Indigenous Arts Projects

Rolling Deadline: Applications may be submitted anytime between January 2 and November 2, 2020, with notification of results released approximately 3 to 4 months after submission date.

• Full Program Guidelines for 2020 (PDF)
• Apply 
• Open “Office Hours.” Questions about your application or the process of applying? Sign up for a 30-minute zoom chat with Program Manager Tash Naveau. Every Tuesday from September 22 to October 27, 11:30am -1:30pm. Email Tash at tash[at]torontoartscouncil[dot]org to book your 30-minute session.

For questions about this program, contact Tash Naveau, Indigenous Arts Program Manager.

PURPOSE

Toronto Arts Council’s Indigenous Arts Projects program is an annual multi-disciplinary project grant specifically for Indigenous artists, collectives and organizations. For the purpose of this program, “Indigenous” is defined as a Canadian Aboriginal person who self-defines as First Nations (Status or Non-status), Métis, or Inuit. TAC recognizes that in the diverse mosaic of Toronto, Indigenous people are the original inhabitants of the City, which has great historical and cultural significance as a place for ceremony, gathering, trade, and exchange.

The program is designed to increase participation in and access to Toronto Arts Council funding by Indigenous artists, while increasing the creation and presentation of high-quality Indigenous art in the City.

**APPLICATION DEADLINE** (NEW)

There is no single application deadline in 2020. You may submit an application anytime between January 2 and November 4, 2020. You will be notified with the application results approximately 3 to 4 months after the submission date.

ELIGIBILITY

Individuals:

• Individuals must identify as Indigenous (Status or Non-Status First Nations, Métis, or Inuit)
• Individuals must have been a resident of the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the deadline, and live and work in Toronto for at least 8 months a year. A post office box address cannot be used to meet the residency requirement.
• Applicants who are pursuing a graduate degree may not apply for work related to their thesis. Note: A letter from the graduate program director confirming that the project is not related to the graduate student’s thesis may be required.  Please discuss with Program Manager in advance.
• Individuals may receive one TAC Arts Discipline project grant, including Indigenous Arts Project grants, per calendar year. However, TAC offers other types of granting opportunities through its Strategic Initiatives envelope, and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please consult TAC’s website for other granting opportunities.
• Individuals must submit any outstanding final reports for previously-awarded TAC grants before applying to Indigenous Arts Projects.
• Artists must be professional. A professional artist is someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice; is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic tradition; actively practices his or her art; seeks payment for their work; and has a history of public presentation.
• TAC recognizes that due to systemic barriers within the broader arts community (e.g. limited mainstream presentation opportunities for artists from equity-seeking communities) that some flexibility may be required in interpreting eligibility criteria to take into account equivalent professional experience and contexts. Potential applicants from equity-seeking communities are encouraged to discuss their eligibility with the program manager in advance of submitting an application.​

Organizations or Collectives:

• Organizations and collectives must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives which operate on a non-profit basis;
• Organizations and collectives must be located in the City of Toronto. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet this requirement;
• Organizations and collectives may receive only one TAC Arts Discipline project grant, including Indigenous Arts Project grants, per calendar year. However, TAC offers other types of granting opportunities through its Strategic Initiatives envelope, and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please consult TAC’s website for other granting opportunities.
• Organizations and collectives must submit any outstanding final reports for previously-awarded TAC grants before applying to Indigenous Arts Projects.

Collectives are defined as:

• Two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project (ad hoc) or on an ongoing basis;
• For collectives of two artists, both must be City of Toronto residents and Indigenous. For collectives of more than two artists, the majority of members must be City of Toronto residents and Indigenous.

Organizations must be:

• Artistically and financially controlled by an Indigenous person, as defined above;
• 51% majority of Indigenous members on Board of Directors;
• 51% majority of Indigenous members on Board Executive.

The following are not eligible to apply to this program:

• Non-Indigenous artists, organizations and collectives;
• Organizations and collectives that receive Operating funding from TAC;
• Undergraduate students.

• Full Program Guidelines for 2020 (PDF)
• Apply
• View past recipients

https://torontoartscouncil.org/grant-programs/tac-grants/indigenous-arts/project-grants