Indigenous Arts Grants Program
The mandate of the PEI Arts Grants is to support, assist and encourage the arts community in the province. Funding is available to professional Prince Edward Island based artists through a peer-assessed grant application process.
In 2021, an Indigenous Art Grants program was established to celebrate, highlight, support and encourage the artistic accomplishments of the Mi’kmaq people of Epekwitk (PEI). The PEI Culture Action Plan aspires for all Islanders to have opportunities to engage with the art forms that derive from Indigenous languages, world views, practices, traditions and protocols.
Applications for the 2025 intake period will be accepted from January 20, 2025 at noon (12 p.m.) to February 18, 2025 at 4 p.m.
What type of funding is available?
The Indigenous Arts Grants program offers four types of grants to support First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists in Prince Edward Island: Create, Share, Learn and Visual Arts Materials. Each stream serves a different purpose and requires a different application. 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.
Create (Creation Grant)
The purpose of the Create grant is to support the research, development, creation and production of artistic projects by professional Prince Edward Island artists including in but not limited to the following disciplines: fine crafts; dance; interdisciplinary arts; film and media arts; music; theatre; visual arts; and writing and publishing.
This grant is available to individuals or small groups/bands at the established and emerging professional artist levels. Eligible costs include living expenses (up to $800 per month), travel expenses, accommodation expenses, and direct project costs, such as materials and supplies, pre-production research, documentation costs as well as equipment and facility rental.
Capital costs are not considered eligible expenses. These include computers, printers, technology equipment, office equipment and furniture, facility and technical equipment, land, buildings and renovations of leased spaces, vehicles as well as artistic equipment and tools such as easels, kilns, silkscreen presses, soundboards, etc.
Amateur artists and/or students are not eligible for funding under this program. Festivals, contests, events and not-for-profit organizations are not eligible for funding under this program. Artistic activities that are led by non-professionals are also ineligible.
Total maximum annual creation grant amounts:
- Established Professional Artists: $8,000
- Emerging Professional Artists: $5,000
Share (Dissemination Grant)
The purpose of the Share grant is to assist with the presentation of works by professional PEI artists to the public, ideally in a critical and/or curatorial context, including in but not limited to the following disciplines: fine crafts; dance; interdisciplinary arts; film and media arts; music; theatre; visual arts; and writing and publishing.
This grant is intended to support opportunities to publicly share and present artistic works in order to increase access, understanding, and appreciation of Prince Edward Island art. It is meant to connect PEI artists with diverse communities provincially, nationally and internationally to allow them to engage more deeply with the public and develop a stronger profile.
Eligible projects include the following: tours, presentations, exhibitions, performances, screenings, web presentations of original artworks, limited reproductions, publishing, and translation. This program is intended to support the dissemination of specific completed works of art.
Purely commercial self-promotion ventures are not eligible for funding under this program.
Share grants are available for individuals or small groups/bands at the established professional and emerging professional artist levels.
Amateur artists and/or students are not eligible for funding under this program. Festivals, contests, events and not-for-profit organizations are not eligible for funding under this program.
Eligible costs include travel expenses, accommodation expenses, shipping/freight, limited reproductions, printing expenses, artist fees, framing, professional fees, installation costs, as well as facility and equipment rental. Capital costs are not eligible. These include computers, printers, technology equipment, office equipment and furniture, facility and technical equipment, land, buildings and renovations of leased spaces, vehicles as well as artistic equipment and tools such as easels, kilns, silkscreen presses, soundboards, etc. Artistic activities that are led by non-professionals are also ineligible.
Total maximum annual dissemination grant amounts:
- Established Professional Artists: $2,500
- Emerging Professional Artists: $2,000
Learn (Professional Development Grant)
The purpose of the Learn grant is to support the career growth and professional development of PEI artists’ careers including in but not limited to the following disciplines: fine crafts; dance; interdisciplinary arts; film and media arts; music; theatre; visual arts; and writing and publishing.
Learn grants provide financial assistance for professional development and skill-building activities that advance the artistic work and careers of eligible applicants. Eligible programs include mentorships, apprenticeships, internships, residencies, specialized short-term training programs, portfolio and support material development, taking and giving workshops, participation in seminars, conferences or other significant events.
Programs that are a part of full-time study programs are not eligible for funding under this program.
Learn grants are available for individuals or small groups/bands at the established professional, emerging professional and amateur artist levels. Festivals, contests, events and not-for-profit organizations are not eligible for funding under this program.
Eligible costs include program costs, materials and supplies as well as travel expenses. Capital costs, subsistence and self-study programs are not eligible. Activities that are carried out to satisfy the course requirements of an educational institution are not eligible. Activities that directly support the delivery of an educational program or course are not eligible.
Total maximum annual professional development grant amounts:
- Established Professional Artists: $2,500
- Emerging Professional Artists: $2,000
- Amateur Artists: $1,000
Visual Arts Material Microgrants
The Visual Arts Materials Microgrant assists artists working in the visual arts, crafts or traditional/customary art forms to create artwork or facilitate workshops.
Grants of up to $750 are available to help cover the cost of buying art materials and supplies such as wood, fabric, thread, stone, leather hides, sinew, beads, needles, photographic printing, inks, metals, paint, canvas, paper, pencils, etc. This grant is intended for Indigenous artists who are in need of material support only.
Is there certain eligibility that I need to consider?
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.
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Individuals: the applicant is one person
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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
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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:
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To have peer recognition
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To have a history of public presentation
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To have training appropriate to the artist's chosen discipline (including learning from Elders, knowledge keepers and cultural carriers, mentorship and/or apprenticeship training)
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To earn income, fully or in part, from artistic activity
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To demonstrate serious intent and devotion of energy to practicing art
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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:
- You have received compensation that is considered part of your personal or business income;
- You have presented your work to the public by recordings, exhibitions, publications, screenings, performance, readings or other means of dissemination;
- You devote a reasonable amount of time creating or disseminating your work;
- You have received reviews, or appraisals by public and/or peer assessment/recognition;
- You have a membership in a professional or industry association or guild recognized by their discipline;
- 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:
- You are at the early stage of your career;
- You view art as your vocation;
- You have specialized artistic training (formal or informal) and
- 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:
- You are recognized in your artistic discipline by your peers;
- You have specialized training;
- You have a significant history of public presentation and regional and/or national representation; and
- 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.
What is the deadline to apply for a grant?
Applications will be accepted from January 20th, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) to February 18th, 2025 at 4 p.m. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.
What do I need to complete my online application?
You must meet the eligibility requirements for the funding program(s) to which you are applying.
Your application must include the following:
- A curriculum vitae or resume that contains a detailed description of artistic practice, applicable training and experience
- A project description and details of how the project will be executed (use the template created for this purpose, upload a document with a maximum of 750 words or provide a video link to your recorded application). Your project description should include:
- the artistic vision of the project
- the impact on your career development/arts practice
- the project plan (how the project will be executed, what is the timeline?)
- what will you produce? (Create grant only)
- how will you disseminate it? (Create and Share grants only)
- a budget, including detailed revenue and expenses both anticipated and confirmed. Please note that full disclosure of federal and provincial government assistance is required.
Support Material
Your submission must also include the following:
- appropriate support material demonstrating recent artistic achievements. Examples of past work should be provided to give assessors an overall impression of your body of work.
- examples of support material
- audio samples: three (3) selections (maximum 15 minutes);
- written material: maximum fifteen (15) pages
- photos/digital images: maximum ten (10)
- reviews or articles: maximum three (3)
- further, where it is appropriate, please include:
- An acceptance into a program (required for the Learn (Professional Development) stream)
- A written offer to participate in an exhibition or performance
- Tour date confirmation
- Letters of support. These letters should be from professional colleagues or organizations that speak to the applicant’s artistic achievements, recognition, and progress. Letters of support do not count against the samples of work maximums.
Please include your name on all files and number your files in the order that they should be opened by the peer assessment committee.
Please note that each application must be completed in one session as your application cannot be saved.
How will applications be assessed?
The Director of Cultural Development will coordinate a peer-led process for grant distribution. Peer assessment provides the best possible means of identifying outstanding ability and artistic merit in the arts. Each Peer Assessment Committee shall consist of a Chairperson and an interdisciplinary committee consisting of Indigenous members of the arts and culture community as assembled by the Cultural Development division.
Applications are assessed based on a point system that evaluates the following criteria: Artistic Merit, Achievability and Impact.
Innovation PEI reserves the right to deny a grant application or request for payment if it suspects or detects fraudulent intent.
How do I make a recommendation for the Peer Assessment Committee?
Indigenous members of the arts and culture sector are periodically invited to apply to take part in the peer assessment process.
To recommend someone or to self-nominate for the peer assessment committee, please consult this web page (link is external) for more information.
When will I be notified of a decision?
All applicants will be advised of the assessment decision by email within six to eight weeks of the grant deadline. Applicants can request feedback in writing from the program officer following the receipt of their grant results.
How should I complete and send my application online?
Apply online for the Share Grant, the Learn Grant, the Create Grant and the Visual Arts Materials Microgrant. Applicants who have limited internet access or accessibility needs should contact the program officer for assistance.
Who do I contact with questions or for additional support?
Éliane Laberge (She/Her)
Bilingual Cultural Development Officer
Phone: 902-916-1854
evlaberge (link sends e-mail)@gov.pe.ca (link sends e-mail)
Innovation PEI
94 Euston Street, Charlottetown