Eleni Bagaki

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Fogo Island Arts is an initiative of Shorefast, a registered Canadian charity with a mission to build cultural and economic resilience on Fogo Island and to serve community well-being by sharing place-based models of economic development that support people and planet.

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Patrons

Fogo Island Arts is a key program of Shorefast, a Canadian registered charity with a mission to build cultural and economic resilience on Fogo Island and to serve community wellbeing by sharing place-based models of economic development.

The international nature of FIA’s program is essential to the cross-fertilization of perspectives required to participate in global conversations. By creating invitations to see things differently, artists are helping to create an economy of care, craft and culture.

Like all non-profits, FIA depends on generous support from diverse funding sources to sustain its activities. Fogo Island Arts gratefully acknowledges supporters who are helping FIA deliver the high calibre of programming for which it is recognized.

FIA’s Patrons are an extraordinary group of individuals who share FIA’s commitment to international contemporary art and the power of ideas, dialogue and action. Patrons enjoy a host of benefits in recognition of their vital support. Charitable tax receipts are provided for donations.

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Partners

Fogo Island Arts partners with organizations to co-design tailored residency programs, publications and other strategic initiatives.

Current FIA Partners

The Islands is a residency partnership between FIA and Art Metropole, Toronto, that aims to encourage arts writing and criticism in contemporary art.

The Islands invites emerging and established arts writers and artists with a writing practice to think about the various roles of writing in the arts across two unique locations. Each successful candidate will have the opportunity to spend a month on Fogo Island as part of Fogo Island Arts’ residency program, followed by two weeks on Toronto Island at Artscape Gibraltar Point. The residency will culminate in a publication funded, published, and distributed by Art Metropole, in conjunction with Fogo Island Arts.

Fogo Island Arts (FIA) offers the recipients of the prestigious ars viva Prize for Visual Arts a residency on Fogo Island as part of a special partnership with Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft im BDI e. V. (Association of Arts and Culture of the German Economy at the Federation of German Industries).

The ars viva Prize is awarded annually to three young artists based in Germany whose work is distinguished by a high level of artistic quality and an awareness of contemporary social and cultural questions. The jury selected this year’s awardees from 49 nominated artists under the age of 35.

The ars viva Prize includes two exhibitions at renowned art institutions in Europe, a financial award of 5,000 Euros each, and a bilingual catalogue to be published by Kerber Verlag. The recipients also have the opportunity to spend a month on Fogo Island as part of Fogo Island Arts’ residency program.

Fogo Island Arts books are produced in partnership with Sternberg Press, a Berlin-based publishing house of art and cultural criticism, creative nonfiction, and literary and experimental fiction. Founded by Caroline Schneider in New York in 1999, it aims to support both new and established writers and nourish lasting editorial relationships. The press is committed to publishing books with an interdisciplinary focus on contemporary visual culture and related critical discourse.

The Hnatyshyn Foundation – Fogo Island Arts Young Curator Residency, valued at $15,000 (CAD), provides an opportunity for a young Canadian curator to work in residence at Fogo Island Arts for six weeks.

Established in 2014, the Young Curator Residency program provides opportunities for emerging Canadian curators between the ages of 25 and 30 to participate in a residency with Fogo Island Arts. During the residency period, participants have opportunities to work and interact with Fogo Island Arts staff, Canadian and international artists-in-residence, and members of the community. Candidates are selected based on their body of work and their ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Fogo Island Arts has partnered with the Sobey Art Foundation In support of contemporary Canadian artists. One of the 25 artists long-listed annually for the Sobey Art Award will be awarded a residency on Fogo Island as part of Fogo Island Arts’ international residency program.

FIA is the inaugural residency partner of the Sobey Art Award, with the mandate to expand opportunities and exposure for Canadian artists internationally.

The Sobey Art Foundation’s support is a significant contribution to Fogo Island Arts’ Patrons Program, a major fundraising campaign launched in 2016 to support FIA programs and initiatives. The partnership between Fogo Island Arts and the Sobey Art Foundation reflects a shared understanding of the critical role that contemporary art plays in enriching and revitalizing communities.

The Sobey Art Award is the pre-eminent prize for Canadian artists aged 40 and under. Presented annually, the award celebrates some of our country’s most exciting young artists. Since its inception in 2001, the Sobey Art Award has had an undeniable impact on the careers of young Canadian contemporary artists. Since 2015, the Award has been organized and administered by the National Gallery of Canada.

Fogo Island Arts is an international partner of the Pew Fellowship Consortium of Residencies, a project managed by the Alliance of Artists Communities and funded by Pew Fellowships in the Arts. As part of this biennial program, FIA has welcomed Pew Fellows Rea Tajiri (2019) and David Kessler (2021) for a six-week residency.

The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage is a multidisciplinary grant-maker and hub for knowledge sharing, dedicated to fostering a vibrant cultural community in Greater Philadelphia. The Center invests in ambitious, imaginative, and catalytic work that showcases the region’s cultural vitality and enhances public life, and engages in an ongoing exchange of ideas concerning artistic and interpretive practice with a broad network of cultural practitioners and leaders. Established in 2005, the Center makes project grants in two areas, Performance and Exhibitions & Public Interpretation, while twelve annual Fellowships provide unrestricted grants to individual artists working in all disciplines. The Pew Consortium of Artist Residencies extends the impact of Pew Fellowships by providing interested Fellows the opportunity to participate in a residency at one of the participating partner sites.

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FAQs

Visitor FAQs:

When did FIA begin as a program?

FIA was established in 2008 as one of Shorefast’s founding projects but the residency program began in 2010. That year, seven artists from Canada, Germany, India, Norway, Scotland, and the US came to the island for several months each.

Can visitors go see the studios?

FIA’s four studios are located along Fogo Islands popular walking trails and are part of many people’s visits to the island. Visitors are more than welcome to view the artist studios from the walks but please be aware that these are work spaces for Fogo Island Arts’ artists-in-residence. If there is an artist working in the space, FIA asks that you please be mindful that the artist may not want to be disturbed while working. It is up to the artists if they are interested in having visitors enter their workspace.

Can visitors rent the studios?

The studios are not available for rent, they are used only by artists-in-residence and for Fogo Island Arts programs.

Do the artists-in-residence live in the studios?

The artists-in-residence use the studios as a place to work and are assigned a small restored saltbox house in the various Fogo Island communities to live in.

Artist FAQs:

How can artists participate in a FIA residency?

Artists are invited to participate in a residency, receive a residency as an award through one of the partnership residencies, or are selected through a call for applications. FIA releases a call for applications every two years, during which time applications are accepted. Please sign up for our mailing list to receive notification of the next call for applications.

What is provided as part of a residency with FIA?

Artists are offered one of four studios as well as accommodation in a traditional saltbox house in one of Fogo Island’s communities. They also receive a weekly stipend to offset the costs of materials, shipping, and day-to-day living expenses. Travel expenses are covered up to a certain amount, and a vehicle is provided for on-island use during the residency. A cell phone is also provided.

What is required from the artist during a residency?

Artists-in-residence are asked to do one public presentation, performance, workshop, or similar event during their residency.

Are there any other requirements for artists-in-residence?

Obtaining a visa to enter or stay in Canada (if required), is the artist-in-residence’s responsibility. International artists should also obtain health insurance to cover their stay in Canada. Artists should ideally have a valid driver’s license.

What does it cost to participate in a residency?

There is no fee to the artist-in-residence. There is a specific travel budget, and if this amount is exceeded, the artist is required to cover the overage.

Can artists bring their family?

Partners and family members are welcome to visit the artist, however, please note that FIA does not provide any additional support (travel funds, stipend, etc.).

Can artists apply to have an exhibition?

Fogo Island Arts presents two exhibitions in the Fogo Island Gallery per year. Selected artists who have previously completed a residency with Fogo Island Arts are invited to present a solo exhibition at the Fogo Island Gallery. We do not accept applications for exhibitions.

Who can apply for a residency?

FIA residencies are intended for professional contemporary artists with specialized training, recognition among their peers, and a history of public presentation of their work in a professional context. We welcome applications on a biennial basis from Canadian and international contemporary artists working in a wide range of disciplines including visual art, film, arts writing, music/sound, curating, design, and theory. Given the high volume of applications for a limited number of spots, previous artists-in-residence are kindly requested not to apply.

How long is a FIA residency?

FIA typically hosts 15 residencies per year, ranging from one to three months in length. Applications for short-term residencies are not accepted.

Can collaborators, duos, or collectives apply for a residency?

Due to the limited size of our studios and houses, we do not accept applications from groups with more than two members. All residency costs (travel budget, stipend, etc.) will be shared between members.

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