Aboriginal Traditional Visual Art Forms Program for Individuals
Deadline
15 September
Program Description
This program supports Aboriginal artists (working individually or together), to undertake activities that contribute to the knowledge, sharing, understanding and development of Aboriginal traditional art forms. Such activities include research, as well as preservation, creation, production and dissemination (sharing the knowledge) of Aboriginal peoples’ traditional visual arts forms.
For this program, individual artists working with other artists are considered as individual applicants.
The term “Aboriginal traditional visual art forms” refers to activities by Aboriginal artists that are directed toward the research, preservation, creation, production, exhibition or dissemination, and documentation of objects within Aboriginal communities as well as the broader arts community. These activities involve high levels of technical knowledge and ability, and knowledge of materials and media.
Through their work, artists who practise Aboriginal traditional visual arts forms show their respect for and knowledge of the historical traditions and the development and context of their art form. They are committed to ensuring the survival of that knowledge for future generations.
Aboriginal artists can apply to this program or to any other Canada Council for the Arts program, if they meet the requirements in the program guidelines (including the eligibility criteria). Aboriginal arts organizations may apply to the Aboriginal Traditional Visual Art Forms Program for Organizations.
Eligibility
Who Can Apply to This Program?
This program is open only to Aboriginal people of Canada, which the Canada Council defines as Inuit, Métis, and Status and Non-Status people.
Individual Artists
Applicants must be Canadian citizens or have Permanent Resident status, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. To be eligible, artists must demonstrate a continuing commitment to their artistic practice, and have:
- specialized training in the art form, through formal education, an apprenticeship or self-directed study;
- a commitment to devoting the majority of their time to artistic activity, if financially possible;
- community/regional recognition as fully qualified artists in their art form.
Individual artists may apply for only one grant in any fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). The Canada Council for the Arts will also accept one request for a Travel Grant per fiscal year. Artists can receive a maximum of two Grants for Professional Artists from the Canada Council any 48-month period.
What Types of Activities Does This Program Support?
This program has three components, and they support the following activities.
Research Grants
Under this component, Aboriginal artists can apply for financial support to research the techniques and materials used traditionally by Aboriginal peoples in the making and use of artworks. Research projects can include activities to prepare for the creation of artworks and activities to regain knowledge for the benefit of the Aboriginal community at large.
Creation/Production Grants
This component provides financial assistance for the creation and production of new and innovative works of Aboriginal traditional visual arts.
Dissemination Grants
Aboriginal artists can receive financial assistance to teach their art form within their immediate community/region. Funding is also available for organizing workshops, lecture series, conferences and round-tables that expand the knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal traditional visual arts forms.
What Art Forms Does This Program Fund?
All three program components support work that is driven by a desire to create, preserve or disseminate knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal traditional visual arts forms as a means of artistic expression. These art forms include basketry, appliqué, beadwork, birchbark biting, quillwork, button blankets, Salish and Raven’s Tail weaving, Aboriginal pottery/clay techniques, wood-carving, and stone- and bone-carving. This may not be a complete list, and others will be considered equally.
What Activities Are Not Funded by This Program?
The following are not eligible for funding:
- projects (or parts of projects) that have been completed already;
- studio and/or business set-up costs;
- ongoing costs for previously operating studios and/or businesses;
- costs of producing a line of commercial production items;
- costs of copying or reproducing existing works;
- commissioned projects;
- student projects; and
- purchase of major equipment.
How Much Is Available and What Costs Can Be Covered?
Research Grants
Aboriginal artists may apply for a maximum of $20,000. Grants can be used to cover travel, subsistence (maximum of $2,000 a month), equipment rental, and transcription and translation costs.
Creation/Production Grants
Aboriginal artists may apply for a maximum of $20,000, which can be used to cover the costs of subsistence (maximum of $2,000 a month), materials, equipment rental and travel.
Dissemination Grants
Aboriginal artists may apply for grants of $4,000 to $8,000. The grants are intended to cover honorarium fees, travel expenses, materials, teaching aids and equipment rental.
All Components
Applicants located in the Far North (north of 60 degrees) or in fly-in communities may apply for additional travel and accommodation costs. A maximum of $5,000 is available for these additional costs.
How Does the Canada Council Assess the Applications?
Applications will be evaluated by a peer assessment committee, which will be composed of three Aboriginal artists. The committee members must be recognized as Aboriginal artists in their communities. They will be selected to ensure fair representation of artistic specialization, gender, Canada’s two official languages and the various regions of Canada. New committees will be set up for each competition.
What Are the Assessments Based On?
The main assessment criterion for all three program components is the artistic merit of the proposal. The committee will also take into consideration the grant’s potential impact on the applicant’s career, or on the community/region where the artist is working (within a national context).
Application Form
Aboriginal Traditional Visual Art Forms Program for Individuals (pdf, 396KB)
This form can only be printed and cannot be filled out on-line.
Further Information
Jim Logan
Visual Arts Section
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa ON K1P 5V8
Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or (613) 566-4414, ext. 5266
TTY (TDD) machine, for hearing-impaired callers: (613) 565-5194
Fax: (613) 566-4332
July 2007