Manitoba Arts Council - Visual Arts Programs

The Manitoba Arts Council is an arm's-length agency of the provincial government dedicated to artistic excellence. The Council offers a broad-based granting program for professional artists and arts organizations. The Council 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.

The Council provides assistance to professional visual artists and arts organizations in a range of genres and art forms, including film, video, crafts, painting, drawing, sculpture or multi-media.

Summary

Grants to Individuals

Major Arts Grants
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/vis_grantind.html#major or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Creation/Production Grants in the Visual Arts
Deadlines:  September 1 and  February 15

Visual Arts A
This grant assists professional Manitoba visual artists who have established a national or international presence by exhibiting or presenting their work beyond Manitoba and who have completed five years of professional artistic activity following basis training. The maximum award is $10,000.

Visual Arts B
This grant assists professional Manitoba visual artists who have established a provincial presence and completed three years of professional artistic activity following completion of basic training. The maximum award is $4,000. Artists who have made a nationally or internationally recognized contribution to their discipline must apply to the Visual Arts A program.

Visual Arts C
This grant assists emerging Manitoba visual artists who have completed basic training and can present a resume that shows a clear commitment to a professional visual arts practice. The maximum award is $2,000. Artists eligible for Visual Arts A or B may not apply for a Visual Arts C. Artists who have achieved the Masterís academic level in Fine Arts are not eligible to apply to Visual Arts C.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visithttp://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/vis_grantind.html#creation or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Crafts Grant
Deadline:  September 15

This grant assists professional Manitoba craftspeople showing a high standard of work or exceptional promise. The applicant must have been a practising artist for three years. The maximum award is $10,000.

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

Film / Video Grants Script Development
Deadlines:  March 15 and October 1

This grant in film or video script development assists independent Manitoba filmmakers, video artists, or writers in the creation of scripts. The applicant must have established a professional reputation. The maximum award is $6,000.

Project
Deadlines:  March 15 and October 1

This grant assists independent Manitoba filmmakers and video artists in the creation and production of films and videos. The applicant must have established a professional reputation and must be the principal creator/director. The maximum award is $6,000.

Production
Deadlines:  March 15 and October 1

This grant assists independent Manitoba filmmakers and video artists in the creation and production of films and videos. The applicant must have established a professional reputation and must be the principal creator/director. The maximum award is $20,000.

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

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

Travel / Professional Development Grant in the Visual Arts
Deadline:  Four weeks prior to project

This program assists professional Manitoba visual artists and independent curators with projects and programs of short duration. Assistance may be requested for travel related to short-term study or master classes, out-of-province workshops and exhibitions, and installation costs. The applicant must have completed three years of professional artistic activity. The maximum award for visual artists is $1,500. The Travel / Professional Development Grant is not available for materials assistance.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/vis_grantind.html#shortterm 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.

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

Grants to Organizations

Operating Grants for Visual Arts Organizations
Deadline:   April 1

The Operating Grant Program is available to provide ongoing, partial support to professional, not-for-profit visual arts organizations. An organization that receives support is expected to present and interpret works of art to the general public, participate in the development of Manitoba artists and maintain sound management and financial controls.

For more information about this program contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Management and Governance Assistance Program
Deadline:  April 1

This program has been designed to support the development of effective and responsible working relationships of senior management staff and boards of directors in the professional arts sector in Manitoba. This program will fund some or all of the costs of providing appropriate experts to meet the specific needs of professional, non-profit arts organizations in strengthening their operation, particularly in the areas of management and governance. 

For more information about this program contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Program Assistance in the Visual Arts
Deadline:  April 15

This program assists not-for-profit galleries and cultural organizations, and small groups of Manitoba visual artists, to develop and present exhibitions of contemporary visual art. Priority will be given to programs, which focus on artists living and working in Manitoba.

For more information about this program contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Grants for Juried Shows
Deadline:  Three months prior to the show

This program assists not-for-profit galleries and cultural organizations to develop and present juried shows. Priority will be given to programs that focus on artists living and working in Manitoba.
 

For more information about this program contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Community Connectons 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.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit  http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/vis_grantorg.html#cca 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/vis_grantorg.html#acrp 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/vis_grantorg.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