The Art Gallery of Ontario announced the shortlist for its major contemporary photography prize, Tuesday, in its inaugural year under a new name and format. Formerly titled the Grange Prize, the newly-named Aimia | AGO Photography Prize reduced its longlist of 14 international artists working with photography to four, naming LaToya Ruby Frazier (US), Edgardo Aragón (Mexico), Chino Otsuka (Japan), and Erin Shirreff (Canada) as contenders for a prize worth $65,000.
Announcing a changed agenda and expanded purse last May, the Aimia shifted from a dual-country focus (previously, two Canadians competed against two artists from one chosen country, for each of the prize’s five years) to a fully international model, including a worldwide nomination process. However, the prize continues to mandate that a Canadian artist is selected for the shortlist.
The most unique element of the prize remains the fact that the public chooses the winner. For this, the Aimia is the only award of its kind in Canada. After several months of voting, the winner is announced November 7. In addition to their $5,000 runner-up prize, all three shortlisted artists will now receive a fully-funded residency and exhibition program; the winner receives $50,000.
— Sky Goodden
This story originally appeared on ARTINFO Canada.
(Image: Erin Shirreff, “Roden Crater,” 2009. Courtesy the artist.)