.g “Smith01.mov”
Length: Maximum of 2 minutes
File size: No larger than 2 GB
File format: .mov or .mp4
Video/Film files should be numbered in the order the applicant would like them to be seen. Once each file has been uploaded, caption fields will appear within the application. Please provide descriptions for each work sample that include the title, date, credits, and any additional information.
Videos that serve as documentation of a performance/participatory installation should be labeled accordingly.
Quick Tips for Video Work Samples:
– Submitting video samples comprised of multiple clips from different projects is not recommended. “Sizzle Reels” and Trailers should also be avoided. Titles and credits should not be included in excerpts.
– When editing your video it is important to ensure your file is formatted correctly so that your video will play across a range of platforms whilst maintaining quality. Therefore it is important to choose the right codec and container for your file.
– A codec is a method for encoding and decoding data and is used for compressing data, particularly video. Choosing the right container can depend on several desired outcomes, file size, playback quality, capabilities for re-editing etc. There are many codecs to choose from but h.264 is the preferred format for its versatility and superior quality.
– A container is typically associated with file format and what is used to “contain” and package the data as compressed by the codec. The container is indicated by a file extension: .mov or .mp4 (MPEG4). There are many codec and container combinations but h.264 and .mov or .mp4 are preferred as they are supported by a wide range of media players with little loss of quality.
– Uploading video files can take more time than expected. Do not leave the uploading of your work samples to the last minute. Once you know what Work Sample excerpts you will be submitting, upload them to the application form. You can always save and close your application form and go back to it at a later date.
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Tuesday, August 30, 2022 5PM EDT.
All applications must be submitted online at https://apply.nyfa.org/submit
Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted and no exceptions will be made. We highly recommend that you complete your applications in advance of the deadline to allow time for work samples to upload and to avoid potential technical problems.
You will receive an automatic response from Submittable once your application has been successfully received.
Once submitted, applicants will no longer be able to make changes to their application. Be sure to review everything carefully prior to submitting. Please contact [email protected] with any further questions.
