RBC is seeking emerging Canadian artists for its 10th annual
Canadian Painting Competition
Canada's Governor General lends patronage to celebrate
competition's 10th anniversary
TORONTO, March 4, 2008 — RBC, with the support
of the Canadian Art Foundation, today announced its call for
entries for the 2008 RBC Canadian Painting Competition - the
largest competition of its kind in Canada. Entries must be
submitted by May 2, 2008.
This year Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle
Jean, Governor General of Canada, will lend her patronage
to the event in honour of its 10th anniversary.
"The RBC Canadian Painting Competition is as much about
assisting emerging Canadian artists as it is celebrating the
colours of our vibrant Canadian culture," said Gordon
M. Nixon, president and chief executive officer, RBC. "By
promoting our artists both locally and nationally, we are
creating broader awareness for our country, its people and
its rich cultural diversity."
The Governor General will announce the winner at Rideau Hall
in Ottawa in September. The national winner will receive a
$25,000 prize, the two honourable mentions will each receive
a $15,000 prize, and as an exclusive to the 10th anniversary
event, the 12 semi-finalists will each receive a prize of
$7,500.
The works of the national winner and the two honourable mentions
will become part of the RBC art collection, displayed in RBC
locations across the country. In addition, in honour of the
competition's 10th anniversary and the Governor General's
patronage, the 12 semi-finalists' works will also become a
part of the Canadiana Fund's Crown Collection and displayed
in the Official Residences including 24 Sussex, Stornaway,
Rideau Hall, the Citadel, Harrington Lake and the Speaker's
Residence.
RBC works closely with the Canadian Art Foundation to deliver
a superior competition that continues to grow in prominence.
The Canadian Art Foundation oversees the adjudication process,
allowing the works to be judged by a selected panel of distinguished
members of the visual arts community.
"The RBC Canadian Painting Competition is an opportunity
to support and nurture Canadian artists," said Ann Webb,
acting-executive director, Canadian Art Foundation. "The
competition serves as a catalyst for the careers of many of
Canada's emerging artists. It showcases their skill and talent
and provides them with important visibility for their work
and national exposure they may not have otherwise experienced."
Details and rules of the competition may be found at www.rbc.com/paintingcompetition.
The submitted works will be short-listed to 15 semi-finalists
by independent panels of regional judges. All regional jurors
come together to determine one national winner and two honourable
mentions in September in Ottawa, kicking off a national touring
exhibition. The national tour will exhibit the works of all
15 semi-finalists at prominent galleries in Ottawa, Montreal,
London, Toronto, St. John's, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Vancouver.
For dates and locations of the RBC Canadian painting Competition
tour visit www.rbc.com/paintingcompetition.
All finalists will be featured in Canadian Art magazine and
on the web at www.rbc.com/paintingcompetition
and at www.canadianart.ca.
About the RBC Canadian Painting Competition
Established in 1999 and the largest competition of its kind
in Canada, the RBC Canadian Painting Competition is a tribute
to Canada's artistic talent. The goal of the competition is
to support and nurture Canadian visual artists early in their
career by providing them with a forum to display their artistic
talent to the country and hopefully open doors to future opportunity.
An investment in Canadian culture and the visual arts community,
the competition will award one national prize of $25,000 and
two honourable mentions prizes each of $15,000 and exclusive
to the occasion of its 10th anniversary, the 12 semi-finalists
will each receive a prize of $7,500. Along with past winners,
the winning paintings of 2008 will become part of RBC's Canadian
art collection composed of more than 4,000 works of distinguished
art collected over the past hundred years. Various paintings
from the RBC collection have been exhibited in museums, enabling
more Canadians to enjoy these wonderful works. "Old and
New Forest" by Emily Carr is on loan to the Vancouver
Art Gallery from May 12, 2007 through to April 6, 2008. The
12 semi-finalists' paintings will become a part of the Canadiana
Fund's Crown Collection.
About the Canadian Art Foundation
The Canadian Art Foundation is a charitable organization that
fosters and supports the visual arts in Canada. The foundation
celebrates artists and their creativity with a nationwide
educational program of events, lectures, competitions, publications
and other initiatives. Visit www.canadianart.ca/foundation
for further information.
About the Canadiana Fund
The Canadiana Fund was created in 1990 to enhance the beauty
and significance of state areas of the official residences
through public donations of furnishings, paintings and objets
d'art or the funds to purchase them. Pieces are chosen that
reflect Canada's heritage, artistic traditions and historical
associations, or to complement the architectural style of
a particular residence. Visit www.canadianafund.ca.
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Media contact:
Darlene Brown, 416-974-2727
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