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Source verified August 4, 2026
AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding
Supports individual literary arts projects
Latest source updateLast Update: June 30, 2026Latest change: The expert panel comments page now references the March 2, 2026 deadline and adds more detailed guidance on project descriptions, budgets, and support material.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: June 30, 2026
Latest change: The expert panel comments page now references the March 2, 2026 deadline and adds more detailed guidance on project descriptions, budgets, and support material.
Literary funding comments updated for March 2, 2026
The Literary Arts Individual Project Funding expert panel comments page now shows the March 2, 2026 deadline instead of September 2, 2025. It also adds more concrete guidance on project descriptions, including detailed timelines, activities, budgets, collaborator rationale, and same-genre writing samples. Support material guidance is broader and more specific, with stronger direction on project descriptions, budgets, and the kinds of documents applicants should provide. The main funding page still shows up to $18,000 and the same core eligibility structure, so the change is concentrated in deadline timing and applicant guidance rather than funding terms.
Funding available
$ 18,000
Deadline
September 1, 2026
Location
Alberta, Canada
Overview
This program supports individual literary arts projects in Alberta for artists, arts administrators, or ensembles. It provides funding for art production, marketing, research, and training or career development, with eligible genres including novels, poetry, graphic novels, plays, young adult fiction, picture books, and literary non-fiction.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 18,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
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
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Newcomers to Canada
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Art production
- Marketing
- Research
- Training and career development
Documents Needed
- Artist resume
- Detailed project description
Official resources
Program guide
Supporting document
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Individual Alberta artists and arts administrators
- Ensembles of artists, collaborating artists, ensembles, and collectives if all project co-owners meet the individual eligibility criteria
Who is not eligible
- Applicants, including ensembles or collectives, must not be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation
- Collaborations, ensembles, or collectives, or their members, cannot operate as a for-profit business or production company
- Applicants who are not in good standing with the AFA or who have open or outstanding projects or reporting
Eligible expenses
- Artist fees, commission fees, royalties, administration and contract fees
- Promotion and publicity, transportation and accommodation, tuition or training fee
- Basic living or subsistence expenses, including housing, food, local transportation, child care, and dependent care, up to $3,000/month
- Other expenses and supplies considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs for publication or production of books or periodicals in print or digital platforms, including privately-printed, self-published, vanity press, print-on-demand, or shared cost publications
- Expenses for capital purchases, including computers, printers, software, buildings or property, or for capital development and studio construction or renovations
- Recreational training projects
- Specific component activities undertaken as part of a course of study
- Expenses already incurred prior to application submission, including grant writer fees
Eligible geographic areas
- Alberta
Selection criteria
- Impact on the applicant and the artistic genre in Alberta
- Artistic, educational, or promotional merit
- Appropriateness of the project budget and partner commitment
- Applicant’s ability to carry out the project
- Training, experience, expertise, and artistic achievements to date
How to apply
- First-time applicants must email registrationafa@gov.ab.ca at least five business days prior to the application deadline to get GATE Front Office login information
- Click the Apply Now button on the program guidelines page for the grant
- Select the applicant profile and then select a project in GATE Front Office
- Complete the online forms, upload the PDF attachments, and submit the application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date
Processing and Agreement
- Once the application is submitted, it is under review by Arts Development staff
- If the project is approved for funding, the lead applicant is responsible for receiving and managing any funds and completing any related reporting for the project
Additional information
- Applications are reviewed by an expert panel, and all decisions are final.
- Successful applicants are generally notified 4 to 6 months after the deadline.
- Funding recipients must acknowledge the AFA in project publicity whenever possible.
- A complete and satisfactory final report must be submitted in GATE.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding Program
What is the AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding?
This program supports individual literary arts projects in Alberta for artists, arts administrators, or ensembles. It provides funding for art production, marketing, research, and training or career development, with eligible genres including novels, poetry, graphic novels, plays, young adult fiction, picture books, and literary non-fiction.
How much funding can be received?
AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses, capped at $18,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding program?
To be eligible for the AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding program, you must:
Must be a resident of Alberta and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person with an open work or study permit from inside Canada
Must be in good standing with the AFA and have no open or outstanding projects or reporting
Must own the copyright of a proposed work, and the proposed publication must be available and accessible to the general public
What expenses are eligible under AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding?
Art production
Marketing
Research
Training and career development
Who can I contact for more information about the AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding?
You can contact Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) by email at registrationafa@gov.ab.ca.
Where is the AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding available?
The AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding program is available the province of Alberta.
Is the AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding a grant, loan, or tax credit?
AFA — Literary Individual Project Funding is a Grant and Funding