Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Commission Prize

• The artwork must be presented at the 2025 City of Hamilton Arts Awards, which will take place in early June (date TBD). It is anticipated that this will be an in-person event however artwork that could be presented in either an in-person or online format is encouraged due to uncertainty regarding the pandemic.
• Due to time limitations at the event, if the artwork is a full-length play, album, film or other longer work, the commissioned artist will be asked to select an excerpt for presentation.
• The commission fee is $2000. This fee includes the recipient’s artist fee and all costs related to the creation / production of the artwork.
• The Arts Awards program will provide support and resources to assist with the public presentation of the work (e.g. equipment rental, audio / visual equipment, artist fees for performers other than the commission recipient, staffing to assist with installation, etc.).  A budget of approximately $500 per commission has been allocated for costs related to the presentation of the artwork.
• The commissioned artists will retain all moral rights and copyright to the artwork.  As part of the terms of the commission, the City will license the artworks for the promotion of and display at the Arts Awards event; the artist will take possession of the work following the event.
• The commissioned artists will be expected to prepare an initial project proposal in early 2025 for feedback and provide a more detailed proposal once additional event details and location are confirmed.  The commission fee will be paid subject to the approval of the project proposal by the Director of Tourism and Culture or their designate.

Please read the following guidelines to ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements.

• Individual artist who is 18 years of age or older or an artistic collective (e.g. band, duo, troupe, collaborative, etc.) whose members are 18 years of age or older.  Note, performers under the age of 18 years are permitted provided the project leaders / lead applicants are 18 years or older.
• Artist or majority of collective members (minimum 75%) have been practicing professionally for less than five years (full-time students are not eligible).Full-time students are not eligible (high school or post-secondary students in an art program).
• •    Current resident of Hamilton (including Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, Stoney Creek, Waterdown) or Six Nations of the Grand River who has lived in Hamilton or Six Nations of the Grand River consecutively for the past two years or longer at the time of submission.
• Artistic collectives are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75% of the collective has lived in Hamilton consecutively for the past two years or longer.
• Must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) or have an application pending for Permanent Residency.
• May be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.
• Previous Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Prize winners are not eligible to apply.
• Previous City of Hamilton Emerging Artist Award recipients may apply.

An independent jury comprised of emerging artists and arts professionals representing a variety of disciplines will evaluate the applications. A member of the Arts Advisory Commission or 2023 Arts Awards Final Jury will audit the jury session to ensure a fair and transparent process (non-voting position).

The jurors will select the strongest application based on scoring criteria shared in the application form and subsequent jury deliberation. Nominations must achieve a minimum benchmark score to be eligible for the award.  If the benchmark is not met, the jury reserves the right to not select a winner.

Adjudication will take place in Spring 2023 and Prize recipients announced at a public event (or online presentation) in June 2023 as part of Hamilton Arts Week.