Equity & Access in the Arts — Stream 2: Skills & Career Development
The purpose of the program is to invest in a thriving and diverse arts community in Edmonton by supporting Edmonton based artists and collectives from communities that face barriers to access.
Stream 2 supports receiving mentorship, attending a residency, or other forms of professional development for artists and arts and cultural workers.
Offered by Edmonton Arts Council
Amount
Up to $10,000
Grants available up to $10,000 based on projected expenses, including artist subsistence, for individual or collective projects (subsistence set at $500 per week)
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
ELIGIBILITY FOR INDIVIDUALS & COLLECTIVES
Individuals must:
- Have an existing and committed practice in any arts discipline (including but not limited to customary and contemporary Indigenous or other cultural work) or have a history of other professional activity in the arts sector.
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be a resident of Edmonton / amiskwaciy- waskâhikan at the time of the application and for the duration of the project. This includes the City of Edmonton and the Indigenous communities of Enoch Cree Nation, Alexander First Nation, Paul First Nation and Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation (artists may be asked to provide proof of residency).
- Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) – grants are considered taxable income.
- *NEW Individuals or collectives may only have one grant active at a time. Applicants must finish any previous projects and submit their final reports before applying for new funding.
- *If you applied to Individuals & Collectives Winter 2026, you can also apply for this opportunity. However, if your Individuals & Collectives Winter 2026 grant is approved for funding, EAC staff will advise you to withdraw your application from the Equity & Access 2026 program.
Collectives also must:
- Have a majority of members who are eligible individuals as described above; and
- Have one individual (the primary applicant) apply on behalf of the collective.
WHAT ELSE TO CONSIDER WHEN APPLYING
- The EAC will accept only one submission per applicant, per deadline.
- An individual may be a part of more than one collective.
- An individual who is part of more than one collective may not be the primary applicant on more than one application.
About the funding
Stream 2 supports receiving mentorship, attending a residency, or other forms of professional development for artists and arts and cultural workers. Projects may be individual or collective, and grants are available up to $10,000 based on projected expenses, including artist subsistence.
*Individual artists on the project can receive artist subsistence OR professional fees/wages BUT NOT BOTH. The EAC sets subsistence at $500 per week.
Learning activities eligible for EAC funding include receiving mentorship, residency or other professional development for artists and arts professionals. EAC supports learning opportunities that are short-term, specialized training programs or workshops, relevant to an artist’s practice or career development.
Expenses may include:
Show all funding details
- Paying artists (individuals and/or collective members) at a professional rate OR through artist subsistence;*
- Providing payment to mentors, collaborators, and/or technical staff at professional rates OR with honourariums;
- Registration fees for specific professional development opportunities (please note that the EAC does not support advanced education, such as would lead to a degree or diploma);
- Fees for online or in-person courses including their tools, software, materials, mentorship, training or collaboration;
- Renting and/or purchasing equipment, tools, software and/or materials required for work proposed;
- Travel costs incurred while attending professional development outside of Edmonton;
- Venue / studio space, as required.
If you are including fees/wages that are different that this amount, please provide supporting documentation for the amounts you specify.
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