October 15, 2010 (Calgary, Alberta) – The Alberta College of Art + Design is pleased to announce the appointment of Nancy Tousley, award-winning senior art critic, arts journalist and independent curator as the first ever ACAD Critic In Residence. As Critic In Residence at the Alberta College of Art + Design, Nancy Tousley will be working with students and faculty, and with ACAD’s two public gallery spaces, to raise the level of critical discourse at the institution. Nancy Tousley’s practice has included writing about art and architecture for a major daily newspaper, art magazines and exhibition catalogues, and she will be joining ACAD in her new position of Critic in Residence as of November 1, 2010.
“We are very excited to welcome Nancy to this new role” states ACAD President + CEO Dr. Daniel Doz. “Having her join us as Critic in Residence is a wonderful opportunity to initiate some very important conversations at ACAD, and with our wider community about the roles of art and art education in the context of our province and our country”.
As Critic In Residence at ACAD, Nancy Tousley will contribute on an occasional basis to the academic programing of the College by means of symposiums, seminars and workshops to enable students, faculty, and colleagues to engage in critical discourse about the work and practice of artists and designers at ACAD. As Critic In Residence, she will also contribute to the wider critical discourse on the visual arts by contributing to ACAD’s many publications, and by collaborating with the curatorial team at the Illingworth Kerr Gallery on exhibitions and critical essays.
Nancy Tousley was art critic of the Calgary Herald for 30 years and has been a contributing editor to Canadian Art magazine since 1986. Her work has appeared in magazines such as The Print Collector's Newsletter, Artscanada, Vanguard, Parachute, Border Crossings and Canadian Art since the early 1970s. Her essays on artists have appeared in more than 30 public art gallery and museum catalogues. Among the awards she has received are the Board of Governors of the Alberta College of Art and Design, Award of Excellence (1997); the Ontario Association of Art Galleries award, in 1999 and 2001, for best curatorial writing on contemporary art; The Canadian Museums Association award for outstanding achievement in arts journalism (2002); and the medal of the Royal Canadian Academy of Art (2009).
ACAD is a leading centre for education and research, and a catalyst for creative inquiry and cultural development. We engage the world and create possibilities.
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For more information or to arrange an interview with Nancy Tousley:
AnneMarie Dorland, Director of Communications
t. 403.284.7656 c. 403.472.2322 e. AnneMarie.Dorland@acad.ca