2024 Incubator Microgrant Program Now Open
Applications are due May 31st, 2024
Bring your idea for a public arts and culture experience to life! Comox Valley Arts’ Microgrant program is now accepting applications for summer 2024. Artists and practitioners can apply for $250-$1000 in funding for community-based arts and culture initiatives in the Comox Valley. We are accepting applications until May 31st, 2024 at midnight.
Background
The intention behind the microgrant program is to support artists seeking to create projects that engage the broader public and bring arts experiences to the community. Eligible projects include public art installations, pop-up dance performances; community murals; street performances; pop-up community theater productions; art workshops/classes that are free and open to the public; community music programs; community story-telling projects; author readings and other literary events, interactive art presentations; arts-based community activism; cultural exchange programs and more.
We are especially interested in projects that root practice in community engagement and provide a public presentation opportunity during the summer of 2024. These grants are for individual artists or collectives at all levels of practice.
To read the eligibility requirements and program guidelines, please refer to the application form linked below.
A-School: Professional Development for Artists
A-School is a space where creatives in the Central Island Region can learn skills and meet other artists to level-up their practice. The program series includes facilitated sessions led by professionals in the arts including working artists, curators, art educators, arts programmers, exhibition designers, arts administrators, grant writers, and more. A-School aims to provide professional development training workshops to help artists grow and nourish their practice.
A-School allows artists to connect with other artists, showcase, share and see new work by other creatives and receive feedback and direction. A School fills a critical gap in traditional models for artist training, providing a variety of access points and means of support for artists working at all levels.
A-School 2024 Schedule
Upcoming Session
Past Sessions
Session 1: A-School Launch, Thursday January 25th, 2024 | 7-8:30 PM | ZOOM
Intro and overview of this new program series that responds to identified needs in our community. What will upcoming skill + knowledge sharing, community building and critique sessions look like? During the session we will survey participants and ask you to tell us what you need for your own professional development as an artist or creative. Facilitated by Scott Bertram and CV/Arts Staff.
Session 2: Show and Tell Critique, Thursday, February 22, 2024 | 6:00-8:00 PM | Location: Comox Valley Art Gallery Board Room (2nd floor), 580 Duncan Ave. Courtenay, BC V9N 2M7
Our community building and critique sessions offer an opportunity for creatives in our region to connect with other artists and if desired, use a segment during the session to present a new body of work, ask for direction, run ideas by colleagues, share opportunities, ask questions, provide or receive feedback and ultimately, build community by getting out of the studio.
Session 3: Show and Tell Critique, Fri, March 15, 2024 | 6:00-8:00 PM | Location: Comox Valley Art Gallery Board Room (2nd floor), 580 Duncan Ave.
Our community building and critique sessions offer an opportunity for creatives in our region to connect with other artists and if desired, use a segment during the session to present a new body of work, ask for direction, run ideas by colleagues, share opportunities, ask questions, provide or receive feedback and ultimately, build community by getting out of the studio.
Session 4: Navigating the Art Market with Illana Hester, Thursday, April 11, 2024 | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Location: Comox Valley Art Gallery Board Room (2nd floor), 580 Duncan Ave.
Join us for an interactive lecture with Illana Hester, curator and arts business expert, as she delves into the dynamics of the business of creatives. This unique chat will offer invaluable insights into understanding the positioning of artists within the contemporary business landscape. Illana will share strategies for navigating the complexities of the art marketplace. Participants will have the chance to engage directly with Illana, asking questions and gaining practical advice. This event serves as a platform for artists to connect, fostering a supportive community that extends beyond the confines of their studios. Don’t miss out on this enriching experience that promises to empower and inspire artists to thrive in the ever-evolving art industry.
A-School Lead Facilitator: Scott Bertram
Scott Bertram is a professional practicing artist and educator based in the Comox Valley. His artistic practice explores improvisation, finding meaning within unintended stimuli, and playing with the dynamics of perception. He has a BFA from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and an MFA from NSCAD University. He was a semi-finalist in the 12th RBC Canadian Painting Competition and has received many other awards including funding from the BC Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. His paintings have been shown in solo and group exhibitions across Canada as well as in the USA, Australia, Germany, Mexico, and the UK. Scott currently teaches painting at North Island College.
Through his own lived experience, Scott has witnessed the gaps in traditional art school training, the lack of supports for emerging artists fresh out of art school and the need for a community of peer artists to relate to and bounce ideas off. Scott is A-School’s lead facilitator.