ReFrame Film Festival is seeking proposals from regional media artists for an installation to be presented in Artspace’s Gallery II. Marking the centre’s 50th anniversary year and ReFrame’s 20th anniversary festival, this installation will be featured alongside Artspace’s first exhibition of 2024. Proposals should reflect this moment of looking back and looking forward, and align with ReFrame’s commitment to social and environmental justice.
Access to Gallery II requires the use of a flight of stairs, and as such, arrangements for artists and patrons for whom this is a barrier will need to be addressed.
In preparing your submission please consult the Artspace Floorplan.
Please note, all proposals are required to be made using the online submission form. A link to the online form is below. Mailed submissions will not be accepted.
Call Opens: Monday October 23rd, 2023
Deadline: Monday November 20th, 2023
Fees inline with or exceeding CARFAC recommendations for Group Exhibitions will be paid to each artist involved in this exhibition.
ReFrame is a community celebration of documentary film centred on social and environmental justice. We work to achieve this mission by building socially active, engaged community audiences through the curated presentation of media arts. We have a steadfast commitment to our core values: supporting and showcasing the work of documentary filmmakers and artists; providing an accessible festival experience by removing physical, social, and economic barriers to participation; fostering dialogue around issues of social justice, human rights, and environmental responsibility; decision-making processes that are inclusive and guided by principles of anti-oppression; valuing and empowering employees and volunteers; and nurturing collaborative community partnerships.
ReFrame’s central programming is our main midwinter documentary film festival, with its in-person component based in downtown Nogojiwanong, and its online component available nationally. The festival is a widely celebrated event in the local arts and culture community, now entering its 20th anniversary season.
Artspace is a non-profit artist-run centre committed to nurturing the development and presentation of new work from contemporary artists. The centre strives to produce thought-provoking exhibitions that engage with diverse cultural and political perspectives through collaboration with artists at all career stages, working in any medium. Artspace is also proud to compensate artists with fees that exceed recommended CARFAC rates, and build a reputation as one of the region’s most vital arts organizations.
Artspace, a settler-founded and led organization, acknowledges its presence on Michi Saagig Mississauga Anishinaabeg land, known as Nogojiwanong by some and Peterborough by others. This territory falls under Treaty 20, signed in 1818, and the Williams Treaties of 1923, involving the seven Anishinaabeg communities of Alderville, Beausoleil, Curve Lake, Georgina Island, Hiawatha, Scugog Island, and Rama. We also recognize the significance of the Alderville litigation of 2018, which underscores the ongoing discussions around land rights, sovereignty, and the failure of a colonial government to honour the original spirit and intention of the treaties. In this regard, we also want to acknowledge that thousands of African-descendant people have been enslaved, displaced and judicialized on this same territory. The presence of Black Canadian communities is directly linked to the white supremacy and capitalism that motivated American, African and Caribbean colonization by European nations.
Artspace and ReFrame acknowledge that the above statement is only the first step towards what needs to be a much larger dialogue. We understand that while such statements are important, our ongoing actions are vital. We are therefore committed to continuously unlearning our colonial history, to work and live in solidarity with, to support, to listen, and to learn from, the rich histories and contemporary voices of Indigenous peoples. We are open to feedback and suggestions, and encourage you to share them with us.
Proposals from emerging, mid-career, and senior artists are welcome. In keeping with Artspace’s and ReFrame’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we encourage and prioritize proposals from artists that have been historically underrepresented such as BIPOC, migrant, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled and/or low income artists.
Artspace and ReFrame will be providing curatorial support, installation assistance, insurance, promotion, and documentation of exhibitions. Artspace and ReFrame are committed to paying artists according to the guidelines established by CAR/FAC (Canadian Artists’ Representation/Les Fronts des Artistes Canadiens).
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please include the following:
Proposal/Project Title(s)
Description (500 words max)
Technical Requirements
Artist Statement (250 words max)
Artist Bio (250 words max)
Current CV (3 pages max)
Visual Support Material (Accepted file types: gif, jpg, png, mp3, pdf) Please label support material images numerically with the artist’s name (01_name.jpg, 02_name.jpg, etc.). Video documentation needs to be uploaded to a site such as Youtube or Vimeo, and linked in the application. Specify the desired clip for viewing (up to 5 minutes in length) by indicating the desired start time in your support material list. Similarly, limit audio clips to 5 minutes maximum.
Documentation List (10 images max) For each item in your documentation list, please include the title, year created, medium, and dimensions.
EVALUATION
Proposals are evaluated according to the following criteria:
Artistic merit
Clarity of ideas
Contribution to the cultural diversity of Artspace’s and ReFrame’s programming
Feasibility
If you have any questions regarding the proposal submission process, please contact:
Eryn Lidster
Creative Director, ReFrame Film Festival
eryn(at)reframefilmfestival.ca