Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Gershon Iskowitz Foundation

The Gershon Iskowitz Foundation is a distinguished private charitable foundation that plays a pivotal role in supporting Canadian visual artists. Established in 1985 and granted charitable status in 1986, the Foundation's principal activity is the designation of the annual Gershon Iskowitz Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in Canadian visual arts.

The Prize was established to honor Gershon Iskowitz's gratitude for the support he received from the Canada Council in 1967. The award recognizes a professional Canadian visual artist who has achieved maturity and a measure of success, and who is on the verge of using their creative energy to produce a significant body of work or continue their research.

The Prize amount has evolved over time: $25,000 initially (1986), increased to $50,000 in 2011, and further increased to $75,000 in 2021. In 2006, the Foundation formed a partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario, adding a solo exhibition component to the cash award.

Unique among major Canadian art awards, the Gershon Iskowitz Prize cannot be applied for or nominated for. Recipients are selected by a jury composed of Foundation directors, previous winners, curators, and critics. This distinctive approach reflects the Foundation's belief in peer recognition within the artistic community.

Since 1986, the Foundation has awarded the Prize annually to over 35 distinguished Canadian artists, including household names such as Michael Snow, Brian Jungen, Rebecca Belmore, Ken Lum, and most recently Rita McKeough (2024). The Foundation also preserves, promotes, and exhibits Gershon Iskowitz's work, maintaining his legacy in Canadian art history.