Spotlight on Newfoundland Quarterly & the Grenfell Campus Visual Arts Program

There is seemingly no end to the passion, talent and drive displayed by the province’s creative community. Those who have pursued and honed their artistic abilities, whatever the medium may be, offer new ways to help see, feel and hear this place - and we are all the better for it.

Now, thanks to a partnership between Newfoundland Quarterly (NQ) and the visual arts program at Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus in Corner Brook, more emerging artists will get the chance to have their work in the spotlight.

By Rachel Gilbert

Founded in 1901, NQ features stories, art and photography that reflect the unique culture, history and way of life in Newfoundland and Labrador. Since June, the renowned literary magazine has been featuring work from students and graduates of the program, in both their print edition and online, starting with pieces from Rachel Gilbert and Patricia Gora (both current Grenfell students) in their summer issue.

Rebecca Cohoe, editor of NQOnline.ca, says after being a separately incorporated entity for a number of years, NQ moved back to Memorial University some years ago, with the Office of Public Engagement becoming publisher and Managing Editor Joan Sullivan continuing in her role.

"While we knew that NQ needed to maintain its unique editorial voice, we wanted to find appropriate ways to collaborate with other Memorial units. We’d also heard that our readers would like more visual content, and that they are always interested in seeing work by new and emerging artists and writers across the province,” Cohoe says.

"The Grenfell Visual Arts partnership was a perfect fit: both a way to include new voices and interesting artwork in the magazine, and an opportunity to collaborate with another arts-focused Memorial unit. We connected with Grenfell earlier this year, and have included work by Grenfell students over the past several issues.”

By Patricia Gora

The partnership will be ongoing, Cohoe says, and while there isn’t a predetermined number of artworks that will be featured in each issue, "whenever we need artwork to accompany a story, Grenfell is our first stop,” she adds."We are really happy with the work that has come our way so far, and will keep on working together as long as students are interested!”

Cohoe says the partnership presents an opportunity for the artists at Grenfell Campus, as well as NQ and their readers. Incorporating these diverse new voices not only makes the publication stronger, but also contributes to the rich tapestry of artistic expression in the province.

"For the students, it’s an opportunity to share their work (and be paid for it!), often alongside some of the best established and well-known artists in the province. For NQ, it helps NQ meet our mandate to provide a platform for emerging artists and it keeps us introduced to the new voices that we need to know,” she says.

"And finally, it makes for a more beautiful, interesting, and diverse magazine for our readers. A true win-win-win!”