Call for Creative Expression
The Community Foundation of NL and the Harris Centre are seeking to license and showcase artwork to help galvanize conversation around some of the themes featured in this year’s NL Vital Signs report. The selected work will be showcased as part of the report and activation of the 2024 NL Vital Signs, which will include a late April report launch and 1-2 “Vital Conversations” events at the report launch and potentially at other points in spring 2024. How to integrate the artwork will be a partnership with the artist and the NL Vital Signs team. Images/footage of the work will also be used on social media to help stimulate conversation and invite contemplation of these challenges and opportunities for our community.
NL Vital Signs is a partnership between the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Harris Centre. Since 2014, this report has provided an annual check-up of the quality of life in Newfoundland and Labrador communities. Vital Signs is a national initiative conducted by community foundations across the country and coordinated by the Community Foundations of Canada.
We believe in the power of art and artistic expression to help humanize data and introduce fresh perspectives to this work. We are seeking one existing work in any medium, including paintings, photographs, works of craft, music, sound, multimedia and written or performed works that relate to one of this year’s themes.
This year’s NL Vital Signs will focus on the cost of living and affordability crisis in the province. It includes data and stories that highlight how this crisis impacts individuals and communities, amplifies innovative solutions underway and contextualizes the systemic nature of the crisis to support further action. Key themes include:
Housing
Food
Regional Data Profiles, including income, wealth, employment, food bank usage, cost of living and other indicators by region
Meaningful employment and economic insecurity
Population changes in the province
Health and wellbeing
Throughout the report, we aim to amplify the voices and perspectives of equity-deserving communities, including but not limited to immigrants, Indigenous communities, individuals living with disabilities, racialized communities and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
Past Vital Signs Reports have focused on climate change; belonging, engagement, and wellbeing; climate, economy and society, and other themes. This year’s report will be published in spring 2024.
Artist fees:
The artist fee for this project is $1,000. This includes a fee for the exhibition of the artwork during the report launch or Vital Conversations and photographs of the work for social media.
Community Engagement: Should the selected artist wish to attend the launch and/or Vital Conversations to speak about/perform their work, or otherwise participate, an additional performance/participation fee and travel costs will be offered, in line with recommended professional fees.
Interested? Please submit the following as a single pdf under 10MB:
An image or other documentation of the work you’re proposing
An explanation (250 words or less) as to how it relates to the NL Vital Signs 2024 theme(s)
If individuals are depicted/represented in this work, please explain how your research was performed, and how permission was obtained.
A 200-word biography
Please indicate if you would be interested in participating in or performing at the Vital Signs Launch or Conversations
Submit proposals using the subject “Call for Creative Expression – Submission” to: info@cfnl.ca
Timelines:
Submissions will be accepted up until 4pm on February 23, 2024
The selected artist will be notified no later than March 22, 2024
Artwork will be delivered no later than April 9, 2024
Artwork will be returned to the artist no later than June 30, 2024
Frequently asked questions:
Are artists from outside of NL eligible to apply?
This opportunity is open to artists in, and from, Newfoundland and Labrador. All artists/creators in the province are eligible, including newcomers, regardless of residency status etc. Artists from Newfoundland and Labrador currently residing outside of the province are also eligible to apply.
What are the “Vital Conversations” events?
Vital Conversations provides a forum to discuss and learn more about the NL Vital Signs Report. The first conversation will take place at the launch at the end of April. 1-2 more conversations are intended at some point in May or June 2024, likely focused on specific themes or data sets from the report. The conversations consist of a panel discussion and an opportunity for questions from the audience. Depending on the artwork and the artist, there will be opportunities to work together to figure out how the art is part of the programming for these conversations.
Will you accept submissions of any media?
Yes. This is a pilot project, and we are open to including any work of art that will help engage people in conversation around these themes. This could include visual art, textiles, poetry, music, narrative, video footage of a choreographed dance, etc. etc. etc.
Who will make the artwork selection?
The selection committee will include two representatives from the Vital Signs project, and a professional artist.
How will artwork selections be made?
The artwork will be selected based on the theme it addresses, and how the committee feels the artwork might spark conversation about the given theme(s). The selected work will honour the voices of those with lived and living experience in the subject matter being addressed.
The data and indicators in NL Vital Signs aim to be honest and, at times, can be heavy. We try to balance that with stories of individual and community resilience and innovation. It is likely that artwork that is more hopeful and inspirational would be prioritized; however, works that confront the themes in a compelling way will also be considered.
Who will cover the shipping costs for delivery of the artwork?
Artists are responsible for delivering and collecting works from CFNL; if a selected artwork is more complicated/expensive to ship, we will explore subsidizing those costs.