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A photo of Geoff McMurchy holding a sculpture and looking up, with "Geoff McMurchy Artist Development Grant" in white on blue

March 1, 2021

2021 Geoff McMurchy Artist Development Grant

Hosted by Kickstart Disability Arts & Culture

Deadline: March 1

Geoff McMurchy (1955–2015), Kickstarts founding Artistic Director, was a pioneer in the local and international disability arts community. Anyone who knew him will tell you that he was an amazing Artist, and a trailblazer in the disability arts and culture community, who influenced a huge number of people.

Geoff’s dream was that disability art be considered on the same level as all art. “My interest is that the art that is presented should not be through the filter of ‘disability’; I would like it to be appreciated as art, and you don’t have to like it,” he once said.

Kickstart wants to keep Geoff’s voice and spirit alive by announcing the first annual Geoff McMurchy Artists Development Grant!

The grant will be given annually to an Artist that identifies as living with a disability, working in any media, to support them directly with marketing and financial support.

More information and how to apply

Organization

  • Kickstart Disability Arts & Culture

    Vancouver, BC V6B 3X2, Canada

    hello@kickstartdisability.ca (604) 343-9141

    Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture, in Vancouver BC, gives artists with disabilities a voice. This can mean everything from facilitating a disability art group, to bringing an international film to Vancouver, to presenting art exhibitions and concerts.

    We are committed to supporting and promoting artists in every discipline, with all disabilities (and sometimes collaborations with able-bodied artists). We present the best in Vancouver and BC, and where possible, we bring new voices to Vancouver from across the country and around the world. We support artists and develop audiences for an understanding of disability art.

    Becoming part of the larger picture, of course, means professionalism. Kickstart is also committed to presenting professional work in a professional context. To coin a phrase “authentic non-sentimental expressions of the disability experience”.

    In programming and curating, we present cutting-edge work as the artists we present offer distinct perspectives on the human experience – risk taking, artistically engaging, socially relevant and at times, challenging.

    We are a nonprofit Society and a registered federal charity in Canada, with a small staff and a dedicated crew of volunteers. Please check out one of our events and get involved with us!