Fogo Island Arts is a residency-based contemporary art venue for artists, filmmakers, writers, musicians, curators, designers, and thinkers from around the world.
Established in 2008, Fogo Island Arts is located off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada. With the opening of the Fogo Island Inn in 2013, Fogo Island Arts will enter a new phase of its evolution, expanding its program to include exhibitions at the Inn, publications produced in collaboration with international imprints, and partnerships with public institutions globally. These initiatives are part of a social enterprise-based business model that will support the economic viability of the Fogo Island Inn and the growth of tourism on Fogo Island.
The programs at Fogo Island Arts provide alternatives to more traditional international residencies and public art galleries in North America — in part due to the resourcefulness and creativity of Fogo Islanders, which provides a vital framework for the organization’s activities.
Critical engagement with the residents of Fogo Island forms the core of our programs. This means we design our educational projects and public events with both local and international audiences in mind.
The past years have already shown Fogo Island Arts to be a springboard, launching the professional careers of many artists and curators. We are recognized globally as a leading-edge contemporary art institution, providing support for artistic exploration and production.
Fogo Island Arts works to create meaningful partnerships — locally, nationally and internationally. Collaboration enhances knowledge through the sharing of resources, strengthening capacities and stimulating creative thought. By facilitating collaborations between emerging and established artists, curators, scholars and the public at large, we are building a growing national and international network of associates that help to support the institute and its programs.
Program Structure
Residencies
The residency program brings contemporary artists and researchers from around the world to live and work on Fogo Island and Change Islands. The program welcomes the participation of artists working in a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to: visual arts, new media, design, music, dance, writing and film.
Call for Proposals
For its 2013-14 residencies, Fogo Island Arts is seeking proposals from curators for projects to be presented within the context of the organization’s Education Program.
For more information contact: info@fogoislandarts.ca
Deadline: May 31st, 2013, for residencies starting September 1st, 2013.
How to Apply: Download the application (PDF)
Conferences
Engaging critics, curators, artists and theorists, the Fogo Island Dialogues will be organized in collaboration with other institutions and will take place on Fogo Island and in other locations, such as St. John’s, Montreal and Vienna. The dialogue/lecture format will provide opportunities to address issues related to the cultural, economic and ecological survival of rural communities, while sharing our work with national and international audiences.
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions at the Fogo Island Gallery (housed in the Fogo Island Inn) will present work by artists participating in the Fogo Island Arts international residency program. Inaugural exhibitions will present work by Kate Newby (New Zealand); Kevin Schmidt (Canada); and Zin Taylor (Canada).
Publications
Fogo Island Arts will make publications to accompany exhibitions presented in the Fogo Island Gallery and as a complement to the Fogo Island Dialogues. Ideally, most publications will be produced in partnership with other institutions and publishers.
Cinema
Formerly known as the Film House, the Fogo Island Cinema will present screenings of national and international films as part of Shorefast Foundation and Fogo Island Arts programs. Presentations of NFB Fogo Process films will be accompanied by discussions and related events.
Design Initiatives
International artists and designers will participate in production-oriented residencies. The work produced in this program will have an explicit social entrepreneurship component. The artist-designers participating in 2012-13 are Tobias Spichtig (Switzerland) and Chris Kabel (Netherlands).
Education
Fogo Island Arts presents art and filmmaking workshops for elementary and high school students attending Fogo Island Central Academy. Workshops for adults and specific community groups will also be offered.