Salt Spring National Art Prize announces 52 finalists in competition for one of Canada's largest contemporary-art awards

Esther Rausenberg, Jeanne Bourget, Guntaj Singh, Douglas Smith, and Frances Tiffany among Vancouver nominees

A past exhibition of Salt Spring National Art Prize winners.

SEVERAL VANCOUVER artists sit amid the 52 finalists just announced for the Salt Spring National Art Prize. The finalists will exhibit their work on Salt Spring Island from September 23 to October 23, with the $50,000 prize announced at a closing gala on October 21.

Amid the nominees are Vancouver’s Esther Rausenberg, Jeanne Bourget, Guntaj Singh, Douglas Smith, and Frances Tiffany, as well as Burnaby’s Bruce van Slyke. They were chosen from among 2,158 entrants.

The Salt Spring National Art Prize (SSNAP) is a biennial competition and exhibition of Canadian visual art. Offering $50,000 in awards, it’s one of this country’s largest celebrations of contemporary art. The prize is administered by the not-for-profit Salt Spring National Art Prize Society to recognize, showcase, and advance the accomplishments of Canadian visual artists.

You can find the full list of cross-Canada nominees here.

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Janet Smith

Janet Smith is founding partner and editorial director of Stir. She is an award-winning arts journalist who has spent more than two decades immersed in Vancouver’s dance, screen, design, theatre, music, opera, and gallery scenes. She sits on the Vancouver Film Critics’ Circle.

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