We want to hear from you! We are collecting stories celebrating resilience in the arts. The stories will showcase ways in which artists in Hamilton and the surrounding region have found hope, strength and courage to pivot, adapt and create new ways to present and, perhaps, sell their work.

Eligible artists will be:

– Current residents of Hamilton (including Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, Stoney Creek, Waterdown) for a minimum of the past two consecutive years.
– Self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.
– Practicing at any career level (i.e. emerging, mid-career, established).

Artistic collectives are eligible to submit provided that a minimum of 75% of the collective are current residents of Hamilton for a minimum of the past two consecutive years.

Selected submissions will be:

– Representative of the overall theme of resilience.
– Inclusive of a message of hope or inspiration for the future.
– Related to the COVID-19 pandemic experience.
– Consistent with an overall quality of clarity, composition, design, and completeness.

Submissions will be selected by voluntary members of the AAC that include artists and artists professionals from a variety of disciplines. The final selection of submissions will endeavour to represent an array of arts disciplines. Please note that submission content does not have to be created specifically for the purpose of this project.

Selected submissions will be recognized with:

– An honorarium of $150 per selected submission.
– Online publishing through the Hamilton Arts Council’s and City of Hamilton websites and social media.
– Inclusion in future AAC conversations and work about response and recovery of the arts community in Hamilton.