U of S alumna in running for prestigious art award

University of Saskatchewan alumna Joi T. Arcand (BFA’05) is included on the longlist of nominees for the 2018 Sobey Award, Canada’s prestigious contemporary art prize that recognizes and supports emerging artists from across the country.

Arcand, who is from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, was recently an artist-in-residence at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, working alongside senior artist Ruth Cuthand (BFA’83, MFA’92). Arcand previously served as chair of the board of directors for PAVED Arts and was a co-founder of the Red Shift Gallery in Saskatoon.

Arcand also founded and edited the Indigenous art magazine kimiwan (2012–2014) and curated Language of Puncture at Gallery 101. Her work has been shown locally, nationally and internationally, and she was recently featured in a CBC video.

The Sobey Art Award is given to a visual artist age 40 and under who has exhibited in a public or commercial art gallery within 18 months of being nominated. Presented annually, the award provides a total of $240,000 in prize money, including a top prize of $100,000 for the winner, $25,000 for the four shortlisted finalists and $2,000 each for the longlisted artists.

The shortlist of nominees will be announced on May 29, 2018. The winner will be announced at the National Gallery of Canada on Nov. 14, 2018.

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