bandeau_collection
 

 

⇒ BOURSE DE CRÉATION KESAR 2025

The Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke (MBAS), in partnership with the KESAR Society of the Rahimaly-Mamode family, is proud to launch the second call for applications for the KESAR Creation Grant (Bourse de création KESAR), a bold initiative dedicated to professional visual artists from visible minorities.

From 2025 to 2027, one artist will be awarded a $12,000 grant each year, following a call for applications and a rigorous jury selection. In 2028, the MBAS will host a collective exhibition featuring the works of the three recipients. Prior to this major showcase, the artists will participate in a creative residency at the Jardins Racine Art Centre — a space designed to foster inspiration, collaboration, and the emergence of a shared narrative. Together, they will weave the thread of this exhibition, reflecting their distinct worlds and shared vision.

Professional visual artists from visible minorities wishing to apply for this second edition must do so by December 1, 2025, by sending their application digitally to: direction@mbas.qc.ca. For larger files, we kindly ask that you use a file transfer service such as WeTransfer.

Note: The term “visible minority” is used to recognize racialized individuals who face systemic barriers related to perceived appearance or origin.

Selection Criteria:

Applicants must meet the definition of a professional artist according to the four criteria outlined in the Act Respecting the Professional Status of Artists in the Visual Arts, Arts and Crafts and Literature, and Their Contracts with Presenters (L.R.Q., c.S-32.01):

  • Self-identify as a professional artist;
  • Create works on their own behalf;
  • Have their works exhibited, produced, published, publicly presented, or marketed by a presenter;
  • Have received peer recognition as a professional artist through awards, honors, grants, jury nominations, selection in exhibitions, or similar acknowledgments.

Additional criteria:

  • Originality, relevance, and uniqueness of the artistic approach;
  • Must be considered a visible minority;
  • Must have at least permanent residency in Canada;
  • Must primarily work in the province of Quebec.

Application Requirements:

Applicants must submit:

  • A recent CV (max 3 pages);
  • A biography and artist statement;
    Artists should describe how their identities and influences have shaped their artistic journey over time.
  • A project description;
    Artists are invited to explain what they wish to develop with the grant and the ideas that inspire them.
  • A visual portfolio of 10–15 high-quality images or short videos;
  • A descriptive list of the works (title, date, materials, dimensions, photo credits), and a narrative description of selected pieces;
  • Press coverage (optional).

Thanks to the support of KESAR and the Rahimaly-Mamode family, MBAS will provide technical and administrative assistance and pay artist fees according to CARFAC standards during the 2028 collective exhibition.

***

About the KESAR Creation Grant
The KESAR Creation Grant – by the Rahimaly-Mamode Family aims to uplift artists with stories similar to their own. The goal is to amplify the voices of visible minority artists in Quebec. The four donors wish to maintain close contact with the artists and contribute to their growth. Through this grant, they hope to see more people like themselves represented in the arts.

***

About the Rahimaly-Mamode Family
Chemika Mamode and Patrick Rahimaly have been models of integration since arriving in East Sherbrooke in 1994. Originally from Madagascar, the couple embodies the concept of pluralism central to their community and philosophy.

Their journey began in community health, with Chemika serving generations as a pharmacist and business owner for 28 years. Their involvement expanded into social and community development and local commercial initiatives. Passionate about the arts, they contribute to the Festival du Cinéma du Monde, the Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke, and the Festival des Traditions du Monde, where Patrick has served as president since 2016.

Together with their children Kevan and Sarah, they founded KESAR, a company focused on urban projects that promote residential, commercial, and cultural diversity in East Sherbrooke. Their vision transcends disciplines and social groups, redefining urban engagement.

They are the heart of what Sherbrooke is becoming — present everywhere, touching everything, and sharing their light with the entire community.

bandeau_collection


⇒ PARCOURS PHOTO SHERBROOKE 2026-2027

Raconte-moi une histoire.

A photograph always consists of the intersection of several intertwined stories within the image. First, there is the story of the subject and the moment frozen and immortalized by the camera’s shutter. Then there is the story of the photographer, the one who chooses the moment to capture on film. The artist tells us a story through each element of the image’s composition, as well as through their encounter with the subject. The final story is that of the viewer, who reconstructs the narrative of the image from the clues left by the photographer. The viewer shapes the off-screen, everything that happens before and after the photographed second. These three stories, anchored in different temporalities, contribute to the narrative richness of a photographic image.

To highlight this 12th edition of the Parcours Photo Sherbrooke, we invite photographers to tell us one or more stories through their images. What is the narrative potential of photography? How do series work, staging, or documentary allow for exploring a narrative? Can photography be a driver of fiction, or is it instead rooted in reality?

The City of Sherbrooke has commissioned the Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke to curate the next edition of the Parcours Photo Sherbrooke, in partnership with the Jacques-Cartier Arts and Culture Committee.

Interested candidates must submit a file including:

  • A recent resume (maximum 3 pages);
  • A summary of the artistic approach;
  • A visual portfolio of 10 photographs (high-quality images, identified and numbered);
  • A descriptive list of images (artist’s name, title, date, medium of each work);
  • A press kit (optional);

The file must be assembled into a PDF document (any format other than PDF will not be considered). Images can, however, be included or sent separately.

Send your proposal by email only before November 24, 2025. For sending larger files, please use a transfer software like WeTransfer.

Attention: Please note that incomplete files will not be reviewed by the committee.

Timeline:

  • Deadline for submission: November 24, 2025
  • Start of the exhibition: September 2026

Objectives of the Photo Walk 2026-2027:

  • Make art and culture accessible to the population;
  • Enhance the experience of promenade users;
  • Stimulate curiosity (tourist attraction);
  • Showcase the work of regional photographers or professionally recognized artists;
  • Encourage a diversity of modes of expression (photography categories; artistic disciplines);
  • Take a critical look at a contemporary issue and open reflection through artistic works.

Criteria guiding the selection of files:

  • Subject(s): Relevance, originality of the topic, current issues;
  • Aesthetic qualities;
  • Origin of the artists (recognition and professionalism).

⇒ Artists wishing to submit their file must do so electronically before November 24, 2025, at: vie.culturelle@sherbrooke.ca. For sending larger files, please use a transfer software like WeTransfer.

bandeau_collection

⇒ REGULAR PROGRAMMING

The call for submissions FOR REGULAR PROGRAMMING is closed for 2025 and 2026.