Manitoba Arts Council - Aboriginal Arts Programs

The Manitoba Arts Council is an arm's-length agency of the provincial government dedicated to artistic excellence. We offer a broad-based granting program for professional artists and arts organizations. We will promote, preserve, support and advocate for the arts as essential to the quality of life of all the people of Manitoba.

The Council provides assistance in a variety of programs that support its mandate to promote the study and appreciation of the arts in Manitoba. These programs are designed to support life-long learning in the arts, to support the development of the arts or artists in Manitoba, or to increase public understanding of the arts and its value.

While Aboriginal artists are eligible to apply for all of Council programs, specific programs for Aboriginal Arts have been developed to respond to their unique cultural and diverse needs.

Summary

Grants to Individuals

Major Arts Grant
Deadline:  January 15

The Major Arts Grant is available to support personal creative projects of six to ten months in duration. It allows artists whose work shows exceptional quality or accomplishment to concentrate on a specific project relating to their creative artistic work. The Major Arts Grant covers living expenses, project costs and travel expenses and is worth up to $25,000. Artists in all artistic disciplines are eligible to apply. A maximum of two Major Arts Grants may be held in five years.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/abor_grantind.html#major or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Aboriginal Arts Creative Development
Deadlines:  June 30 and November 30 

The Aboriginal Arts Creative Development Pilot Projects initiative is designed to enable Aboriginal artists in all arts disciplines, including dance/music, drumming, singing, carving, painting, storytelling, new media, writing, theatre or crafts, to create or produce new works over a three month period. Only one Creative Development grant may be received in any given fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). The maximum award is $7,500.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/abor_grantind.html#pilot or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Aboriginal Arts Mentorship, Training and Development
Deadlines:  June 30 and November 30

The Aboriginal Arts Mentorship Training and Development Grant aims to promote excellence in Aboriginal arts in Manitoba by providing financial assistance to individual artists so they can reach their next level of artistic and career development. These could include skills development, apprenticeships, professional training, or mentorships that share artistic and cultural skills and knowledge. Only one Mentorship Training and Development Grant may be received in any given fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). The maximum award is $5,000 per person.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/abor_grantind.html#mentor or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Travel / Professional Development Grant for Aboriginal Artists
Deadline:  Four weeks prior to project

The Aboriginal Arts Travel Grant is designed to help professional Aboriginal artists and small Aboriginal arts groups attend events or development opportunities important to their practice/career. Only one Travel Grant may be received in any given fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). The maximum award is $3,000 per person.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/abor_grantind.html#grant or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Community Connections and Access Program
Deadlines:  April 1 and October 1

The Community Connections and Access Program is designed to address specific needs identified by artists who face barriers to equal opportunities in artistic and professional development and presentation. The program will fund projects to address the needs of the emerging and professional artists in communities that are disadvantaged or under-served.

Applications can be submitted by artists, groups, collectives, ensembles and organizations. The maximum award for individual emerging artists is $2,500; for established or professional artists, $5,000; and for ensembles and organizations, $10,000.  Only one Community Connections and Access Grant may be received in any given fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/abor_grantind.html#access or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Artist in Community Residency Program
Deadlines:  April 1 and October 1

The Artist In Community Residency Program will assist incorporated, non-profit organizations in Manitoba with the opportunity to respond to community development needs in, or through, the arts by engaging Manitoba artists to work in Manitoba communities for a specified period of time. In this program artists will engage with the broader community or public in ways that are meaningful and relevant towards the outcome of individual and community development. The artist(s) must be working with a community that would not otherwise be engaged in the arts. This is an opportunity for communities to express themselves through creative collaboration with established and professional artists.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/abor_grantind.html#res or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Deep Bay Artist Residency in Riding Mountain National Park of Canada
Deadline:  December 15

The Deep Bay Artist Residency at Riding Mountain National Park of Canada offers professional artists in all disciplines time, space and a facility in which to work on a creative project in the natural setting of Riding Mountain National Park of Canada. It also offers professional artistic directors and arts administrators the opportunity to undertake visioning, planning and research work.

Riding Mountain National Park of Canada is providing a newly renovated log cabin (live/work studio) to artists, artistic directors and arts administrators who will be selected through the Manitoba Arts Council’s peer assessment process. Residency periods will be 1, 2, 4 or 6 weeks in length, from May through to October. Artists, artistic directors and arts administrators are eligible for a maximum stay of six weeks within a 4-year period, and may apply each year.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/abor_grantind.html#deepbay or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Manitoba Contact(s):
Manitoba Arts Council
525 - 93 Lombard Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3B 3B1
Telephone: 204-945-2237
Fax: 204-945-5925
Toll-free (information): 1-866-994-2787
E-mail: info@artscouncil.mb.ca
Web site: http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/index.html