Application Deadline: 15 January 2025
About The Program
Manitoba Arts Network’s Visual Arts Touring Exhibition Program makes visual art exhibitions available to arts and cultural organizations throughout the province of Manitoba. The purpose of the program is to provide high quality, cost-effective exhibitions to communities enhancing the awareness and appreciation of regional and national artists.
Exhibitions are selected from both emerging and professional artists, and present a range of media and themes, featuring contemporary work and traditional approaches to artmaking through solo, two-person, and group exhibitions. MAN pays artists a basic exhibition fee each month a touring exhibition is booked. If funding/grants for exhibitions are successfully secured, then artist fees are paid at approved CARFAC rates.
MAN covers costs associated with professional crating of exhibitions, shipping and insurance of works while on tour. Selected exhibitions typically tour for a one-year period either in the current or following year.
Assessment Criteria & Process
The following outlines the assessment criteria the jury follows when selecting the exhibitions.
Artistic Merit
Is the exhibition original, creative, innovative, experimental and unique? Does the visual support materials provide and display strong visual elements and principles of design (colour, light, space, composition, etc.?)
Overall Quality & Professionalism
Is the exhibition skillfully rendered, well-planned and thought out? Does the exhibition meet a high standard of professionalism?
Criteria: Concept, Intent & Inherent Meaning
Questions to consider: Is the overall theme or concept presented in a unified/cohesive way with a strong sense of continuity? Is the theme well-articulated? Does the exhibition make a statement and display creative direction? Does the exhibition holds the potential to evoke feeling, mood or emotion. Does it tell a story? Does it make use of symbolic imagery? Does it display a high level of conceptual insight? Is the intent of the artist achieved and clearly communicated?
Suitability for Touring
In regard to the fragility and physical suitability, given proper crating, to withstand touring throughout rural & northern Manitoba via transport truck. Ability to fit entire exhibition into one or two crates sized to fit through a standard doorway. Individual works should not exceed 26×36 in and the running footage for the entire exhibition should not exceed 75’. Flexibility for offering both a full-sized exhibition option as well as a reduced sized option.
Flexibility for display in both traditional gallery spaces and non-traditional spaces such as libraries, museums, community centres, schools, etc. Ease of handling and installation by non-professionally trained staff and/or volunteers.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Manitoba Arts Network is committed to ensuring equity, inclusivity, and representation in our sector. We especially encourage our jury to select applications from artists who identify as Indigenous Métis, Inuit, Black, or People of Colour, artists with disabilities, as well as artists from the 2SLGBTQ+ community, to apply, and will be placing emphasis on representation from these communities in our selection process
Audience Engagement
Collateral and educational activities associated with the exhibition to encourage discussion and engage visitors. This could include artist talks, presentations and workshops on ideas and artistic techniques delivered by the artist. This could include interactive activities for a variety of age groups ranging from children to adults, activities relating to school curriculum in various subject areas including fine arts, language arts, social studies, history, etc.
Appeal/Significance for a Rural & Northern Audience
Will the exhibition speak to and appeal to a rural and northern audience? Will visitors be able to relate to and find meaning in the proposed exhibit? On the other hand, does the exhibition introduce something new and unique not typically available to or seen by rural and northern audiences? Does the exhibition offer a good balance between these two factors?
Application Deadline: 15 January 2025
Have questions?
Contact Nicole by sending an email on visualarts@mbartsnet.ca