The Third Place Public Art Project: Call for Expressions of Interest
The public library is one of the last freely accessible spaces where communities can gather outside of home and work. An essential “third place,” the library is a social hub that provides barrier-free access to services and programming and a safe space for all.
Overview:
The Cape Breton Regional Library (CBRL) is seeking a professional artist based in Unama’ki-Cape Breton to partner with in developing an application for the Arts Nova Scotia Artists in Communities Grant. The grant intends to support community-based and socially engaged arts practices, to foster collaborations between artists and non-arts organizations, and to strengthen relationships between artists and community. Projects may receive up to $20,000, and can include, but are not limited to: residencies, mentorships, workshops/arts engagement activities, and the co-creation and presentation of new work.
The successful applicant will receive an honorarium of $300.00 from CBRL for their contribution to the grant application whether or not the application is successful. The time commitment would be approximately 10 hours between July and September 2023. The grant application deadline is October 1. If the application is successful, the partner artist will use the funds allocated to complete their project.
Dream Projects:
We invite artists interested in using art to engage community in CBRM and/or Victoria County to propose their dream project to us. Would you like to lead a community-generated mural, write a ballad for 21st-century Cape Breton, or make a film highlighting diverse changemakers in our community? Projects can take countless forms, but the grant prioritizes those that strengthen community bonds, open dialogue, tell untold stories, preserve or transform cultural traditions, inspire social action, or promote active citizenship. Artists can work in any media: craft, dance, literary arts, media, new media, music, theatre, and/or visual arts. We also welcome applications that feature collaborations between two artists/art forms: dance and poetry, music and painting, etc.
About Us:
The CBRL has 12 library branches and a Bookmobile. Our Baddeck, Glace Bay, New Waterford, North Sydney and Sydney Libraries all have small program spaces available for workshops, installations, and performances. CBRL will take on all administrative duties in the life cycle of the grant: from writing the application, to administering funds, to writing the final report. We will also provide program planning support during the project, such as organizing and advertising events, purchasing supplies, and handling registrations as needed.
Application Criteria:
Arts NS requires that all applicants be professional artists. A professional artist is defined as someone who has received compensation from their artistic activity and meets additional criteria from the Nova Scotia Status of the Artist Legislation. To determine if you qualify, see their quiz. Projects will be assessed on the following criteria: artistic impact, community impact, feasibility, and equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
Application Checklist:
- CV and supporting material (a document containing images of physical artworks or links to music, films, etc.)
- Project proposal: a one-page outline of your proposed project.
- Budget: a rough break down of anticipated costs.
Applications must be submitted by June 15th, 2023 to:
Tracy Wilson, Coordinator of Community Support
Cape Breton Regional Library