Our Program

The Indigenous Emerging Artist Program was created to nurture, mentor and assist in the development of emerging Indigenous artists’ professional and creative practices. 

The structure of the Indigenous Emerging Artists Program (IEAP) and Tah’lum Indigenous Artists Collective (TIAC) to support a range of creative practices, as well assisting in the artistic development of individual Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit artists.

Our programs connect establish Indigenous Artists with a small cohort of mentees between the ages of 15 to 30 through a series of workshops. These workshops are created by mentors specifically for our group. Each mentor has been specifically chosen to provide insight into their profession in a culturally relevant way.

Our next series of programs are set to begin in January of 2022 and culminate in a group exhibition in November at Open Space Artist Run Centre located in the traditional lands of the Lekwungen Speaking People (Victoria BC).

NOTE: Open Space Artist Run Centre is not currently wheelchair accessible

Past Programs

2013 The Indigenous Youth Arts Showcase

The Indigenous Youth Arts Showcase began in 2013 under the vision and guidance of Tłaliłila’ogwa (Dr. Sarah Hunt, Kwagiulth) Peter Morin (Tahltan Nation) and Doug Jarvis with support from Elder Gerry Ambers. This program brought together the expertise of these three mentors as well as other artists from across Canada. This program featured a winter pop up shop which facilitated participants to show and sell their artworks at a primer space in downtown Victoria just in time for the Holiday season.

The IYAS finished in March of 2014 with a group exhibition titled “Gifts From Our Ancestors”. Participants were given free reign to take over Open Space artist run centre and install original works with their mentors. This exhibition ran for two months inside of the Gallery and was received by a wide audience.

2016 The Indigenous Youth Arts Program

The IYAP program was directed under the leadership of France Trépanier (Kanien'kéha:ka and French ancestry). France held the role of the Indigenous Curator in Residence at Open Space artist run centre and saw IYAP as an opportunity for a new generation of emerging artists to explore the field of New Media. Working closely with MediaNet, a local media based arts organization, this program gave participants access to a variety of digital tools and expertise to see digital creations come to life.

A star studded roster of mentors accompanied the emerging artists on a journey through a variety of artistic practices. Mentors included Filmmaker and cultural icon Alanis Obomsawin, the late performance artist James Luna, dub poet Lillian Allen, performance artist Peter Morin, poet Janet Rogers, and filmmaker Steven Davies among many more.

During the summer participants were given the opportunity to take a field trip out to T’ches (Chatham Island) with Songhees elder Joan Morris to help record her stories of growing up on the land with her family as a young girl. This years program involved our largest cohort yet and culminated in a two week long group exhibition titled Ritual (un)natural which took place at Open Space artist run centre.

2019 Indigenous Emerging Artist Program

Under the direction Open Space’s Indigenous Curator in Residence Eli Hirtle, the 2020 year of the IEAP program was one of many firsts. Muskogee (Creek) artist Elisa Harkins was brought in for a two part performance and ribbon skirt making workshop. Participants learned how to create custom ribbon skirts under the guidance of Elisa and some skilled assistants. Carrier Wit’at artist Whess Harman then brought their acclaimed Potlatch Punk series to the gallery for a workshop. Participants created custom denim jackets adorned with beadwork, patches, and other materials grounded through and Indigenous lens.