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Source verified August 11, 2026
AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship
Annual support for young Albertan writers
Latest source updateLast Update: May 1, 2026Latest change: The scholarship deadline appears to have been extended, and the application materials now include an added current signed letter of reference.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: May 1, 2026
Latest change: The scholarship deadline appears to have been extended, and the application materials now include an added current signed letter of reference.
Scholarship deadline and application materials updated
The scholarship content is largely unchanged, but the application timeline appears to have shifted to a later deadline and the application package now includes a current signed letter of reference. The core award amount, audience, and funding conditions remain the same, with only minor contact or link-format updates visible alongside the process change.
Funding available
$ 7,000
Deadline
March 1, 2027
Location
Alberta, Canada
Overview
The Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship provides $7,000 annually to a young Albertan writer with extraordinary talent and clear educational or training goals. It supports undergraduate study, mentorships or workshops, and courses focused on literary arts or creative writing.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Alberta
Legal structures
- Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Startups
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Any level of undergraduate studies with a minor or major in literary arts or creative writing
- A recognized program or appropriate mentorship, workshop, master class, or course with a focus on literary arts or creative writing
Documents Needed
- A letter by the applicant of no more than two pages in length
- A resume or curriculum vitae of no more than two pages in length
- A detailed description of the applicant's chosen literary arts educational or training program(s)
- A scanned copy of one of the following to provide legal proof of age
- An original writing submission in one of the eligible literary genres and a current and signed letter of reference
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Individual applicants
- Young Albertan writers
- Applicants who are residents of Alberta and enrolled in an eligible writing training program
Who is not eligible
- International students in Canada on a visa without permanent residency status in Canada
- International students enrolled in a Canadian program/Canadian institution not located in Canada
- Non-Canadian students enrolled and studying via the Internet or through online courses
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Graduate programs or their equivalents
- A creative writing submission that is not original, plagiarized, or violates the Copyright Act of Canada
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
Selection criteria
- The applicant's artistic ability based on the artistic merit of the writing submission
- The merit and appropriateness of the proposed program(s) in the context of the applicant's literary arts goals and interests
- The impact of the proposed program(s) on the artistic development of the applicant
- The applicant's achievements and experience in the literary arts to date
How to apply
- Apply through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system.
- If you are a first-time applicant, email registrationafa@gov.ab.ca at least five business days before the application deadline to obtain your login information.
- Complete the online forms and upload the attachments in your GATE Front Office application.
- Submit the online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Alberta Time on the deadline date.
Processing and Agreement
- Staff convene an expert panel to consider all eligible scholarship applications submitted to each deadline.
- The expert panel assesses each application both on its own terms and in relation to all other applications received for a given deadline.
- All expert panel recommendations are reviewed by the AFA board and all decisions are final.
- Successful recipients will be notified upon board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.
- All applicants will be notified of the outcome, and no expert panel comments will be provided.
Additional information
- Only one $7,000 scholarship is awarded each year.
- Successful applicants must confirm enrollment in the eligible training program after award.
- No expert panel comments are provided to applicants.
- Applicants with previous AFA grants must have met reporting requirements to remain eligible for future funding.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship Program
What is the AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship?
The Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship provides $7,000 annually to a young Albertan writer with extraordinary talent and clear educational or training goals. It supports undergraduate study, mentorships or workshops, and courses focused on literary arts or creative writing.
How much funding can be received?
AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship Funds up to $7,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship program?
To be eligible for the AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship program, you must:
Resident of Alberta
25 years or younger as of the application deadline
Enrolled in an eligible writing training program
What expenses are eligible under AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship?
Any level of undergraduate studies with a minor or major in literary arts or creative writing
A recognized program or appropriate mentorship, workshop, master class, or course with a focus on literary arts or creative writing
Who can I contact for more information about the AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship?
You can contact Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) by email at justina.verboom@gov.ab.ca or by phone at 780-422-3250.
Where is the AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship available?
The AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship program is available the province of Alberta.
Is the AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship a grant, loan, or tax credit?
AFA — Dr. MacEwan Literary Arts Scholarship is a Grant and Funding