How to Apply

Eligibility

We consider an emerging artist as someone within the first five years of their professional career, beginning with their first solo or group exhibition in a museum, public or commercial gallery, or artist-run center.

Applicants aren’t required to be current students or to have completed a degree in Fine Arts. We encourage all emerging artists matching our definition to apply. To be eligible, you’ll need to be:

A resident of Canada
At least 18 years of age
Available to attend the award ceremony in Toronto (if selected as a finalist)

Artwork Qualifications

Submitted artwork must be screen-based and created using digital technologies, which include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, digital cameras, audio recording devices, computers, computer programs or software.

Your work must rely on the digital to exist, taking advantage of and experimenting with its immaterial qualities. Artwork must also include an image component (electronic music will only be accepted if accompanied with image).

Your artwork must be dated no earlier than five years prior to the submissions deadline. Digital documentation of traditional media will not be considered and only one piece of artwork can be submitted for judging.

Submission Criteria

When writing, here’s some questions to consider

How does the work participate in a broader contemporary discourse around digital technologies, spaces, and objects?

How was your artwork made, and what technical skills or proficiencies were demonstrated in the creation of your artwork?

How does the work’s aesthetic (form and content) relate to your intention as the artist? What are you trying to communicate through this work?

We base our judging on four main criteria

1Relevance

This means we’re looking at the extent to which your submitted work meets our eligibility criteria, specifically that the work is screen-based and digitally produced.

2Technique

This includes your handling of the medium, which can refer to cinematography, editing, modelling or other modes of production. As part of this criteria, “technique” doesn’t include stylistic choices such as image content, colouring, and composition. Focus is placed primarily on the work’s technical aspects.

3Aesthetics

The presentation of your work will be judged in relationship to its technique and intention, as you describe it in your statement. Your stylistic choices and experimentation with form will be evaluated alongside the work’s image content.

4Statement (250 words)

Your written statement should address how your work meets the other three evaluation criteria (i.e. relevance, technique, and aesthetics) and its relationship to digital culture more broadly.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm EST on June 15, 2019.

Each applicant must complete an online application form and upload a curriculum vitae (CV) along with their digital art file (see file requirements below*). If you prefer to mail in your submission, contact us at edaa@eqbank.ca.

*Files in .exe or .html format must be submitted in a zipped folder.