Find the application form HERE.

The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is pleased to be offering a bursary program for Peterborough high school students completing Grade 12 in 2021 who plan to undertake post-secondary studies in the visual arts during the 2021-2022 academic year. This program is made possible with support from the Bierk Art Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough.

The Bierk Art Fund Bursary Program will provide two bursaries of $1,000.00 each to graduating high school students in the City or County of Peterborough whose work demonstrates great promise (artistic merit) and who have a serious commitment to pursuing further studies at the post-secondary level in the visual arts. Students will have the opportunity to present their work (including but not limited to portfolios) to a virtual jury panel comprised of local arts professionals. The two successful candidates will be announced virtually immediately and celebrated at this year’s Peterborough Arts Awards.

Eligible students are encouraged to fill out a Bierk Art Fund Bursary Application Form (PDF) and send it back to bierkartfundbursaries@gmail.com by Monday, May 17, 2021 at 11:59pm. Students will then receive a confirmation email from EC3’s Assistant Program Coordinator Dorothea Hines with a designated appointment time and Zoom link to meet with the jury panel for a Portfolio Review during the last week of May. Appointments are 30 minutes in length. The jury panel will choose two winners after meeting with all of the applicants. All applicants will be assessed on the same criteria (see below). Winners will be announced virtually on Monday May 31, 2021.

Eligibility Criteria for a Bierk Art Fund Bursary:

To be eligible for the bursary, the student must:

• Be completing their graduating year of high school in 2021
• Be living in and attending school in Peterborough or Peterborough County
• Be pursuing post-secondary education in the visual arts at a recognized college or university; proof of acceptance is required
• Have demonstrated great promise, interest, ambition, and ability in the visual arts

Application Instructions:

In order to successfully apply for the bursary, students must do the following:

• Complete and submit a Bierk Art Fund Bursary application form by Monday May 17, 2021 at 11:59pm to bierkartfundbursaries@gmail.com
• Attend a virtual Portfolio Review with our jury panel during the first week of May

What is the Portfolio Review?

The Portfolio Review is a conversation between you and the jury panel. The artwork in your portfolio will give the jurors a sense of who you are as an artist. The goal of the review is to learn about your strengths, experiences, and interests, as well as your motivation for pursuing an arts education. The jurors are in your corner! They want to hear about your artistic process, vision, and goals.

How can I prepare for my Portfolio Review?

The jury panel will be accessing your work based on its artistic merit. As such, you should present documentation of the works that best represent your abilities and potential. They might reflect your current curiosities, show evidence of creativity, research, or point of view, and may vary in size, subject, and materials. Painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, mixed media, book and paper arts, performance art, and film or electronic media are all acceptable submissions for review. Artworks that illustrate what is important to you and allow you to speak about your inspirations and ambitions are great choices! Please let us know if you need special accommodation due to the virtual platform of this year’s Portfolio Review.

Portfolio Review Preparation Check List:

• Complete the Bierk Art Fund Bursary application form (see below)
• Compile documentation of 3 to 10 examples of your best work
• Prepare to talk about the following subjects: your interests and experiences in the visual
  arts, your commitment to your development as an artist, your short-term and long-term goals, your past achievements, why you have chosen to pursue an education in the visual arts, and why you believe you should be awarded a Bierk Art Fund Bursary

Portfolio Workshops

Our Assistant Program Coordinator Dorothea Hines will also be running informal virtual portfolio workshops on Wednesday May 5, 2021, and Tuesday May 11, 2021 from 6 to 7:30pm. Dorothea will talk about portfolio creation, portfolio review prep, and answer any of your questions about the application process. Please contact Dorothea at bierkartfundbursaries@gmail.com for the Zoom link. Additional portfolio workshops can be scheduled on demand.

Need Accommodation?

We know that this has been a difficult year. Zoom is a unique platform to present your work, and it may not work for everyone. If you require a specific accommodation for any reason, please contact Dorothea at bierkartfundbursaries@gmail.com as soon as possible. Our goal is to help you showcase your work!

Find the application form HERE.