Indigenous Arts Grants Program: Learn (Professional Development Grant)

Who can apply

You can apply to up to two streams per round, but only one application per stream is allowed. You cannot apply to two streams for the same project.

Learn grants are available for individuals or small groups/bands at the established professional, emerging professional and amateur artist levels.

Prince Edward Island-based Indigenous artists (First Nations, Métis or Inuit), groups (including ad-hoc groups), cultural carriers and knowledge keepers are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to Mi’kmaq applicants. It is important to be recognized as an artist in the Indigenous community as Peer Assessment Committees consider community connections. Contact the program officer if you have questions.

1. Individuals: the applicant is one person
2. Ad hoc groups are comprised of two or more individuals who are working collaboratively and are not registered in any manner. “Ad hoc group” refers to a group of artists formed for the specific purpose of creating a unique work
3. A peer assessment committee consisting of Indigenous members of the arts and culture community evaluates all eligible applications. This may include artists, cultural carriers, knowledge keepers, art dealers, collectors, curators and other knowledgeable individuals. This committee recommends projects that reflect the creativity, expertise and experience of Indigenous artists and that comply with the program objectives. Applicants must be professional artists which includes but is not limited to the following criteria:

• To have peer recognition
• To have a history of public presentation
• To have training appropriate to the artist's chosen discipline (including learning from Elders, knowledge keepers and cultural carriers, mentorship and/or apprenticeship training)
• To earn income, fully or in part, from artistic activity
• To demonstrate serious intent and devotion of energy to practicing art

New project submissions from an applicant in default on any reporting, project completion or financial obligation to Innovation PEI will not be reviewed until a resolution to the default is reached.

Residency

To apply for any of the grants, you must be a resident of Prince Edward Island and have maintained this as your primary residence for a minimum of twelve consecutive months prior to the date of application. Artists on extended travel for their work are still considered PEI residents, but those who move their primary residence to another province or country within the twelve consecutive months previous to the application deadline are not eligible.

In situations where residency is called into question, the applicant may be asked to provide a copy of the most recent tax filing as proof of residency.

Groups or bands must have a majority of members be residents of PEI.

Professional Status

There are several ways to establish professional status as an artist. As a professional artist you should meet three or more of the following criteria in relation to your arts practice:

1. You have received compensation that is considered part of your personal or business income;
2. You have presented your work to the public by recordings, exhibitions, publications, screenings, performance, readings or other means of dissemination;
3. You devote a reasonable amount of time creating or disseminating your work;
4. You have received reviews, or appraisals by public and/or peer assessment/recognition;
5. You have a membership in a professional or industry association or guild recognized by their discipline;
6. You have undertaken formal education or training from educational institution(s), or have undertaken self-directed training through a commitment to informal training opportunities that demonstrate commitment to skill development.

Each granting stream also has unique eligibility requirements outlined above.

What's the difference between an emerging and established artist?

Artist categories are based on the stage of an artist's career, not chronological age. Your artist CV should be able to support your identification as emerging or established.

An emerging artist is a professional artist who identifies with the following characteristics:

1. You are at the early stage of your career;
2. You view art as your vocation;
3. You have specialized artistic training (formal or informal) and
4. You have created a modest body of work that includes demonstrated efforts to have had public presentation.

You are considered an established artist if you identify as a professional artist with the following characteristics:

1. You are recognized in your artistic discipline by your peers;
2. You have specialized training;
3. You have a significant history of public presentation and regional and/or national representation; and
4. You have created an extensive body of work.

You may be considered an amateur artist if you demonstrate a high calibre of artistic talent and wish to bridge into a professional career. Students 16+ are eligible to apply, however, a parent or guardian must sign the application on the student’s behalf.