AGO X RBC Emerging Artists Program 2023

AGO X RBC Emerging Artists Exchange Open Call and Upcoming Events

Wenting Li, 2022 AGO x RBC Emerging Artists Exchange research on the Chinese snuff bottles, Thomson Collection, AGO. Screenshot from the artist website.

AGO X RBC Emerging Artists Exchange

Open Call for Artist-Researchers
Three research mentorships available in 2023

Deadline for submissions: April 24, 2023, at 5:00 pm EDT
Each selected artist will complete a month-long research mentorship between July and August 2023.

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) invites early-career artists to submit proposals for its paid mentorship program to pursue practice-based research, over a month-long period, into museum practices, audience engagement or the AGO Collection. Held annually, the program aims to offer three artists the opportunity to further their artistic practice and ready themselves for larger-scale presentations within institutional frameworks.

With the support of mentors from across the Gallery, each selected artist will further their research with the aim of presenting their findings to their AGO mentors for further feedback and conversation. This call is open to emerging artists in the early stages of their careers.

We welcome practice-based research proposals that explore interdisciplinary approaches, including those that are digital; consider the role of social engagement practices, engage with the museum field, or might be informed by the content and programming of the AGO. Experimentation is encouraged and these proposals could examine any area at the Gallery, including but not limited to: Conservation, Collections, Curatorial, Education & Programming, Library & Archives, Food & Beverage and Visitor Experience.

Selected artists will receive:

A one-time $2,000.00 CDN stipend, inclusive of all artist expenses and fees.
Mentorship from select AGO team members over a month period (virtual or in person, if required); and
A feature for their practice on the AGO X RBC Emerging Artists Program webpage.

Who should apply:

Artists who self-identify as emerging artists and are in the early stages of their artistic career
Canadians currently living in the country or artists residing in Canada
Practicing professional artists with two (2) or more years experience.

We welcome applications from artists who have not been equitably represented in museums, including Black, Indigenous, artists of colour, 2SLGBTQ+, women and persons with disabilities. Successful artists must be available between July and August 2023. Three selected artists will be notified by May 30, 2023.

For more information and to submit your application, visit here.

AGO X RBC Artist-in-Residence: Black Tie Soup Night by Lauren Prousky

Friday, April 14, 7 pm
Walker Court, Art Gallery of Ontario

Don your most elegant, outrageous and extravagant garments and join us at Black Tie* Soup Night (BTSN), an absurdist art happening, a participatory performance and a party. Guests will enjoy a performance by David Lee Broth (Ben Gorodetsky) and complimentary soup developed exclusively by Shalaka Jadhav.

Developed by AGO x RBC Artist-in-Residence Lauren Prousky, BTSN is a playful project exploring the theoretical concept of “primordial soup” to posit that we’re all soup people: floating, mixing and melting into each other in order to get by. For more information, visit here.

Coming Soon: AGO X RBC Summer Artist-in-Residence: Eva Grant

April 19 – July 13, 2023

This spring, the AGO welcomes AGO X RBC Artist-in-Residence, Eva Grant. Eva’s film Faking It blends elements of documentary and art film, examining people’s real and fake laughter. Her goal is to poke fun at the social dimensions of humour while also showcasing, as the subjects lightheartedly relate on screen, how even the unfunny and the forced can provoke real laughter (joyful, delighted, snarky, anything in between)! Discover more details on the artist’s project here.

Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas Street West
Toronto, Ontario
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@agotoronto