Contemporary Art Practices Scholarship

August 5-22, 2025
Monday-Friday, 1:00pm-4:00pm

 

Contemporary Art Practices Scholarship Summer Intensive is a three-week full-scholarship program that supports young artists, ages 15-19, in developing an art practice that expands their creative approach to critically engage with the world around them. Through field trips, self-directed projects and guided workshops students are led by some of Vancouver’s leading artists, curators, and educators to explore current issues and develop their personal voice.

The program culminates in a group exhibition in Arts Umbrella’s own Cassils | Henriquez Exhibition gallery where they curate, install and critique their work together, followed by a reception for family and friends.

 

Program fee covered by full scholarship.

This program generously supported by The Parachute Fund and Polygon.

 

Classes held at Arts Umbrella’s Granville Island location:

Arts Umbrella, 1400 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S1

 

For more information:

http://artsumbrella.com/programs/art/scholarship-programs/visual-art-summer-intensive/ 

 

For questions:                                                           

submissions@artsumbrella.com                

Submission Guidelines

Your submission must include: a completed application form, a portfolio, image list, and letter of intent.

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

 

 

The Contemporary Art Practices Scholarship Summer Intensive is aimed at stimulating students and challenging them on the tools, methods and practices of contemporary art. As such, we are looking for young artists who are committed to expanding their practices beyond traditional methods and materials. Your portfolio and letter of intent should both clearly demonstrate your willingness to experiment and engage in new practices, as well as a deep commitment to your art practice.

 

Top Tips

1. Make sure to send a complete submission package (including completed application form, portfolio, image list, and letter of intent). Incomplete submission packages are not guaranteed to be reviewed.

2. Aim to include high resolution photos of your work, no larger than 1MB in size each, and title them in the order you’d like us to view them (eg. 01.Emily Carr_Big Raven.jpg, 02.Emily Carr_Above the Gravel Pit.jpg, etc.)

3. Make sure the numbers and titles on your image list correspond to the numbers and titles of your portfolio image file names (see tip 2).

4. If you have any questions, please ask! Email us at submissions@artsumbrella.com 

 

Portfolio

As the program will aim to expand students' art practices, your portfolio should include a range of mediums such as drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, digital and mixed media. They can even include expanded practices like performance, interactive art, artist collectives, and social engagement!

However, your work should also show a fundamental grasp of the basics of visual art. You should aim to demonstrate control and understanding of the elements and principles of art and design including use of colour, shading, line, pattern, texture, composition, and balance. Ideally, this is shown through work that is mostly self-directed and not exclusively from Arts Umbrella or other school related projects. (Hint: your sketchbook is an excellent place to experiment with new materials and tools, sketch out concepts and ideas, or engage in deep studies of colour, composition, line, and pattern etc.)

You must include an image list with your artwork title, date it was created, and medium used. Ex. 1. Self Portrait, 2024, graphite on paper.

 

Letter of Intent

We read this carefully, so please make sure to spend time expressing who you are and why you want to join this program. We are looking to make sure you understand what this program actually entails and why you are suitable for it. We also want to know how you in particular will benefit and what you will bring as a participant. It’s also a great space to provide more information on the images we’re looking at in your portfolio!

 Your submission must include: a completed application form, a portfolio, image list, and letter of intent.

Incomplete submission packages will not be reviewed.

 

Application deadline: Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 11:59pm 

Please upload your Letter of Intent below.

 

Your letter must be between 500-1000 words, or roughly one page, in length. In your letter, please tell us why you are interested in this program, what you will contribute and how you will benefit from the experience. Please include a brief statement about the work in your portfolio and a description of your art practice (ie. primary medium, themes, references, and inspirations, etc).

 

Acceptable file formats include pdf, doc, and docx.

Please submit 5-7 images of completed work and 3-5 images of sketchbook explorations that demonstrate study and experimentation. Images should be in JPEG format and no larger than 1 MB each. You should send no more than 10 images total. If there are barriers to submitting a digital portfolio, please contact us to make alternative arrangements.

Work should be titled in the order you'd like us to view them (eg. 01.Emily Carr_Big Raven.jpg, 02.Emily Carr_Vanquished.jpg)

Your image list must be in either JPEG or Word format and include a title, date, and medium used. An image list is a numbered list that provides details on the images submited in your portfolio. Artwork should be listed in the same order as in your portfolio.

Ex.

1. Big Raven, 1932, oil on canvas
2. Vanquished, 1930, oil on canvas
3. etc.

If you are finished uploading your letter of intent, image list, and portfolio images, please Submit using the button below. You will receive an itemized receipt for your submission.