The NWT Arts Council was established August 1985, as an advisory board to the GNWT. The mandate of the NWT Arts Council is to promote the arts in the Northwest Territories.
The Arts Council provides recommendations to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on financial awards for creative artistic projects in the visual, literary, media and performing arts, and on issues and policies associated with the arts and artists.
Funding Disciplines
- Audio Recording: Music and Voice
- Performing Arts: Dance, Music, Storytelling and Theatre
- Writing and Publishing
- Visual Arts
- Crafts
- Film and Media Arts
Funding Categories
Funding is available in three basic categories for all disciplines: Creative Development, Creation & Production and Public Presentation.
Creative Development
The purpose of creative development funding is to support the personal creative growth of NWT artists. Individual applicants may apply for course fees and travel expenses and NWT organizations may apply for training workshop delivery costs.
Creation & Production
The purpose of creation & production funding is to support the creation of artistic projects by NWT artists. Individual applicants may apply for project expenses and NWT organizations may apply for workshop costs where NWT artists are directly involved.
Public Presentation
The purpose of presentation funding is to assist with the presentation of NWT artists' works to the public. Individual applicants may apply for showcase, touring or exhibit fees and expenses and NWT organizations may apply for presentation fees and costs where NWT artists are directly involved. Events must benefit public audiences (e.g. an arts exhibition, film screening, touring author, music concert, dance or theatre production or showcase event).
Eligibility
Applicants may be eligible for funding from the NWT Arts Council if:
- they have been a resident of the NWT for at least 2 years immediately prior to the deadline,
- they are an emerging artist or an established artist,
- they are a registered NWT organization with a mandate to enhance the arts, or
- their application is for a specific creative project.
The deadline for applications is February 28 each year.