The Edmonton Arts Council’s new Equity & Access in the Arts program is designed to invest in a thriving and diverse arts community by supporting Edmonton-based artists and collectives from communities that face barriers to access. This includes, but is not limited to, groups whose members are treated differently because of systemic barriers that disadvantage people based on their Indigenous heritage, the colour of their skin, their disabilities, sexual orientation and identity and/or immigration status.

This program is one way the Edmonton Arts Council pursues our commitments in Connections & Exchanges: A 10-Year Plan To Transform Arts & Heritage In Edmonton. This program replaces and expands on the previous Cultural Diversity in the Arts programs that had been in place since 2008.

Equity & Access in the Arts] grants for Individuals and Collectives has three distinct streams, each with its own evaluation criteria and assessment process:

Stream 1: Exploration and Experimentation

These $5,000 grants support an artist to work on solo creation, experimentation, or research.

Stream 2: Skills and Career Development

These grants of up to $10,000 support professional development projects for individual artists and collectives.

Stream 3: Major Artist-Driven Projects

These grants of up to $25,000 support artist-initiated projects created by individual artists and collectives

Deadline: October 15, 2020 at 11:59 PM MDT

Eligibility

Individuals and collectives who identify as members of groups facing systemic barriers to access may apply, with limitations in each stream. Applicants must:

  • Have a history of work in any arts discipline (including customary and contemporary Indigenous artistic and cultural work);
  • Be 18 years of age or older;
  • Be a resident of the City of Edmonton;
  • Be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or have a valid open work permit; and
  • Have no overdue Edmonton Arts Council final reports.

Collectives must have a majority of members who are eligible applicants as above.

>> Click here for the guidelines.

>> Read more about this new program on the YEGArts Blog.

>> On September 16 the EAC hosted a workshop – What the Fund? Equity & Access Grants for Individual Artists – to discuss this new program and the different funding opportunities. Watch the recording of this session.