Visual Arts and New Media Individual Project Funding Program – Canada

Eligible Genres

• For the purposes of this funding opportunity, eligible visual arts and new media projects include:
  • drawing
  • painting
  • sculpture
  • printmaking
  • fibre art
  • ceramics
  • photography
  • fine craft
  • mixed media
  • installation art
  • public art
  • media and/or computer-assisted art

Funding Information

• You can receive up to $15,000 to support your project. You may apply for up to 100% of eligible expenses that are directly related to carrying out your proposed project.

Types of Projects

• Through this opportunity, you may apply for project funding to support artistic activities in:
  • art production
  • marketing
  • research
  • training and career development
• Art production includes the development, creation, and production of any visual arts work. Projects should be confined to a distinct phase of a work, such as:
  • artistic creation
  • exhibition
  • crating and shipping
  • creative residencies
  • curation
• Alberta individual artists that have been contracted by commissioners to create a specific work are eligible to apply for project support through this funding opportunity.
• Marketing includes a program of activity for a specific period that promotes, advertises or disseminates work created by Alberta visual artists, and/or develops audiences for the artist’s work.
• Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
  • attending an exhibition opening, visual arts festival, workshop or award presentation by invitation
  • projects that promote and market media art
• Research includes a program of activity for a specific period of time that supports or results in the development of a visual arts/new media project.
• Training and career development includes enrollment in a course or program of study designed to develop an artist’s training in visual arts and new media, and/or arts administration.
• Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
  • post-secondary study
  • workshops
  • master classes
  • retreats
  • mentorship programs

Eligibility Criteria

• Individual eligibility criteria
  • The AFA celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible programs for all, free of barriers and discrimination. They recognize the unique contributions all artists make towards the community, and encourage applicants representing diverse communities, including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, women, people with disabilities, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
  • To be eligible for individual project funding, you must be a resident of Alberta. This means you:
    • are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person with an open work or study permit from inside Canada
    • have had your primary residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying
    • ordinarily live in Alberta for a least six months of each year with the exception of attending a formal program of study
  • You must be in good standing with the AFA with no open or outstanding projects or reporting to apply. Previous grant recipients must ensure all final reporting has been approved by the AFA before new applications are accepted.
  • Applicants, including ensembles or collectives, must not be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation.
• Ensembles, collectives, and collaborations
  • Ensembles, collectives, and collaborations are eligible to apply to this program and must list all principal artists involved in the project activities as part of their application. All members of an ensemble, collective, or collaboration must meet the individual eligibility criteria.
  • Principal artists cannot apply and/or receive funding for multiple projects at the same time, whether as an individual or a member of various ensembles, collectives, or collaborations.

Ineligible

• Additional expenses and activities that are ineligible for AFA project funding include:
  • expenses for capital purchases, such as buildings or property, or for capital development, studio construction or renovations
  • expenses for equipment such as computers, software, cameras, lighting and audio equipment that can otherwise be rented and/or have a use beyond the life of your project
  • recreational training projects
  • thesis exhibitions, graduate films and other specific component activities undertaken as part of a course of study
  • applied arts such as gaming, architecture, interior design, commercial photography, graphic arts and design and/or fashion design
  • contracts for ongoing activities or artists pursuing projects similar in scope to usual activities with the commissioner
  • expenses already incurred prior to the application submission, including grant writer fees.

For more information, visit Alberta Foundation for the Arts.