A leading Canadian visual arts award will now ensure one artist shortlisted for each year’s $100,000 prize comes from the circumpolar North.
The National Gallery of Canada and the Sobey Art Foundation announced the addition of a sixth nomination region as they sought nominations for the 2024 Sobey Art Award.
The change brings the total prize money to $465,000. Five artists from the circumpolar North will be longlisted and one shortlisted for each year’s award. The region includes Nunavut, northern Quebec, northern Labrador, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
“We are very happy that even more deserving contemporary artists from Canada will be included in the Sobey Art Award long and shortlists,” Sobey Art Foundation chair Rob Sobey was quoted as saying.
“The circumpolar region was added to acknowledge the incredible talent of artists from this region and to better reflect the cultural makeup of our country. We look forward to this year’s edition and to connecting more of Canada’s most innovative and creative voices with new audiences.”
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
The 2024 longlist for the award is set to be announced on April 30 and will include artists from six regions: Circumpolar, Pacific, Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic.
The six shortlisted artists will be announced on June 11 and their work featured at the National Gallery of Canada in the fall. The winner will be announced on November 9.
The Sobey Art Award is one of the most prestigious – and well-paid – art awards in Canada.
The overall winner receives $100,000, while each of the five shortlisted artists will win $25,000 and each longlisted artist $10,000.
Kablusiak, a Yellowknife-born Inuvialuk artist, won the 2023 award as a nominee under the former Prairies and North region.
