EC3 Juries, Assessment Committees, Review Panels and the Peer Assessment Process

How does the peer assessment process work?

Depending on the program, EC3 grant applications are assessed by either a jury, an assessment committee, or a review panel that is comprised of independent practicing professional artists and other arts professionals* (peers).   In most programs, peer assessors’ recommendations are final.  “Juries” are used primarily for grants to individual artists and jury decisions are final.  “Assessment Committees” are used principally for grants to organizations, and they make recommendations that are reviewed by staff and may be reviewed by the Board of Directors (Artsweek), or the City’s Arts, Culture Advisory Committee (Poet Laureate).  To date, all assessment committee recommendations have gone forward as is.  “Review Panels” are used for bursary applications or special private sector funded projects.

After reading all eligible grant applications for each program deadline, each jury, assessment committee, or review panel meets as a group to discuss and score applications (according to the published evaluation/assessment criteria), and award grants, bursaries, special awards etc., in a rigorous process facilitated by EC3 staff.  The discussions that occur during peer assessments are kept confidential.  Neither EC3 staff nor EC3 Board members ever make grant decisions alone.  All of these processes and procedures are in line with similar federal, provincial, and municipal arts councils, and are reviewed regularly.

Does EC3 consider equity related factors when selecting juries, assessment committees and review panels?

Yes, EC3 granting processes are guided by IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) principles, which include representation requirements for juries, assessment committees, and review panels, accommodation supports, specialized expertise, etc.

How are peer assessors chosen?

No two juries or assessment committees are ever the same.  These decision-making groups are made up of artists and arts professionals* that have a variety of expertise in their discipline(s), and professional practice, and are chosen to reflect the variety and diversity of applications received in each granting process (each application cohort/competition).  Peer assessors are selected to reflect a balance of artistic expertise, gender, cultural diversity, and stage of career, etc., and are chosen based on the particulars of that competition.  When selecting peer assessors, EC3 ensures that issues of conflict of interest are avoided.

How many individuals sit on juries, assessment committees, and review panels?

The number of individuals that sit on a jury, assessment committee, or review panel may vary by program.  The number and range of applications submitted varies with each program deadline and with each competition. The size and composition of the jury, assessment committee, or review panel reflects this.  Juries, assessment committees, and review panels can have as few as three individuals, and as many as seven members.

I am interested in becoming a member of a jury, assessment committee, or review panel.  How can I be considered for the position?

If you are interested in becoming a peer assessor, contact Su Ditta, EC3 Executive Director at electriccitycc@gmail.com, indicating your discipline and areas of expertise.  It is not guaranteed that you will be invited to sit on a grant review panel after you have expressed interest.

* “Arts Professionals” includes curators, arts programmers, community art specialists, arts educators, cultural knowledge carriers (elders), and arts leaders.

** EC3 defines a professional artist or arts professional as someone who has developed skills through training or practice, is recognized by artists working in the same artistic tradition, has a history of public presentation or publication for at least one year, seeks payment for their work and actively practices their art.

EC3 List of Jurors 2015 – to June 2023

2015

Katherine Carleton
Victoria Mohr-Blakeney
Esther Vincent
J.L. Watson

2016

Victoria Mohr-Blakeney
Laurel Paluck
Janette Platana

2018

Jonathan Bennett
John Boyle
Nadine Changfoot
Su Ditta
Rob Fortin
William Kingfisher
Caroline Langill
Randy Read

2019

Michelle Berry
Nadine Changfoot
Jenn Cole
Jane Lowbeer
Randy Read

*2020

Su Ditta
Bill Kimball
Jon Lockyer

2021

Lillian Allen
Joeann Argue
Lori Beavis
Lee Bolton
Nick Ferrio
Christy Haldane
Spencer Harrison
Jon Hedderwick
Andrew Ihamaki
Ann Jaeger
Gordon Johnston
Mary S. Ladky
Caroline Langill
Peyton LeBarr
Fynn Leitch
Colin MacAdam

2022

Tia Cavanagh
Sioux Lily Dickson
Beau Dixon
Spencer Harrison
Dorothea Hines
Cydnee Hosker
Bill Kimball
Bethany LeBlonc
Eryn Lidster
Randy Read

2023

David Bateman
Lee Bolton
Nick Ferrio
Cydnee Hosker
Julia Huỳnh
Fynn Leitch
Sarah Lewis
Charlie Petch
Chet Singh
Irèni Stamou

EC3 Peer Assessed Programs

Artsweek
Artsweek SHIFT2
Bierk Art Fund Bursary
Grants for Individual Artists
Micro Subsistence Grants for Local Professional Artists
Peterborough Arts Alive Fund
Peterborough Arts Awards
Peterborough Poet Laureate