AIMIA | AGO Photography Prize announces 2013 long list

Fourteen outstanding photographers selected through international nomination process

TORONTO, July 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Today the Aimia | AGO Photography Prize, Canada's leading contemporary photography award, announced the highly anticipated long list of 14 finalists from around the world, submitted by a group of international nominators. Formerly known as The Grange Prize, the $50,000 purse is awarded by public vote and honours living artists whose work in photography and video over the past five years has displayed extraordinary potential. The nominators are leading Canadian and international experts in photography (curators, academics and artists) who have each nominated two artists for the Prize — one from their home countries or regions of expertise and one internationally.

The Aimia | AGO Photography Prize long list includes candidates from nine countries:

• Edgardo Aragón (Mexico)
• Jessica Eaton (Canada)
• Em'Kal Eyongakpa (Cameroon)
• LaToya Ruby Frazier (U.S.)
• Regina José Galindo (Guatemala)
• Ron Jude (U.S.)
• Tomoko Kikuchi (Japan)
• Emanuel Licha (Canada)
• Abraham Oghobase (Nigeria)
• Chino Otsuka (Japan)
• Erin Shirreff (Canada)
• Dan Siney (Canada)
• Efrat Shvily (Israel)
• Lucie Stahl (Germany)

"The 14 nominated artists have diverse practices, but they have made an extraordinary impact in their respective communities," says Matthew Teitelbaum, Director and CEO of the AGO. "As we enter an exciting new phase for the Aimia | AGO Photography Prize we hold onto our foundation by supporting artists with residency and exhibition programs at home and abroad. I extend sincere congratulations to all nominees; I know that they will all make a valuable contribution to the continuing innovation and growth of photography across the world."

"On behalf of Aimia, I would like to congratulate all of the artists who were nominated for the prize this year. The Aimia | AGO Photography Prize not only recognizes their immense talent, but also provides those ultimately short-listed with an invaluable opportunity to learn and develop new projects while exploring their talents," says Vince Timpano, President and CEO of Aimia in Canada. "We're proud to partner with the AGO for the sixth year to continue to foster artistic development at home and around the world."

The prestigious group of nominators for the 2013 Aimia | AGO Photography Prize includes:

• Yael Bartana, internationally acclaimed artist
• Jennifer Blessing, Senior Curator, Photography, Guggenheim Museum, New York
• Karen Irvine, Curator and Associate Director, Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College, Chicago
• Michiko Kasahara, Chief Curator, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
• Mark Lanctôt, Curator, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal
• Helga Pakasaar, Curator, Presentation House Gallery, Vancouver
• José Roca, Adjunct Curator, Latin American Art, Tate
• Bisi Silva, Director, Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, Nigeria

From the list of 14 artists, a jury of three experts headed by Lead Juror Elizabeth Smith, AGO Executive Director of Curatorial Affairs, will select a short list of four artists, including at least one Canadian artist. These artists will receive a fully funded six-week residency in Canada and their work will be exhibited at the AGO beginning September 11, 2013. The winner will be selected by public vote inside the exhibition and online at http://www.aimiaagophotographyprize.com (with online voting beginning August 27, 2013). The winner, who will be announced on November 7, 2013, receives $50,000.

Please watch for the short list announcement in August 2013. For updates on the prize and additional information please visit http://www.AimiaAGOPhotographyPrize.com and follow @AimiaAGOPrize on Twitter.

ABOUT THE AIMIA | AGO PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE
The Aimia | AGO Photography Prize is Canada's leading photography prize and one of the largest arts and culture prize programs in the world. The prize awards more than $85,000 directly to artists working in photography each year, and is comprised of an annual exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), an online exhibition at AimiaAGOPhotographyPrize.com, international artist residencies, public programming, as well as an extensive national scholarship program.

ABOUT AIMIA
Aimia, a global leader in loyalty management, has unique capabilities and proven expertise in delivering proprietary loyalty services, launching and managing coalition loyalty programs, creating value through loyalty analytics and driving innovation in the emerging digital and mobile spaces. In Canada, Aimia owns and operates Aeroplan, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program, as well as a proprietary loyalty division that designs, launches and operates new client programs. Aimia also offers world-class data analytics through its Intelligent Shoppers Solutions suite of tools and has a minority position in Cardlytics, a pioneer of transaction-driven marketing in banking. For more information, please visit: www.aimia.com

ABOUT THE AGO
With a collection of more than 80,000 works of art, the Art Gallery of Ontario is among the most distinguished art museums in North America. From the vast body of Group of Seven and signature Canadian works to the African art gallery, from the cutting-edge contemporary art to Peter Paul Rubens' masterpiece The Massacre of The Innocents, the AGO offers an incredible art experience with each visit. In 2002 Kenneth Thomson's generous gift of 2,000 remarkable works of Canadian and European art inspired Transformation AGO, an innovative architectural expansion by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry that in 2008 resulted in one of the most critically acclaimed architectural achievements in North America. Highlights include Galleria Italia, a gleaming showcase of wood and glass running the length of an entire city block, and the often-photographed spiral staircase, beckoning visitors to explore. The AGO has an active membership program offering great value, and the AGO's Weston Family Learning Centre offers engaging art and creative programs for children, families, youth and adults. Visit ago.net to find out more about upcoming special exhibitions, to learn about eating and shopping at the AGO, to register for programs and to buy tickets or memberships. 

The Art Gallery of Ontario is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Additional operating support is received from the City of Toronto, the Canada Council for the Arts and generous contributions from AGO members, donors and private-sector partners.

The AGO acknowledges the generous support of Aimia, Signature Partner of the Photography Collection Program.

SOURCE: AIMIA