Holland College Graphic Design student wins BMO 1st Art! winner for Prince Edward Island

Photographic digital print

Congratulations to Graphic Design graduate Mitch Smith, who won the provincial prize for PEI in the BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition a few months ago. The prize included $2,500 cash and the inclusion of his winning piece in an exhibition in the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art.

According to the BMO Financial Group’s website, the BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition “celebrates the creativity of art students from post-secondary institutions across Canada. Deans and instructors of undergraduate certificate, diploma, and degree programs in visual art are invited to select from their graduating classes three students whose ability and imagination place them 1st among their peers. A distinguished selection committee chooses a national winner and one winner from each eligible province and territory.” The winning students’ art can be seen on the BMO Financial Group’s website.

Graphic Design graduate Mitch Smith

Mitch, who now works for a graphic design company in Iqaluit, said he appreciates BMO Financial Group’s commitment to fostering emerging artists.

“I feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to show some of my work at the Museum Of Contemporary Canadian Art in Toronto, and be acknowledged for my effort. BMO has been more than generous to me, and I am very thankful for everything they have done for me. They really go above and beyond to support upcoming artists, and the fact that they support Contemporary art aside from the more popular art really motivates artists to explore outside the common boundaries. I believe it is vitally important for artists to not feel restrained in their creative process.”