Submissions are now being accepted for the 2025 RBC Award, presented annually by the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery to an emerging glass artist in Canada. The criteria allows for any province and for a variety of disciplines, from blown to stained glass, but an emphasis is placed on the winner's status as an emerging artist and not as an established creator. The RBC Foundation, which supports the CC&GG in bestowing this award, donates large sums of money each year to not only craft art endeavors but a number of artistic fields including literature and theater.
Last year's winner, Charlie Larouche-Potvin, was awarded for his contemporary takes on Venetian drinking glasses. The jurors were reportedly "impressed by his exquisite technical skills and deep understanding of historical Venetian glass." Larouche-Potvin began working with glass in the late 2010s at Espace Verre in Montréal, and developed a singular focus on replicating and re-imagining Venetian glassware. He is currently a resident artist at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.
The year before that, Jeanne Letourneau won for her sculpted urban objects, particularly a series of crystal sneakers. Letourneau's personal statement describes her artistic practice as "a collection of everything I love and hate, what evokes emotions in me and makes me vibrate." Letourneau has worked with a variety of materials in the past, from woodworking to spray painting, and settled on glass in 2021. She recently entered a residency at the Atelier Silex in Trois-Rivières.
First prize receives $10,000 no strings attached, to create as they see fit. The runner up receives $5,000 and up to three additional finalists may be selected for $1,000 each. Those interested may seek more information here and/or apply here. Applicants may not be a student of any program or school and must be in professional practice. Submissions are accepted up until May 25, 2025.