A view of the Alberta Legislature. Photo: 
Arts groups in Alberta express frustration after sudden provincial grant changes. Three days before a Community Initiatives Program project-based grant deadline, the Alberta government shifted $2 million in funding to operating grants for non-profits helping with the COVID-19 pandemic instead. (CBC Edmonton, Government of Alberta)
More details emerge on how the Canada Council will distribute newest $55 million in emergency funds. Eligible organizations must have experienced a reduction in revenues and hold a 2020–21 Canada Council core grant, or have been awarded core or project funding between April 2017 and May 2020—and not access latest Canadian Heritage emergency funds otherwise. (This $55 million is part of the $500 million fund first announced by Canadian Heritage announced on April 17.) (Canada Council)
Art communities are remembering Cliff Eyland and Rae Johnson. Eyland, a prolific artist and educator who collaborated on public works with libraries in Nova Scotia and Manitoba, died in Winnipeg on Saturday at the age of 65. Johnson, an artist who painted large, bold canvases in Toronto and New York, and taught in Ontario, died on May 18 at the age of 67. (CBC Manitoba, Everhere)
Artist Kent Monkman apologizes for painting depicting sexual assault. “An image of the whole work and an artist’s statement, which described the scene as consensual, were posted to Monkman’s account on Saturday,” the Globe and Mail reported. Monkman posted an apology to his Instagram account a few days later. (Globe and Mail)
Art schools transition to virtual convocations, grad shows and final projects. Alberta University of the Arts launched its virtual convocation and grad show on May 20; NSCAD University put its graduating show online; OCAD University has struck a task force to create a platform in lieu of its usual graduating exhibition; and Emily Carr University of Art and Design has put its annual foundation show online. (AU Arts, NSCAD U, OCAD U, Emily Carr)
Canadian dealers are participating in international online art fairs this week. Daniel Faria Gallery is at ARCOlisboa Online, which opened May 20, while Wil Aballe Art Projects, Bradley Ertaskiran, MKG127, Cooper Cole, Franz Kaka and Towards are part of NADA FAIR, which also opened May 20. The latter has a unique sales model, with a percentage from each sale added to a collective pool which will be distributed among participating galleries and artists. (Daniel Faria, MKG127, Cooper Cole, This Is Fair)
Two Canadian artists win Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation grants. Sara Cwynar and Brendan Fernandes each received $20,000 from the American foundation; the jury included Cindy Sherman and Kerry James Marshall. (Artsy)
