Open
Closing Soon
AFA — Artists and Education Funding
Supports Alberta school arts residencies
Last Update: April 9, 2026
Funding available
$ 15,000
Timeline
- Closing date : May 1, 2026
Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Overview
This program provides up to $15,000 to Alberta schools for interactive arts residency projects led by professional Alberta artists. Eligible activities include school-based residencies for K-12 students during school hours, lasting from five hours to 30 days.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
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 75% of project cost
Timeline
- Closing date : May 1, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Calgary
- 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 K-12 students
- Residencies led by an Alberta-based individual artist or artist group with school residency experience
- Projects that let students observe and actively participate in the creative process
- Residencies held on school property during school hours
- Residencies lasting from five hours to 30 days and completed within three months
Documents Needed
- 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
Eligibility
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
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
- 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.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the AFA — Artists and Education Funding Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the AFA — Artists and Education Funding. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the AFA — Artists and Education Funding?
This program provides up to $15,000 to Alberta schools for interactive arts residency projects led by professional Alberta artists. Eligible activities include school-based residencies for K-12 students during school hours, lasting from five hours to 30 days.
How much funding can be received?
AFA — Artists and Education Funding Funds up to 75% 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
Full-time K-12 operation
School-based arts residency project
What expenses are eligible under AFA — Artists and Education Funding?
Interactive arts residency projects for K-12 students
Residencies led by an Alberta-based individual artist or artist group with school residency experience
Projects that let students observe and actively participate in the creative process
Residencies held on school property during school hours
Residencies lasting from five hours to 30 days and completed within three months
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 registrationAFA@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