The Durham Art of Transition Creative Awards (DATCA) are a new expression of corporate and civil citizenship in Durham Region, designed to engage creativity, innovation and collaboration in Durham Region’s business community. By building on the momentum from the 2009 Art of Transition Symposium, the awards will continue to grow Durham Region’s creative economy – including large corporations, small- and medium-sized enterprises, non-profit organizations and government – by celebrating creative minds in Durham Region.
Entry deadline
Friday, October 7, 2011, 12:00 noon.
Award categories
- Best collaboration between business, the arts and community
May involve artist from any of the following, or combination of, the following categories: visual, musical, performing, culinary and literary.Promote cooperation between independent artisans and traditional business owners
- In the form of an event resulting in mutually beneficial monetary gain and or ‘foot traffic’ and ‘visual recognition’ for both business owner and artisan.
- In the form of cross promotion utilizing any medium
- Best story about Durham in ANY medium
An account of an event or a series of events. Can be based on truth or fiction, but must, in a literal or interpretive manner concern, be inspired by or dedicated to the Region of Durham.
The story may be told in any medium:- Written
- Visual narrative – including film/video or photography
- Visual and written narrative
- Live performance art
- Spoken word – including. Live or audio recording
- Traditional, industrial, avant-garde or otherwise ‘new’ media are encouraged
- Best entertainment in ANY medium
A pleasurable or striking diversion or amusement which does not have to directly, or indirectly, relate to the Region of Durham in any way, but must be conceived and developed by a resident of Durham Region.
May be communicated through:- Spoken word – may be live or recorded on audio or film/video
- Musical performance – may be live or recorded on audio or film/video
- Visual installation – visual installation may include audio, film/video and written components
- Culinary – may be an aspect involved as a medium
- Performing arts – may be live or recorded on film/video and may include any genre incl. Drama, comedy, horror, documentary, science fiction, romance etc.
- Traditional, industrial, avant-garde or otherwise ‘new’ media are encouraged
- Best integration of art and culture in the workplace
Any integration of art and culture within a workplace in the Region of Durham.
May be communicated through:- Spoken word – may be live or recorded on audio or film/video
- Musical performance – may be live or recorded on audio or film/video
- Visual installation – visual installation may include audio, film/video and written components
- Culinary – may be an aspect involved as a medium
- Performing arts – may be live or recorded on film/video and may include any genre incl. Drama, comedy, horror, documentary, science fiction, romance etc.
- Traditional, industrial, avant-garde or otherwise ‘new’ media are encouraged
- Best use of art and artists to advance social and environmental sustainability
Interpretive demonstration illustrating the importance surrounding the subject of social and environmental sustainability.May be communicated through:
- Spoken word – may be live or recorded on audio or film/video
- Musical performance – may be live or recorded on audio or film/video
- Visual installation – visual installation may include audio, film/video and written components
- Culinary – may be an aspect involved as a medium
- Performing arts – may be live or recorded on film/video and may include any genre incl. Drama, comedy, horror, documentary, science fiction, romance etc.
- Traditional, industrial, avant-garde or otherwise ‘new’ media are encouraged
Educational activity demonstrating a method of advancing social and environmental sustainability
- Events, activities, demonstrations that creatively involve and engage the public in an exercise that promotes education on a subject.
- Through spoken, musical, written, visual, culinary and/or performance art
- Can include the use of any medium
- Must include an ‘instructional’ component, a participative element, guiding participants through some interactive or demonstrative process in order to aid in the assimilation of information
A public activity involving the creation of a creative project designed in and of itself to advance social and environmental sustainability.
General points applicable to all award categories:
- Can involve a group or single artist in cooperation with a business.
- Business may consist of a single person or group of people.
- Can involve the use of French or English ONLY.
Judging criteria
Innovation
Nominee demonstrates innovation by:
- executing a unique, new, or improved idea that captures the imagination of others.
Effectiveness
Nominee demonstrates effectiveness by:
- executing a project that has significant affect in incorporating a creative program into the business culture.
Influence
Nominee demonstrates influence in:
- being seen as a model project to be emulated by others and/or being reported on in the media or widely cited as a project to be emulated.
Viability
Nominee demonstrates viability in:
- ensuring that the project is able to be done, is worth doing and can develop normally within the environment for which it was developed.
Sustainability
Nominee demonstrates sustainability by:
- executing a project that is able to be maintained without disturbing the balance of daily operations in which the project was developed.
Impact
Nominee demonstrates impact in:
- executing a project that has a strong effect on its targeted purpose or on influencing others to take action or change their thinking.
To enter
Please print the DATCA Nomination form.
- The Nomination form will ask to answer the following questions in no more than 500 words (2 pages) (please bear in mind the criteria, described above):
- If the nominee is a group, company or organization, please give a brief background. If the nominee is an individual, please provide a brief biography.
- Describe the project or initiative. Include information about who planned and carried out the initiative. Was it driven from above or by departments, for example and when it began? Is this a recurring event or long-term project?
- Describe the positive impact and benefits that the nominee has had on the community or workplace. Explain why you think it should win the ‘category’ award?
- How many people were involved in this project?
- Has this project led to others being developed?
- Outline what creative need was addressed by this project ie: conservation, preservation, protection, education and awareness.
- Are the benefits or positive impacts of this project measurable? Please attach at least one document of supporting evidence.
- Please provide any other information that you feel is relevant to this nomination that you feel the judges should consider.
- You may submit one nomination per category.
- Self-nomination submissions will be accepted.
Support material
Support material will not be kept for collection unless clearly requested at the time of entry. All other material will be securely destroyed following the Awards.
It is clearly understood that in some cases entries may include commercially sensitive information. Durham Tourism reserves the right to publish descriptions and case studies of winning entries, but if an entrant asks for any part of their submission to remain confidential, it will be treated as such.
How much does it cost to enter?
The entry fee per category is $40.00, cheque payable to The Regional Municipality of Durham Region.
The fee is to be included with the submission and sent to:
Durham Tourism
The Regional Municipality of Durham
605 Rossland Road East Level 5
PO Box 623
Whitby, Ontario
L1N 6A3
General information
The decisions of the judges are independent and final and no correspondence will be entered into concerning the results.
The judges have the right to move entries between categories if they feel they have been entered into less appropriate categories.
Representatives from the DATCA organizing committee and Durham Tourism employees are not eligible to submit entries for the Durham Art of Transition Creative Awards (DATCA).
For more information, please call Durham Tourism at 1-800-413-0017 or email Sita Gardner.
