Deadline: 01-Oct-2025
The Edmonton Arts Council is seeking applications for its Skills and Career Development Grant Program to support receiving mentorship, attending a residency, or other forms of professional development for artists and arts and cultural workers.
The Exploration and Experimentation Grant Program provides funding for projects by individual artists or collectives, with grants available up to $10,000 based on projected expenses, including artist subsistence.
Learning activities eligible for EAC funding include receiving mentorship, residency or other professional development for artists and arts professionals. EAC supports learning opportunities that are short-term, specialized training programs or workshops, relevant to an artist’s practice or career development. Edmonton Arts Council funding is not intended to support tuition fees for formal post-secondary education.
Projects may be proposed by either individuals or collectives, and applications must include a project title, short description, start and end dates after the application deadline, and grant amount requested. Applicants must provide updated artist background information including name, primary and secondary disciplines, an artist statement, biography, CV or resume, and online presence links. Project details must include a categorization of the project, a clear description of goals, activities, timelines, desired impact, and other supporting information. For collectives, details of members, roles, and additional collaborators are required, along with supporting documentation from mentors, elders, or knowledge keepers where relevant.
The project budget must balance and clearly outline both revenues and expenses. Eligible revenues may include the grant amount, applicant contributions, ticket or merchandise sales, donations, sponsorships, or other grants. Eligible expenses may include professional fees or artist subsistence, payment for mentors or collaborators, registration fees, course costs, equipment, materials, travel, or studio space. Supporting budget documents such as quotations, correspondence, or confirmations of additional funding are required.
Applicants must also provide supporting material, including samples of artistic work and relevant documentation such as letters of support or reviews. Up to ten audio, visual, or PDF files and up to five direct links may be submitted, with clear descriptions provided for each. Uploaded files must be manageable in size and format to ensure ease of access for assessors.
Eligibility for Individuals & Collectives requires that individuals have an existing and committed practice in any arts discipline or a history of other professional activity in the arts sector. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, residents of Edmonton/amiskwaciy-waskâhikan or the surrounding Indigenous communities, and hold a valid Social Insurance Number, as grants are considered taxable income. An individual or collective may only receive one grant annually, and applicants with overdue Edmonton Arts Council final reports are not eligible. Collectives must consist mostly of eligible members, with one primary applicant applying on behalf of the group.
Applicants should note that only one submission is accepted per applicant per deadline. An individual may be part of more than one collective but cannot be the primary applicant for more than one application. Eligible applicants who have experienced systemic barriers may access funding from both Individuals & Collectives and Equity & Access programs in the same year, though not for the same project or work.
Assessment of proposals will be based on artistic merit, feasibility, impact, and alignment. Artistic merit considers the artistic practice of the primary applicant along with the goals of the project. Feasibility looks at the applicant’s ability to carry out the project through their plans, timeline, and budget. Impact reflects the potential effect on the applicant’s artistic practice and development. Alignment ensures that the project goals meet the program’s specific intentions to support Skills & Career Development for artists and arts workers. The deadline for application is 1 October 2025.
For more information, visit Edmonton Arts Council.
