RELEASE: Year of the Arts Senior Artist Program grants announced
Sep 18, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2024 (St. John’s, NL) – ArtsNL has invested $200,000 in 10 artistic projects through the Year of the Arts Senior Artist Program. In collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation and Celebrate NL, this second iteration of the program was made possible by an additional $3M in 2024 as part of the Year of the Arts initiative. This substantial support reinforces ArtsNL’s dedication to fostering and elevating the artistic community across Newfoundland and Labrador.
“The positive feedback we received from the first round of the Senior Arts Program was so overwhelming that when we received additional Year of the Arts monies, we knew we had to offer a second round,” said Executive Director of ArtsNL, Melanie Martin. “Time to create is what all artists need. That time isn’t possible without some economic breathing room. The ArtsNL team sees artists well into their 70s who still have that fire in their bellies to create. This two-year program does that—it’s an investment in some of our most beloved creators.”
The successful applicants are:
| Shirley Moorhouse (Happy Valley-Goose Bay), Visual Arts | $20,000 |
| Charlie Tomlinson (St. John’s), Theatre | $20,000 |
| Kevin Major (St. John’s), Writing | $20,000 |
| Beni Malone (St. John’s), Multidiscipline – Circus | $20,000 |
| Pamela Morgan (St. John’s), Music | $20,000 |
| Margaret Walsh Best (St. John’s), Visual Arts | $20,000 |
| Shawn O’Hagan (Corner Brook), Visual Arts | $20,000 |
| Dave Panting (St. John’s), Music | $20,000 |
| Clem Curtis (St. John’s), Visual Arts | $20,000 |
| Frank Barry (St. John’s), Theatre | $20,000 |
The Senior Artist Program has a $400,000 funding envelope and spans two fiscal years with $200,000 awarded in 2024 and again in 2025 to 10 senior artists. This program is for established professional artists (age 60+) who do not have full-time employment outside their artistic practice and have maintained an artistic practice for at least 25 years. These senior artists have made a significant contribution to the artistic landscape of Newfoundland and Labrador throughout their artistic journey, have an extensive body of work behind them, and a proven track record in their discipline, spanning decades. This one-time, multi-year program provides senior artists with financial stability and security to focus on their artistic practice over a two-year period without interruption.
Media Enquiries
Charlene Jackson
Communications Officer
(709) 726-2212 ext. 3
charlene@artsnl.ca
The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (now known as ArtsNL) is a non-profit Crown agency created in 1980 by The Arts Council Act. Its mission is to foster and promote the creation and enjoyment of the arts for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Council is governed by a volunteer board of 13 appointed by government, reflecting regional representation of the province. This includes 10 professional artists who provide sectoral representation of the arts community; two community representatives (with an interest in the arts); and one representative of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation (non-voting). ArtsNL receives an annual allocation of $5.2 million from the Province to support a variety of granting programs, program delivery, office administration, and communications. It also seeks support from the public and private sector. It supports the following artistic disciplines: dance, film, multidiscipline, music, theatre, visual art, and writing.
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