Individual artists & artist educators

The Watt Scholarship was established in 1995 and is awarded annually to eight Inuit in Canada currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution with a demonstrated interest in art, history and culture. Each scholarship provides $2,500 to assist, support and encourage Inuit in their pursuit of post-secondary studies in Inuit art and culture. The IAF funds this scholarship in partnership with Indspire as part of their Building Brighter Futures program.

How to Apply

The Watt Scholarship was established in 1995 and is awarded annually to eight Inuit in Canada currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution with a demonstrated interest in art, history and culture. Each scholarship provides $2,500 to assist, support and encourage Inuit in their pursuit of post-secondary studies in Inuit art and culture. The IAF funds this scholarship in partnership with Indspire as part of their Building Brighter Futures program.

How to Apply

Kajungiqsaut Grants is a new funding initiative dedicated to supporting Inuit working in the arts. Co-developed in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts, Kajungiqsaut are accessible, culturally relevant funding that support Inuit creatives to pursue their many and multi-faceted ambitions - especially first-time applicants. Kajungiqsaut values self-determination, skills development, and the crucial time needed to dream, grow, and create throughout an individual’s journey in the arts. 

The Siminovitch Prize is Canada's most valuable theatre award.

The Siminovitch Prize is a celebration of Canadian theatre, honouring excellence and innovation since 2001. Awarded annually to exceptional theatre artists, the Siminovitch Prize encourages artists financially and with national recognition. It helps artists deepen their practice and facilitates their ongoing contributions to theatre in Canada. The Siminovitch Prize is an investment in the future of the art form.

The Watt Scholarship was established in 1995 and is awarded annually to eight Inuit in Canada currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution with a demonstrated interest in art, history and culture. Each scholarship provides $2,500 to assist, support and encourage Inuit in their pursuit of post-secondary studies in Inuit art and culture. The IAF funds this scholarship in partnership with Indspire as part of their Building Brighter Futures program.

How to Apply

The Travel component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing funds First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists, arts/cultural professionals (including artists’ representatives), cultural carriers, artistic groups, collectives and organizations working in all disciplines. Grants support travel costs to attend significant events within Canada or abroad that advance your professional development, enable you or the artists you represent to access new markets or build national and international presence.

The Artist Development program (AD) offers 75% of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $5,000 towards a year of artist development activities including sound recording, touring, showcasing, video content production, and marketing.

This program is intended to provide support towards the professionalization and integration of early career artists into the music industry. Artists with an established track record and ongoing market momentum should review the Juried Sound Recording: Album or Juried Sound Recording: Single/EP programs.

The Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program was created to help you celebrate your community – both its past and its present. This program increases opportunities for local artists; local artisans; local heritage performers or specialists; and local First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultural carriers to be involved in their community through festivals, events and projects. It also allows local groups to commemorate their local history and heritage.

The Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program offers funding through three separate components.

The Creative Export Canada (CEC) program provides visibility and funding to help Canadian creative works achieve financial success abroad. CEC aims to heighten exposure of Canadian creative works in international markets and to increase export profitability for Canada’s creative industries.

The CEC program’s total funding envelope is $33 million over three years ($11 million per year, from 2023-2024 to 2025-2026). The $11 million per year is divided into two funding streams: the Export-Ready Stream and the Export Development Stream.

This program supports Nova Scotia’s professional, practicing artists in the creation and dissemination of their own work.  The program also supports professional artists by helping them to develop their practice and skills in all disciplines including fine crafts, literary, visual, media, and performing arts. 

Individual artists may submit one application per category per deadline.