Closed
Source verified August 8, 2026
AFA — Artists and Education Funding
Supports Alberta school arts residencies
Latest source updateLast Update: May 18, 2026Latest change: The application deadline changed from May 1, 2026 to May 3, 2027, with no visible changes to eligibility, funding, or application steps.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: May 18, 2026
Latest change: The application deadline changed from May 1, 2026 to May 3, 2027, with no visible changes to eligibility, funding, or application steps.
Deadline updated for Artists and Education Funding
The Artists and Education Funding page now shows a new application deadline of May 3, 2027 instead of May 1, 2026. No visible changes were found to who can apply, eligible expenses, funding terms, or the application process. Some link and contact paths were normalized, but the applicant guidance and contact details shown on the page remain the same.
Funding available
$ 15,000
Deadline
May 1, 2026
Location
Alberta, Canada
Overview
Artists and Education Funding supports Alberta schools and school jurisdictions with up to $15,000 to subsidize professional Alberta artists for interactive arts residency projects for K-12 students. Eligible residencies must involve an Alberta-based artist or artist group with school residency experience, student participation, and school-based delivery during school hours.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Alberta
Legal structures
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Interactive arts residency projects for grades K-12.
- Residencies delivered by an Alberta-based individual artist or a group of artists working together in any artistic discipline with school residency experience.
- Projects that provide students access to Alberta's professional artists and their work.
- Projects that give students an opportunity to observe and actively participate in the creative process.
- Residencies that take place on school property during school hours, last five hours to thirty days, and are completed within three months of commencement.
Documents Needed
- GATE Front Office Registration form
- Artist fee confirmation form attachment
- Resume of the artist or company
- Detailed project description developed collaboratively by the school and the artist
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- An Alberta school.
- An Alberta school jurisdiction.
- Two or more eligible schools applying collaboratively when school populations, locations or conditions warrant.
Who is not eligible
- Grant recipients who do not provide a report are ineligible for further funding from the AFA for a period of three years from the time the delinquency is resolved.
Eligible expenses
- The artist's fee
- Travel, accommodation and meal expenses included in the artist's fee
- Non-reusable materials required for the proposed activity, such as paint, paper, clay, wood and data storage
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Activity undertaken before an application is submitted to this project grant stream.
- Activities by applied arts, including culinary, architecture, graphic arts, commercial photography and gaming.
- Commercial variety acts, including face painting, balloon entertainers, fireworks/pyrotechnics and hypnotism.
- Competitive performances.
- Activities at social events.
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
Selection criteria
- 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
How to apply
- First-time applicants must request a GATE Front Office username and password at least five business days prior to the application deadline.
- Complete the GATE Front Office Registration form and email it as an attachment to registrationAFA@gov.ab.ca.
- Complete the GATE Front Office Applicant Profile section with all required information.
- Upload the required PDF attachments.
- If support material is too large to upload, mail a hard copy CD or USB to 10708 – 105 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0A1, and include your first name, last name and project number.
- Submit the online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date.
Processing and Agreement
- 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.
Additional information
- Schools can find a resource listing of some of Alberta's professional artists at the Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta's Young Artist directory.
- Schools are not required to choose an artist from this list.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the AFA — Artists and Education Funding Program
What is the AFA — Artists and Education Funding?
Artists and Education Funding supports Alberta schools and school jurisdictions with up to $15,000 to subsidize professional Alberta artists for interactive arts residency projects for K-12 students. Eligible residencies must involve an Alberta-based artist or artist group with school residency experience, student participation, and school-based delivery during school hours.
How much funding can be received?
AFA — Artists and Education Funding Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $15,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the AFA — Artists and Education Funding program?
To be eligible for the AFA — Artists and Education Funding program, you must:
Alberta school or school jurisdiction recognized by Alberta Education
Full-time K-12 operation
Two or more eligible schools may apply together when school populations, locations or conditions warrant
What expenses are eligible under AFA — Artists and Education Funding?
Interactive arts residency projects for grades K-12.
Residencies delivered by an Alberta-based individual artist or a group of artists working together in any artistic discipline with school residency experience.
Projects that provide students access to Alberta's professional artists and their work.
Projects that give students an opportunity to observe and actively participate in the creative process.
Residencies that take place on school property during school hours, last five hours to thirty days, and are completed within three months of commencement.
Who can I contact for more information about the AFA — Artists and Education Funding?
You can contact Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) by email at jodie.vandekerkhove@gov.ab.ca or by phone at 780-415-1318.
Where is the AFA — Artists and Education Funding available?
The AFA — Artists and Education Funding program is available the province of Alberta.
Is the AFA — Artists and Education Funding a grant, loan, or tax credit?
AFA — Artists and Education Funding is a Grant and Funding