AFA — Artists and Education Funding

• Completed GATE Front Office application forms
• Signed Artist Fee Confirmation Form
• Resume of the artist or arts organization
• Detailed project description developed jointly by the school and artist
• GATE Front Office Registration form for first-time applicants

Who is eligible?

• Alberta schools
• Alberta school jurisdictions
• Collaborative applications from two or more eligible schools

Who is not eligible

• Previous recipients that have not met AFA reporting requirements
• Applicants proposing applied arts activities, commercial variety acts, competitive performances, or social event activities

Eligible expenses

• Professional artist fees
• Travel, accommodation, and meal costs included in the artist's fee
• Non-reusable materials included in the artist's fee, such as paint, paper, clay, wood, and data storage

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Activities started before the application is submitted
• Applied arts activities such as culinary, architecture, graphic arts, commercial photography, and gaming
• Commercial variety acts such as face painting, balloon entertainment, fireworks or pyrotechnics, and hypnotism
• Competitive performances
• Activities at social events

Eligible geographic areas

• Alberta

• Artistic vision and merit of the project
• Demonstrated school commitment and involvement
• Benefits to students and their exposure to the creative process
• Qualifications of the artist in professional practice and youth arts programming
• Priority may be given to high-needs schools, low-enrollment schools, first-time recipients, and projects with community impact

• Step 1: Register for GATE
  • First-time applicants must request a GATE Front Office username and password at least five business days before the deadline.
  • Complete the GATE Front Office Registration form and email it to GATE registration.
• Step 2: Complete the online application
  • Log in to GATE Front Office and complete the Applicant Profile section.
  • Fill in the required online forms, including contact details, organization information, project description, principal artists, applicant agreement, and grant calculation.
• Step 3: Prepare and upload attachments
  • Upload the signed Artist Fee Confirmation Form.
  • Upload the artist or company resume and the detailed joint project description.
  • If support material is too large to upload, mail a CD or USB with the required identification details.
• Step 4: Submit the application
  • Submit the complete application through the GATE Front Office online system before 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date.
  • Ensure the application is complete and submitted before the project starts.

• Eligible applications are reviewed by an expert panel and assessed against the program criteria and other applications received at the deadline.
• Expert panel recommendations are reviewed by the AFA board at its June meeting.
• Successful applicants are notified after board approval, generally four to six months after the application deadline.
• Board decisions are final, and funding is not guaranteed.
• If approved, recipients must complete the project as proposed, request any changes in writing in advance, and submit a final report.

• Applicants may submit only one application per deadline.
• Schools may apply for a maximum of one residency project per school year.
• The May deadline is for projects taking place in the next school year.
• Schools are not required to choose an artist from the Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta's Young Artist directory.