Michael Sasso and Izabel Barsive, recipients of the
2008 Corel Endowment for the Arts Awards
Photo: Andrew Alexander

The Corel Endowment Fund for the Arts Award

Now accepting nominations

Deadline: May 1, 2009

Take a look at the possibilities of the Corel Endowment Fund for the Arts Award. This award assists artists in all disciplines.

One artist who explored the award's opportunities was composer Evelyn Stroobach (2005 Award Winner):"Since I completed my music education, it has been my goal to create music in Ottawa, and tap into the amazing musical talent that exists in this city. These funds will help realize that goal."

The award was established at the Community Foundation of Ottawa in 1997 through the combined fundraising efforts of the CAO and Corel Corporation. The first awards were presented in 1998. To date, the fund has contributed to 21 artists' projects.

General Information

A. Award Purpose

• Future-oriented
• Encourages evolution, innovation, creativity and excellence of individual artists working on new initiatives in all the arts disciplines in Ottawa and the National Capital Region
• Supports projects with potential to significantly advance the individual's art practice, or have an impact on the community or the discipline(s) represented

B. Who is eligible

• Individual artists or groups of individual artists (working in collaboration) who are committed to a professional art practise and can provide evidence of sustained professional work

C. What is eligible

• This is a project-oriented fund
• New projects or specific work in progress in all arts disciplines, either singly or in combination
• Support may be for the research, development, creation, and/or presentation phases of a project

D. What is NOT eligible

As the fund's primary objective is to stimulate new creative work of individual artists, applications will not be considered for:

• Operational funding for new or established groups or organizations
• Retroactive funding -- support for activities that will be completed before the results of the application review process are known.
• Projects in which the intent is primarily therapeutic or recreational
• Commissioned work

At the present time, funds are insufficient to consider contribution to major production costs as in film, opera and theatrical productions.

E. Process for applications

Submissions are reviewed by an independent committee of arts professionals drawn from the region, who submit specific recommendations on a priority basis to the Board of Directors of the CAO. There will be no quota on the number or nature of the projects to be supported. 

Decisions will be based on the originality and creativity of the proposed project, quality of work as reflected in well-documented examples of previous work or work in progress, and on the potential effects of the project on the artist's practice, the development of the discipline or the community. 

NOTE: 25% of the annual disbursements will support projects involving new technology in the arts.

F. How to apply

• Applicants should call the CAO office at (613) 569-1387 and provide a brief (5-minute) verbal description of the project to the Executive Director to determine eligibility.
• Eligible applicants will be required to submit an application according to the application guidelines, including: artist's resumé/biography, a relevant sample of past work or the work in progress, and an outline which describes the innovative aspects of the project as well as the expenditures to be covered by this award, additional financial information if applicable.
• Submit application with a self-addressed envelope/packaging with appropriate return postage.

Applications should be sent to:
Council for the Arts in Ottawa
Awards Coordinator
2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6E2
(613) 569-1387

G. Timelines

• Postmark deadline: May 1, 2009
• Review panel: May
• Recommendation to CAO Board of Directors: May
• Annual disbursements: May/June

Additional information

Acknowledgement of project funding by the Council for the Arts in Ottawa through the Corel Endowment Fund for the Arts must be provided in all publicity material associated with the project such as posters, programs and catalogues.

Initially, funds are limited and therefore amounts awarded will be in the vicinity of $500 per grant. This may change from year to year.

Application Guidelines

1. The project proposal should incorporate the following points, clearly printed or typed:
a) Applicant's name
b) Address including postal code
c) Telephone number (day) 

2. Please indicate the artistic discipline(s)/media utilized in your project: visual arts, crafts, photography, media arts, literature, dance, music, theatre, e.g. visual arts using acrylic on canvas, or music, classical. 

3. Describe the nature of your project. 

4. Indicate in what way your work has evolved and how this project represents an innovation from your previous work. 

5. Explain how you intend to distribute/present the completed work to the public. 

6. Outline a budget proposal for the project detailing how you will use the award and if applicable, other sources of revenue for the project. 

7. Attach artist's resumé/biography. 

8. Submit relevant samples of recent work and/or work in progress. Work samples should be of the highest quality, as evaluation of your application is based primarily on the work samples submitted. 

Visual Arts, Photography and Crafts
No more than 10 slides of recent work. Include complete identification of each slide on a separate sheet and number slides from 1-10 to indicate viewing sequence. 

Literary Arts
Either 3-5 poems, a short story, or a chapter from a larger work. Depending on the project, you may wish to submit excerpts from a work in progress. If you do so, please also submit a sample of finished work. 

Performing Arts 
Submit one 5 to 15 minute audio cassette tape or VHS videotape, including excerpts of at least two most recent works. All tapes should be clearly labelled with footage indicating the beginning and end of each work. Include on a separate sheet of paper: the title, date of the work, and other pertinent information, such as, the aim of the work and your role in it. Composers must submit a minimum of one score and one tape. Playwrights submitting excerpts from a work in progress, should also submit a completed play. 

Media Arts
One 5 to 15 minute audio cassette tape or VHS video tape, including excerpts of at least two most recent works, labelled according to the instructions under "Performing Arts".

History of the Award

In 1996, Corel Corporation elected to consolidate requests for funding in the various local arts disciplines by establishing the Corel Endowment Fund for the Arts. The fund would be accessible to individual artists working in all arts disciplines, with 25% of annual disbursements going to those whose work involves new technology and the arts. 

Through the provision of various services, the Council for the Arts in Ottawa is in touch with the general arts community on a day to day basis. The CAO was deemed by Corel to be the most appropriate body to administer the annual disbursements of the earned interest throughout the arts community that it is mandated to represent. 

Focusing on the visual arts, a joint venture between Corel and the CAO resulted in a juried exhibition and auction sale of paintings and sculptures by international and nationally known artists as well as those of Ottawa and the National Capital Region (100 kms surrounding Parliament Hill). This took place at the Château Laurier, on October 9, 1996. 

The event, Corel VIVA! les arts was organized by the CAO and was supported by significant involvement of the City of Ottawa, using many community volunteers. It was generously funded by Corel through both direct funding and provision of services. Corel VIVA! les arts was extraordinarily successful from educational, informational and promotional standpoints. There was a financial return of $30,000.00 made up of donations from Corel and from the dealers and artists whose works sold at the auction. This is the capital upon which the Corel Endowment Fund for the Arts is built. The Fund was further augmented by a second fundraising initiative completed in October 1997, and future collaboarations are planned. 

The Board of Directors of the CAO, having examined numerous options, decided to investigate the appropriateness of the Community Foundation of Ottawa-Carleton (CFOC) as the capital investment administrator. 

The understanding between the CAO and Corel Corporation is that designated funds are to be deposited with the CFOC, where the principal, being outside the reach of our organizations, becomes a permanent part of our community assets, managed by the CFOC to ensure the optimum return. 

Interest from the capital will be designated in perpetuity to the CAO for annual disbursements to qualified applicants in our area. The CAO will ensure that no more than a 20% maximum may be retained by the CAO for operational expenditures, while a minimum of 80% of the money will be distributed throughout the arts disciplines in our community. 

Corel Endowment for the Arts Award Recipients

2009

• nichola feldman-kiss in support of her project the camera eye an interactive sculpture and robotic vision system

2008

• Izabel Barsive - support of her dance video production Lustrale II
• Michael Sasso - support an electronic music performance combining original composition, live musicians, synthesizers and improvisation

2007

• Benjamin Gaillard - support for his solo theatre piece titled Le Crabe
• Christopher Rohde - support for an experimental narrative film
• Michelle Wilson - support for the development of a photographic installation

2006

• Chantal Gervais - photographic project
• The Harrismah Duo - concert premier with new arrangements
• Andrew O'Malley - interactive new media installation

2005

• Evelyn Stroobach – recording of original composition La petite danse
• Fateema Sayani – publication of book Hipster and Poser: A Companion Guide to Ottawa, The Character of a City

2004

• Kahlia Scott – visual arts project
• Anita Grace – Web site development of the Hungry Poet project
• Juliana Pulford – set and costume design for a flamenco dance work

2003

• Adrian Göllner – installation of the Modern U project
• Michèle Provost – materials costs for The Sampler exhibition
• Alison Chung Yan – web based interactive project titled Lorenzo's Butterfly
• Karen Gutman – choreography of new dance work

2002

• Line Dezainde – materials costs for installation of sculpture
• Lynda Turner – community arts project

2001

• Anik Bouvrette – dance choreography
• Artists Five – visual arts installation
• Korbett Matthews – film production

2000

• Saveeta Sharma – dance presentation
• Mathieu Derouin – film production

1999

• Ruby Ewen – sound portion of visual arts exhibition
• Lori Jean Hodge – recording of music cd

1998

• Karl Ceisluk – commission of public art work
• Penny McCann – distribution of film to festivals
• Jan Irwin – script preparation for Down to Low