Visual Arts and New Media Individual Project Funding
This funding provides up to $18,000 to support development of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists by providing funding for a specific visual arts or new media project.
Offered by Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Amount
Up to $18,000 to support your project; up to 100% of eligible expenses that are directly related to carrying out your proposed project
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
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.
Collaborating artists, ensembles, and collectives
Collaborating artists, ensembles, and collectives are eligible to apply to this program if all project co-owners meet the individual eligibility criteria as defined above.
The AFA defines project co-owners as:
- those who share in the ownership or copyright of the created work
- those who have a significant financial stake in the project
For the purposes of this funding opportunity, in addition to the lead applicant, co-owners include, but may not be limited to, the following:
- visual artists
- curators
- directors (time-based or performative media)
- composers or writers (audio or text-based work)
Unless identified as retaining ownership or copyright of the work, contributors who are not normally considered co-owners include, but may not be limited to, the following:
- studio assistants
- technicians
- Mentors, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers
Project co-owners must select a lead applicant to submit the application. The lead applicant must ensure all co-owners are listed in the application and is responsible for submitting the complete application before the program deadline.
If the project is approved for funding, the lead applicant is also responsible for receiving and managing any funds and completing any related reporting for the project.
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
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
- applicants may submit only one application to the AFA each deadline across all disciplines
- the AFA does not accept incomplete applications
- applications must be received prior to the commencement of the project
- projects involving more than one artist must be submitted by one individual on behalf of the ensemble or group
- we do not accept separate applications for the same project
Not eligible:
Applicants, including ensembles or collectives, must not be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation
Ineligible projects
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
About the funding
You can receive up to $18,000 to support your project. You may apply for up to 100% of eligible expenses that are directly related to carrying out your proposed project. These expenses may include, but are not limited to:
--contracted artist and/or technician fees
--commission fees
--production, including materials and supplies that are appropriate for the development of the project
Show all funding details
--promotion and publicity
--transportation and accommodation
--tuition or training fees
--royalties
--administration and contract fees
--basic living/subsistence expenses (housing, local transportation, food, childcare, dependent care) up to $3,000/month
--other expenses and supplies considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary
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