Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation and Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling (COHDS) have announced a call for emerging artists for Raconte-moi Riopelle, a juried competition open to all Concordia students and recent graduates.

As a lead-up to the 100th anniversary of the birth of artist Jean Paul Riopelle in 2023, the Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation and Concordia’s Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling (COHDS) have teamed up for an ambitious project to create a digital oral history archive that deepens our understanding of and shares knowledge about the life and career of this world-renowned artist. More than 20 individuals shared their memories, anecdotes and encounters, creating, through their voices, a unique insight into the life, art and work of Riopelle, the man and the artist.

We invite Concordia’s emerging artists (current students and graduates from 2021, 2022) to draw inspiration from the collection of recorded interviews, and to engage in research-creation that will reflect on the personal interpretation of the life and legacy of Jean Paul Riopelle in the contemporary context.

Interested applicants need to send: (1) a letter of intent explaining their interest in this project (maximum 2 pages), (2) an updated CV, (3) a short bio along with an artist statement (maximum 1 page), and (4) up to three prior artworks, before December 15, 2022 to concours.riopelle[at]gmail.com.

Selected candidates will be informed by January 20, 2023 and will receive a 500$ stipend to develop an in-depth research-creation proposal (along with a budget) that will be presented in front of a public jury in April 2023. They will also be invited to an information session on the project along with a mandatory training on Ethical practices in Oral History that will take place at COHDS in February 2023. In April 2023, the jury will select up to three projects that will be funded (up to $8,000 per project) to be realized and presented publicly as part of Jean Paul Riopelle’s Centenary Celebrations in the Fall 2023. Projects that foreground Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be considered for additional funding (up to 5000$) provided by the research project AI in solution mode, funded by the International observatory on the social impacts of AI and digital technology (OBVIA).

To apply or for access to the interviews, please contact concours.riopelle[at]gmail.com.

Important dates:

December 15, 2022 Expression of Interest (letter + CV + bio + artwork) to concours.riopelle[at]gmail.com

January 20, 2022 Announcement of selected projects

February 2023 Information session at COHDS (to prepare the full proposal)

April 2023 Selection of the final projects that will be fully funded Fall 2023 Public presentation of the final projects.

CFP in PDF version