Submit Applications for Touring Artist Fund (Canada)

The Touring Artist Fund (TAF) supports professional Yukon artists, ensembles and artistic companies to tour and present their work within or outside Yukon. Applicants can request up to $10,000 per tour, with priority given to tours outside Yukon that provide artists with professional performance, exhibition and audience-development opportunities.

About the Touring Artist Fund

The Touring Artist Fund is designed to help professional Yukon artists reach new audiences and expand their artistic careers through touring opportunities.

The fund supports touring across a variety of artistic disciplines, including:

• Theatre
• Dance
• Music
• Visual arts
• Film
• Storytelling
• Other professional artistic and performance practices

Although tours outside Yukon receive priority, touring projects within Yukon may also be eligible under the current criteria.

What Does the Touring Artist Fund Support?

The programme provides financial assistance for eligible costs associated with presenting artistic work through a qualifying tour.

Supported opportunities may include:

• Touring performances.
• Artistic presentations in multiple locations.
• Exhibitions and public presentations.
• Professional music tours.
• Theatre and dance tours.
• Film or storytelling presentations.
• Transportation or shipping associated with touring artwork or equipment.
• Travel and accommodation connected with eligible touring activities.

A qualifying tour must involve more than one event or public presentation.

Funding Available

Applicants can request:

• Up to $10,000 per tour
• Higher amounts may be considered in exceptional circumstances for sector-wide initiatives.
• Great Northern Arts Festival: Funding is capped at $1,000 per applicant.

For the Great Northern Arts Festival, eligible expenses may include:

• Meals
• Accommodation
• Travel
• Shipping costs

Applicants should ensure that their requested amount is directly connected to the eligible touring expenses.

Who Is Eligible?

The Touring Artist Fund is intended for professional artists and performing groups based in Yukon.

Eligible applicants include:

• Individual Yukon artists.
• Ensembles.
• Artistic companies.
• Professional performers.

Applicants must have resided in Yukon for at least one continuous year before applying.

Additional Requirements for Ensembles

Ensembles must demonstrate that they have an established history of performing together.

Applicants must also have a confirmed invitation from a venue resulting from a professional selection process.

Examples of professional selection processes may include:

• Venue invitations following a jury review.
• Curatorial selection.
• Professional programming decisions.
• Invitations from recognised presenting organisations.

What Makes a Tour Eligible?

The Touring Artist Fund is intended for genuine touring activity rather than a single performance or presentation.

A qualifying tour should:

• Include more than one event or public presentation.
• Present professional artistic work.
• Have a confirmed venue invitation.
• Result from a professional selection process.
• Provide opportunities to present Yukon artistic work to audiences.
• Involve an artist, ensemble or artistic company meeting the residency requirements.

Tours outside Yukon receive priority because they can provide Yukon artists with greater exposure to audiences and professional networks beyond the territory.

Why the Touring Artist Fund Matters

Touring can be an important part of professional artistic development. It allows artists to reach new audiences while creating opportunities to build professional relationships and increase the visibility of Yukon’s creative sector.

The fund can help artists:

• Expand their audience.
• Present work outside Yukon.
• Build professional networks.
• Gain exposure in new markets.
• Strengthen artistic careers.
• Share Yukon culture with audiences elsewhere.
• Develop touring experience.
• Increase opportunities for future bookings and collaborations.

Supporting touring also contributes to the broader Yukon arts and cultural ecosystem by increasing the visibility of local artists and creative work.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare their application around the proposed tour, confirmed invitations and eligible expenses.

1. Confirm Your Eligibility

Check that you are a professional Yukon artist, ensemble or artistic company and have met the required one-year Yukon residency period.

2. Secure a Venue Invitation

Obtain confirmation from the venue or presenting organisation.

The invitation should demonstrate that the opportunity resulted from an appropriate professional selection process.

3. Develop Your Tour Plan

Provide details about:

• Where the tour will take place.
• The venues involved.
• Dates of presentations.
• Number of events.
• Artistic work being presented.
• Target audiences.
• Professional purpose of the tour.

4. Demonstrate That It Is a Tour

The proposed activity must include more than one event or public presentation.

Clearly list the different performances, exhibitions or presentations included in the tour.

5. Prepare the Budget

Identify the costs associated with the tour and request funding that is appropriate to the scale of the project.

6. Explain the Professional Benefits

Describe how touring will contribute to your artistic development, audience reach, professional network or career opportunities.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by clearly demonstrating the professional value and practical feasibility of the tour.

Consider the following:

• Prioritise professional opportunities: Explain how the tour resulted from a professional invitation or selection process.
• Show the complete itinerary: Clearly identify all venues and presentations.
• Demonstrate audience impact: Explain who will experience the work and why the tour is valuable.
• Highlight Yukon representation: Show how the tour contributes to the visibility of Yukon artists and culture.
• Provide a realistic budget: Make sure expenses are directly connected to touring.
• Explain career benefits: Identify specific professional opportunities created by the tour.
• Plan transportation carefully: Touring may involve significant travel, accommodation or shipping requirements, so these should be clearly explained.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying for a single event instead of a multi-event tour.
• Applying without a confirmed venue invitation.
• Failing to demonstrate the professional selection process.
• Applying before meeting the Yukon residency requirement.
• Providing insufficient information about the tour itinerary.
• Submitting an unclear or unrealistic budget.
• Failing to explain how the tour benefits the artist professionally.
• Assuming that all touring-related expenses are automatically eligible.
• Overlooking the special $1,000 funding cap for the Great Northern Arts Festival.

Key Details at a Glance

• Fund: Touring Artist Fund (TAF)
• Location: Yukon, Canada
• Applicant type: Professional Yukon artists, ensembles and artistic companies
• Maximum standard funding: $10,000 per tour
• Exceptional funding: Higher amounts may be considered for sector-wide initiatives
• Great Northern Arts Festival limit: $1,000 per applicant
• Residency requirement: At least one continuous year in Yukon before applying
• Tour requirement: More than one event or public presentation
• Venue requirement: Confirmed invitation
• Selection requirement: Invitation must be connected to a professional selection process
• Priority: Tours outside Yukon
• Disciplines: Theatre, dance, music, visual art, film, storytelling and other artistic practices

FAQ

What is the Touring Artist Fund?

The Touring Artist Fund is a Yukon funding programme that helps professional artists, ensembles and artistic companies tour and present their work to audiences within or outside Yukon.

How much funding can an artist receive?

Applicants can request up to $10,000 per tour. Higher funding may be considered in exceptional cases involving sector-wide initiatives.

Can artists tour within Yukon?

Yes. Tours within Yukon can be eligible under the current criteria, although priority is given to tours taking place outside Yukon.

Does the tour need to include multiple events?

Yes. The proposed tour must include more than one event or public presentation. A single performance or presentation does not meet the stated touring requirement.

Who can apply?

Professional Yukon artists, ensembles and artistic companies can apply if they have resided in Yukon for at least one continuous year before applying and meet the other programme requirements.

Is a venue invitation required?

Yes. Applicants must have a confirmed invitation from a venue as part of a professional selection process, such as a jury or curatorial review.

How much funding is available for the Great Northern Arts Festival?

Funding for the Great Northern Arts Festival is capped at $1,000 per applicant. Eligible costs can include meals, accommodation and travel or shipping expenses.

Conclusion

The Touring Artist Fund provides valuable support for professional Yukon artists seeking to expand their audiences and present their work through multi-event tours. With up to $10,000 available per tour, the fund can help artists cover eligible touring expenses while strengthening their professional development and increasing the visibility of Yukon’s creative sector. Applicants should focus on demonstrating professional selection, confirmed venue invitations, a clear multi-event itinerary and the artistic and career benefits of the proposed tour.