Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) has been short-listed for the prestigious inaugural Imperial Tobacco Canada Foundation Arts Achievement Award recognizing sustained artistic excellence and innovative achievement among arts organizations across Canada. The distinction was bestowed by a peer-assessment committee of arts professionals, and recognizes Plug In ICA as one of the six organizations at the vanguard of the visual and media arts world.

A selection committee will recommend the winner of the prize, a $75,000 award, to the Foundation’s Board of Directors in May 2009. Plug In has long been recognized as the leading contemporary art institution across the prairie provinces, and began its operations in 1972. In 2001, Plug In ICA organized Canada’s official representation at the Venice Biennale, with Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller’s Paradise Institute, a multi-media installation that won the Biennale’s prestigious Golden Lion award.

Plug In ICA further announces a new partnership with the University of Winnipeg to co-develop and operate from a new building to be located at 460 Portage Avenue, the site of the former Army Surplus store.

This facility will house all of Plug In’s operations, including expanded exhibition and program space and a bistro or café. The architecturally distinct building will also house the University’s Continuing Education and Business programs, as well as other tenants.

Plug In ICA is embarking on a Campaign to raise funds for the facility and to fund the expanded and diversified programs it will offer. The fall of 2010 is the anticipated opening of the new facility.

Details on the Arts Achievement Award are available at www.imperialtobaccofoundation.ca