Cultivating Perspectives 2023-2024

The Cultivating Perspectives program began in 2020 with the objective to increase the public’s awareness of artwork on display at the Senate by highlighting artwork from across the country and to expand the regional reach of the Senate by engaging curators from across Canada. This iteration of the program will feature nine (9) essays in total; three (3) different essays on each of the three (3) objects selected and that are displayed in the Senate. The aim of this approach is to improve the public’s understanding of the Senate’s material heritage through a dynamic and varied discourse around each object. Applicants are invited to submit an essay on one of three objects on display at the Senate (see object selection below). Applications must identify the object selected and include a draft 500-word essay on the applicant’s interpretation of the object. Applicants are encouraged to consider a variety of interpretations on their selected object, such as regional, museological, art historical (focus on artist or style), Canadian history or Parliamentary history, etc. The draft essay included in the application should focus on one approach to interpret the object. The applications will be reviewed based on the quality of writing, regional representation and innovative interpretation approaches.