The Grange Prize for contemporary photography will now be known as the Aimia | AGO Photography Prize with a greater international focus and a new national scholarship program fostering the development of photographers across the country. Matthew Teitelbaum, Director and CEO of the Art Gallery of Ontario, and Vince Timpano, President and CEO of Aimia in Canada, announced the expansion of Canada’s largest and most innovative art prize program. The expanded Prize will feature a new national scholarship program that will recognize and develop the next generation of Canadian photographers. The Aimia | AGO Photography Prize will grant more than C$85,000 annually in cash prizes to photographers through the new scholarship and the prizes for the winner and three runners-up.
“The Prize will honour the core mission of the original Grange Prize, which is to engage the public in a dialogue about contemporary photography by connecting people with extraordinary Canadian and international talent, allowing the public to choose the winner,” said Matthew Teitelbaum. “The Prize will also continue to foster the growth of photography in Canada by providing all four shortlisted artists fully-funded residencies and exhibition programs.”
“After five groundbreaking years working together with the AGO on the Grange Prize, we wanted to take this important Prize to new heights by making several enhancements to build on its success,” said Vince Timpano. “We are particularly proud to be introducing the national scholarship program, granting more than C$20,000 each year to students whose artwork displays extraordinary potential in the field of photography.”
Please watch for the long-list announcement in July 2013 along with programming highlights for the 2013 Aimia | AGO Photography Prize.