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

This grant supports Canadian artists in their professional growth by covering expenses associated with developmental opportunities. It provides financial assistance to encourage participation in various activities.

Funding up to $10,000 to support eligible professional development activities.
Consideration of travel cost funding based on fixed travel rates.

Eligible projects & activities

This grant supports activities that aid in the professional development and career advancement of Canadian artists across various artistic disciplines. These activities are designed to enhance skills, gain new experiences, and foster artistic growth.

Mentorships
Internships
Apprenticeships
Specialized training
Workshops

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

Eligibility for this grant is centered around the validation of the applicant's profile and the nature of the proposed activities.

The applicant must be a Canadian artist or artistic group.
A profile must be created and validated in the application portal at least 30 days before applying.
The applicant must be seeking support for professional development activities that align with the grant's focus areas.
Applicants who are Deaf, hard of hearing, have disabilities, mental illnesses, or face cultural barriers may be eligible for application assistance.
The proposed activities must not be funded by another Canada Council program or listed as ineligible.

Who is eligible?

Artists and curators, as well as artistic groups and collectives, are eligible to apply for the Professional Development for Artists component of Explore and Create. Eligibility is determined by the validated profile created in the application portal.

Who is not eligible

There is no specific mention of ineligible companies in the grant context provided for the "Professional Development for Artists" component of the Canada Council's Explore and Create program. However, it is important to adhere to the general eligibility criteria and ineligible activities list provided in the guidelines.

Adherence to general eligibility criteria is required.
Refer to the general list of ineligible activities in the guidelines.

Eligible expenses

The Professional Development for Artists component under Explore and Create supports activities that foster the professional growth and career advancement of Canadian artists. This includes a variety of opportunities designed to enhance skills and knowledge across different artistic disciplines.

Mentorships to gain guidance and insights from experienced professionals.
Internships to learn through practical, hands-on experience in a professional setting.
Apprenticeships for structured learning and skill development under expert supervision.
Specialized training programs to acquire specific skills or knowledge.
Workshops to engage in focused, often collaborative skill-building sessions.

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

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

Application assistance is available for eligible artists facing barriers, helping them through the application process.
Artists requesting travel cost support must use the fixed travel rates provided.
A validated profile must be created in the application portal before applying.
Activities funded by other Canada Council programs or listed as ineligible cannot receive funding under this grant.