The journey between debuting as an artist and progressing towards professional practice is rarely a smooth one. Wrought with not only the difficulties of cultivating skills and connections, but also having to break into the art scene in a major city is daunting. That’s where the RBC Emerging Visual Artists Program (EVAP) at Arts Commons steps in.
“We’ve moved towards supporting emerging artists right across the country,” says RBC Regional President for Alberta and the Territories Jeff Boyd, who emphasizes how the program ties in with Future Launch, a 10-year RBC initiative that supports youth and young people in shaping their careers. “A big part of it is helping them build the bridge to a profession, to economic sustainability, giving them networks and experience. And that ties right in with our work with Arts Commons, supporting the RBC Emerging Visual Artist Program. A person wants to figure out how they are going to become a professional in their field, something that they are passionate about, and this kind of a program is really positive and helps them get there.”
Each year the RBC EVAP welcomes applications from Mohkinstsis/Calgary-area artists who reflect the vibrancy and diversity of Treaty 7 territory. From painting and fabric work to sound design and multimedia performance, the studio and exhibition spaces at Arts Commons are fit to accommodate almost any artistic practice.
For those with finished work they wish to exhibit, the Window Galleries are a perfect fit: seven display spaces adjacent to the Max Bell Theatre complement most two-dimensional and sculptural pieces. In need of a studio? The Ledge Gallery and Lightbox Studio offer space to artists for exhibition and practice, allowing for both public engagement and personal development. Regardless of the space, all artists are provided with opportunities to network, receive one-on-one mentorship, and partake in professional development sessions.
“It’s always a collaborative effort between the Arts Commons team, the artist, and the greater community of Calgary,” says Sanja Lukac, Visual and Media Arts Curator at Arts Commons. “A lot of the artists are posing questions right back to the audience through their work… they’re celebrating their identities, their heritage, they’re finding unique ways to incorporate storytelling in their work.”
"The RBC EVAP has been so incredibly helpful to me as an emerging artist! It helped me get out of the bubble of my studio and meet fellow artists, and learn about topics that felt so daunting before, such as grant proposals and working with galleries. I feel much more confident now than I did before I started the program." — Amy Webber, past RBC Emerging Visual Artist Program participant
"Taking part in the RBC Emerging Visual Artists Program has been incredible at connecting me with other artists and arts professionals that I wouldn’t have otherwise met. As a self-taught artist, my practice thus far has been very isolated and lacking the sort of arts peers that artists generally meet in school. Through the RBC EVAP, I’ve been exposed to a much broader range of artists and approaches to art-making than I could have imagined possible." — Katie Barron, past RBC Emerging Visual Artist Program participant
It’s been 10 years since the creation of the RBC Emerging Visual Artists Program, and the commitment to fostering dialogue between artists and the greater community remains strong. To find out more about the program, apply, or discover the work of current RBC EVAP artists in 3D, visit our website.
RBC Emerging Visual Artists Program submissions are now open to the 2022-23 season! To learn more visit artscommons.ca/submissions.
Thank you to RBC for being a partner to Arts Commons and supporting the Calgary arts community.
Kiani Evans
Kiani Evans is the Manager of Digital Communications for Arts Commons. She grew up in the rural Cariboo region of British Columbia and acquired a diploma in Art History on Vancouver Island (and refuses to give it back). She is delighted by all things art and takes joy in small moments, like finding lost change or missing socks. Kiani had trouble writing this bio, so she Googled “how to write a bio.” It didn’t help.
