Southwest Seen Commission & Exhibition: Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals
Southwest Seen
New Media Commissions

Submission deadline:June 6, 2022

Museum London invites applications for Southwest Seen, an initiative to activate new media works that reflect the region’s diverse culture and history. With support from artist/curatorial collaborators and representatives of the London Ontario Media Arts Association and the Media City Film Festival, Southwest Seen will support the creation of three new digital works for public exhibition from November 2022 to August 2023.

We invite proposals from artists who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour who are from, reside in, or have a meaningful connection to Southwestern Ontario—the region bounded by Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, Lake Erie, and communities west of the GTA.

While applicants can interpret elements broadly, we encourage proposals that engage with regional histories, lived experience, community, and inclusion and equity.

This opportunity is open to those who are:

  • Black; Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis); People of Colour;
  • Professional visual/media artists producing digital media work;
    (The OAC defines a professional artist as someone who has developed skills through training or practice, is recognized by artists in the same artistic tradition, has a history of public presentation/publication, seeks payment for their work, and actively practices their art.) (Student artists not eligible);
  • 18 or older;
  • Canadian citizens/permanent residents.

Specifics:

  • A committee will select three proposals, with notification in May 2022;
  • Digital media works should be created with a wide public audience in mind;
  • Each work will be screened publicly, visible from outside the Museum through the back windows at its Centre at the Forks (CATF), for a period of three months. They will be viewable past dusk;
  • Submissions must be screenable both with and without sound. Closed captioning available;
  • Each work will also maintain an online presence for a period of one month through the Media City Film Festival;

Note: Works must be:

  • maximum 60 FPS
  • maximum 1080P (or frame size of 1920 x 1080)
  • no larger than 10 GB
  • Length less than 15 minutes.

Remuneration:

  • Selected artists will each receive fees for commission ($3,000), solo exhibition ($3,563), and online streaming ($560).

How to Apply:

Applications will be accepted via email or WeTransfer, and must include:

  • CV (maximum 2 pages);
  • Artist statement (maximum 500 words);
  • Proposal describing the work concept (maximum 500 words);
  • Budget and Production general timeline (maximum 3 pages);
  • Submissions to be sent to cgetty@museumlondon.ca;
  • Up to 12 images and/or 10 minutes of media featuring relevant past work. Include date, title, medium, length, etc.;
  • Send proposals via link or email (Note: emails maximum 10MB; accepted platforms (Vimeo, Youtube);

Note: successful works must be realized by November 1, 2022.

Submit questions and proposals to Cassandra Getty, Curator of Art, Museum London, 421 Ridout St. N., N9A 5H4, (519) 661-0333 ext. 4227, cgetty@museumlondon.ca

We would like to acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

Ontario Arts Council