How much funding can be received?

If you’re an artist, curator or part of an artist group or collective, you could get up to $10,000 towards career advancement opportunities, like training, mentorship, or workshops.

Financing terms and conditions

Maximum grant amount of up to $10,000 per project.

Eligible projects & activities

Mentorship programs to enhance artistic and professional skills.
Internship opportunities to gain practical experience in the arts sector.
Apprenticeships focused on hands-on learning in an artistic discipline.
Specialized training sessions to develop new competencies.
Participation in workshops designed for career development in the arts.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 9,000

Mentorship program for Indigenous artists

$ 9,000

Providing advanced sculpting workshops for emerging artists

$ 9,000

Specialized training in glassblowing for artists

$ 9,000

Internship program for theatre artists

$ 9,500

Creating an apprenticeship program for textile artists

$ 8,500

Offering digital painting workshops for youth

Eligibility criteria of the Explore and Create — Professional Development for Artists program

The applicant must be a Canadian artist, curator, artistic group, or collective.
The applicant must create a validated profile in the portal before applying.
The project must focus on professional development activities that advance the applicant's artistic career.

Who is eligible?

Artists and curators
Artistic groups
Artistic collectives

Who is not eligible

Companies seeking funding for activities that have already started before the project start date.
Organizations applying for funding for activities already supported by another Canada Council program.
Applicants intending to undertake residencies or self-directed projects focused primarily on creation, rather than professional development.

Eligible expenses

Costs associated with mentorships, internships, and apprenticeships.
Fees for specialized training and participation in workshops.
Travel costs calculated according to fixed travel rates for project-related activities.

Eligible geographic areas

Canadian artists and artistic groups located in Canada.

Eligibility criteria of the Explore and Create — Professional Development for Artists program

Yes, the Professional Development for Artists component of the Explore and Create program has evaluation and selection criteria. The grants are evaluated based on the artistic merit, impact, and feasibility of the proposed projects.

Artistic Merit: The quality of the proposed development activity and how it contributes to the applicant's creative practice.
Impact: The potential impact on the applicant's career, artistic development, and contribution to the broader artistic community.
Feasibility: The practicality and readiness of the project plan, including a realistic budget and timeline.

How to apply to the Explore and Create — Professional Development for Artists program

Create an Account

Access the portal and create an account.
Submit one or more profiles for validation at least 30 days before applying.

Check Eligibility

Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for the Professional Development for Artists component.
Verify that your profile is validated in the portal.

Prepare Application

Identify professional development activities that comply with grant guidelines.
Calculate any travel costs using the fixed travel rates.
Gather necessary documentation such as mentorship or training plans, budgets, and supporting materials.

Submit Application

Log into the portal to complete the online application form.
Attach all required supporting documents.
Submit the application before the start date of your project or activity.

Confirmation of Submission

Receive a confirmation email upon successful submission.
Keep the confirmation email for your records.

Additional information

Applicants requiring assistance due to disabilities, mental illness, or cultural/language barriers may be eligible for Application Assistance to help with the application process.
Profile validation in the portal must be completed at least 30 days before applying.
Deadlines and notification timelines are provided on a dedicated page linked in the guidelines.
Budget forms and application appendices are available as resources to support the application.