L’Association des
groupes en arts visuels francophones (AGAVF) is a national arts service organisation that
represents visual arts groups active in Francophone communities
outside the province of Quebec. Its members are located in New
Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba and consist of artists associations,
university galleries, artist-run centres, production centres and
artists’ collectives that are involved in producing, promoting
and presenting the work of professional French-Canadian artists.
AGAVF accepts individual memberships from artists residing in provinces
where there are no Francophone organizations dedicated to the visual
arts.
Raisons d ’étre
Goals
Represent, on the national cultural scene, groups working in
the field of professional visual arts in Francophone communities
located outside the province of Quebec;
Lobby on behalf of the Francophone visual arts sector to raise
awareness of, and increase funding for, the sector among the
major government bodies;
Represent and position the sector with other like-minded associations
across the country;
Support our members in their professional development and in
strengthening their structures;
Improve conditions for the production and presentation of works
by professional Francophone artists living and working in communities
located outside the province of Quebec and better promote work
by artists belonging to our member organizations;
Consult, engage and maintain a dialogue with organizations
active in the cultural development of Francophone communities.
Vision
L’Association des groupes en arts visuels francophones (AGAVF)
is a leading voice for the Francophone visual arts sector in communities
across the country. The association develops and communicates a
vision for the visual arts while vigorously defending the interests
of the sector on the political stage.
Through the realization of tangible projects, the association
serves as a driving force for the sector. It strives to improve
the conditions for production, presentation and promotion of the
work of visual artists and provides professional development opportunities
to the sector. Through its networks, the association brings together
the various stakeholders in the Francophone visual arts sector.
Strategic Priorities (2004-09)
Strengthening AGAVF
Providing professional development opportunities for its members
Echangeur I and II
In 2000, and again in 2001, l’AGAVF organized L’Échangeur
I and II, which were major, pan-Canadian residency
projects. Over those two years, 35 artists took part in the residency
project that unfolded in communities across the country.
The idea for the project arose in 1998 when a group of artists
met to discuss ways of countering the professional isolation experienced
by artists living outside major urban centres, whether they be
in Moncton, Sudbury or in small communities across Quebec. The
idea was to form a network whose goals would be to facilitate exchange
between artists, create new work and enable artists to exhibit
their work beyond the borders of their local communities. All these
needs would eventually give rise to L’Échangeur.
Four artist-run centres took part in the first edition: Galerie
Sans Nom and l’Atelier d’estampe Imago in Moncton,
L’Écart.. . Lieu d’art actuel in Rouyn-Noranda
and Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario in Sudbury. Fifteen artists created
new works on the theme of Extensions intimes, which was
chosen by the curator Annie Molin Vasseur. The project was a huge
success for the artists and the public, which was treated to the in
situ creation of new works and their exhibition.
The year 2001 marked the second edition of the project and included
the participation of an additional partner, the Maison des artistes
visuels francophones (MAV) in Winnipeg. Once again, curator Annie
Molin Vasseur was responsible for finding a theme that would inspire
nineteen artists. Histoire de sens took on an international
flavour when the artist-run centre in Rouyn-Noranda hosted three
French artists for the duration of the residency.
These projects concluded with an exchange in Paris and the publication
of two books.
In September 2003, the Parallaxe project
was held in Winnipeg. Further extending the concepts of residency
and exchange that were developed with L’Échangeur,
the Parallaxe project brought all
the artists together in one location. The following artist-run
centres participated in the project: Centre de production Daïmon
(Gatineau), l’Écart.. . Lieu d’art actuel
(Rouyn-Noranda), Galerie Sans Nom (Moncton), Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario
(Sudbury), l’Atelier d’estampe Imago (Moncton)
and la Maison des artistes (Winnipeg).
In September 2003, the Parallaxe project
was held in Winnipeg. Further extending the concepts of residency
and exchange that were developed with L’Échangeur,
the Parallaxe project brought all
the artists together in one location. The following artist-run
centres participated in the project: Centre de production
Daïmon (Gatineau), l’Écart.. . Lieu d’art
actuel (Rouyn-Noranda), Galerie Sans Nom (Moncton), Galerie
du Nouvel-Ontario (Sudbury), l’Atelier d’estampe
Imago (Moncton) and la Maison des artistes (Winnipeg).
The Parallaxe project involved
thirteen francophone artists from across Canada who explored,
from diverse personal viewpoints, the many symbolic aspects
of the (then) newly restored bridge linking the French quarter
of St. Boniface to downtown Winnipeg. Parallaxe provided
a unique opportunity for using the visual arts to explore
the geopolitical, cultural and historical aspects of a contemporary
francophone neighbourhood and examine its relationship to
an Anglophone environment.
Over a two-week period, and using a wide range of contemporary
art forms that included sculpture, painting, installation,
performance, photography and video, the artists created works in
situ along Provencher Boulevard and near the bridge.
The public was invited to visit the site and observe the
artists at work. Thus, multiple points of view were brought
to bear on the artists’ interpretations, resulting
in parallax.
In
2009, AGAVF members organized an exchange with the event Viva! Art
Action in Montréal. French Canadian artists presented their performance
art work during this biennale event, and Québécois artists showed their
work in Ottawa (Galerie SAW Gallery, Voix Visuelle), in Moncton
(Galerie Sans Nom + Imago), in Sudbury (Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario) and
in Toronto (Le Labo).
