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The Salt Spring National Art Prize Calls to Artists - $30,000 in Awards

Communities across Canada are exemplary in providing a means for people to express their artistry, for the magic invoked by artistic expression is a catalyst that sparks further creativity and strengthens the cultural unity found in our country.

Call for Artist Submissions

The community of Salt Spring Island, B.C., opens its call to Canadian artists with the Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP). The Prize offers $30,000 in prize money, with the first artist taking $12,000 and a $5,000 one-month artist residency on this little treasure of a Canadian island.

SSNAP 2015 Award Winner Corrie Peters "Building"

A panel of distinguished jurors from across Canada will anonymously select 50 finalists whose creative skills in their work demonstrate originality, quality, and integrity, resulting in a significant work that holds a visual impact and a depth of meaning.

SSNAP 2015 Exhibition - "SSNAP Exhibition" Photo credit: David Borrowman

SSNAP is one of the few national, juried competitions in the country. Our accomplished jurors, David Garneau (associate professor of visual arts at the University of Regina), Denis Longchamps (artistic director and chief curator at the Art Gallery of Burlington), and Naomi Potter (director/curator of Esker Foundation Calgary) share a deep knowledge of Canadian art while holding different areas of expertise and perspective on the artistic submissions to this national art show.

Ontario juror Longchamp says, “SSNAP is an important leader in bringing to the forefront visual artists whose work is thought provoking.” Garneau, a Saskatchewan juror says, “Such prizes as SSNAP recognize excellence beyond commercial and academic interests.” With Alberta juror Potter expressing, “It is an extremely rewarding experience to focus on a collection of artistic work, providing observers with fruitful discussion, introduction to new artistic endeavours, and above all, contributes to the legacy of this prize in our country."

Artist exposure will be extensive as Salt Spring Island is known as one of Canada’s premier art communities. Original works will be exhibited and for sale at historic Mahon Hall on Salt Spring Island, from September 22 through to October 22, 2017.

The list of finalists will be announced by July 19, with winners announced at an awards gala on Saturday, October 22, 2017.

SSNAP welcomes Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are 18 years and older (as of January 1, 2016) to submit original two-dimensional and three-dimensional works, with the call for submissions now open to May 31, 2017. For more information about SSNAP, including artist submission and selection process, jury bios and event dates, please visit http://saltspringartprize.ca/.