Struts Gallery is dedicated to facilitating the production and presentation of exceptional contemporary art, to providing public workshops, to hosting public artist talks and lectures, and to promoting the development of Media Arts. Struts achieves these goals through the following programs:​
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OPEN STUDIO
Open Studio is a series of five-week artist residencies that offer a professional artist fee, per diem, travel expenses, accommodation, studio space within the gallery, and access to our media art equipment. Artists are offered the freedom to continue their practice, develop a new project or site-specific work, and are encouraged to creatively engage with the community through talks, workshops, or other artist-initiated events. The Open Studio program aims to develop artists’ practices by supporting experimentation without the pressure to present a resolved body of work.
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Open Studio Artists in Residence are selected annually through a call for proposals. The call for submissions is posted in late August and the deadline is October 15. Proposals are reviewed by a selection committee of peer assessors. (Visit our Open Calls page.)
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EXHIBITIONS
Struts Gallery programs three exhibitions annually. Exhibitions are approximately 8 weeks long and selected from an open call for submissions. We pay current CARFAC rates for exhibitions. The application is posted in late August, and the deadline is October 15. Proposals are reviewed by a selection committee of peer assessors. (Visit our Open Calls page.)
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MEDIA ARTS CENTRE
Struts Media Centre is a central part of our program, facilitating all forms of Media Arts. We offer members access to our extensive holdings of professional media art equipment ranging from cutting-edge digital to vintage analogue. In addition to our holdings, we are committed to providing guidance, and mentorship through: one-on-one training; media art workshops led by professional artists; the ADHOC workshop series led by the production manager; as well as access to a series of equipment and tech tip tutorials available to stream on YouTube.​​
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MEDIA ARTS PRODUCTION FUND
The Media Arts Production Fund is a regional fund open to artists living in Atlantic Canada and supports the creation of media arts projects including video, audio, XR, film, new media, performance, digital, electronics, 3D printing, and time-based art. Commercial music videos and music recordings are not eligible for the production fund. Successful applicants will receive a one-time grant of up to $2000, which can be used towards materials and production expenses, equipment purchases, and/or living expenses. A $1000 in-house production credit, including equipment rental, software use, facilities use, and support and training from Struts staff (maximum of 20 hours, $30/hour). Short-term accommodation at the Struts apartments may be available upon request. The Media Arts Production Fund does not include funds towards travel. Struts staff can provide letters of support for any artists applying for travel grants to use its facilities.
Recipients of the Media Arts Production Fund are selected annually through a call for proposals which opens in the fall. Proposals are reviewed by a selection committee of peer assessors, (Visit our Open Calls page.)​
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SCREENINGS
We complement our media production activity with a selection of free public screenings throughout the year. Programs are selected through a combination of open calls, touring partnerships, and independent curators and filmmakers. We’ve recently partnered with Galerie Sans Nom, South Asian Visual Arts Centre, Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre, Gooselane Publishing, and the Canadian Film Centre. If you're interested in submitting a screening for consideration, please email info@strutsgallery.ca and check out our Open Calls page for the latest. We pay current IMAA Screening Fees.
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L'AMBIANCE
Struts Gallery has been partnering with SappyFest, our local independent music festival, since its inception in 2006. Our complementary programming supports a range of short-term, offsite, artist projects at venues around Sackville, adjacent to the thriving music festival. Our call for submission is open to national and regional artists with 3-5 projects selected annually. We support each project with artist fees, production budget, equipment, and installation, promotional, and administrative assistance. SappyFest provides the participating artists with a festival pass and artist hospitality access.
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SWEETEST LITTLE THING
Initiated in 1999, the Sweetest Little Thing is the most important annual fundraising event for the Owens Art Gallery and Struts Gallery in Sackville, NB. Every dollar raised goes directly to supporting programming at both galleries. This event is made possible by the generosity of local, national, and internationally recognized artists who have established connections with our galleries and community. Learn more about it here.
LIVING IS EASY
Living Is Easy is an ongoing professional development program for Struts Gallery members to use the gallery for self-directed exploration for a project period of 2 weeks. This could entail documenting work, installing an exhibition, hosting workshops, and/or experimenting with process in the studio space. Participating artists have the support of Gallery staff and access to tools and equipment during their project period. Struts Gallery will also promote the program and participants through its website, social media, and newsletter.
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Living Is Easy project periods take place between May – August. Applications for the year open in late February.
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SWAP MEET
Swap Meet is a bi-monthly gathering of Struts Gallery members. Each Swap Meet sees informal and brief presentations by artists in the community on a given theme, followed by questions from the audience. Part professional development, part community social, Swap Meet’s themes are member sourced. Most Swap Meets fall on the second Tuesday of the month. Contact admin@strutsgallery.ca for more information. ​​​​
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START GALLERY
As part of our support and mentorship of young and emerging artists in the region, we have been hosting Start Gallery in our facilities since 1997. Start Gallery is a juried gallery space designated for and run by Mount Allison Fine Arts students. The gallery is administered by a student coordinator. Exhibitions are held during the fall and winter semesters. This initiative provides Fine Arts, Art History and Museum & Curatorial Studies students the opportunity for hands-on development of professional practices. Check out START Gallery's Instagram
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MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNITY
Struts Gallery remains open and responsive to our members and the communities we serve. We accommodate a range of one-off, member-led, community focused events, and support a variety of initiatives that fall outside our core programming in any given year.