Find the right funding opportunity

We have grant programs in two categories. Read the guidelines and eligibility requirements for each program to make sure it’s a good fit.

For individuals

Are you a solo artist or member of a collective looking for funding and help bringing your art to life? Check out our programs for individuals and collectives:

• Individuals & Collectives
• Equity & Access in the Arts
• Edmonton Artists’ Trust Fund Award
  

For organizations

Are you part of an arts organization or festival looking for funding? Learn more about our programs for organizations:

• Annual Funding Investments (Operating or Programming)
• Project Funding (Invent & Adapt or Connections & Exchanges Initiatives)

Learn more about all of our programs, and their deadlines.

Ask us questions

We’re here to help get you into the right program. Reach out to the Arts Development and Investment team by email grants@​edmontonarts.​ca or phone 780−424−2787 with all your questions, big or small, related to the EAC’s funding opportunities, capacity building, and/​or professional development.

Start your application

Ready to apply? If you haven’t used our online application portal SmartSimple before, you’ll need to create a user account and applicant profile before you can begin any application. Step-by-step instructions for completing your registration are available here.

Once you’ve logged in and completed your SmartSimple profile, you can find the EAC’s available opportunities under the ​“Open Opportunities” icon. When you start an application, you can save and return to it anytime.

Review and submit your application

A team member can review your draft application with you prior to the application deadline. Draft Application Assistance meetings are available over video or phone with a Program Advisor to give you (and anyone working on your project) the opportunity to ask questions and get guidance on your upcoming application.

Be sure to book early; the first-come, first-served meeting spots are limited and tend to fill up quickly.

Give your application a final check. When you’re ready, click submit!

Applications will be assessed

The Arts Development and Investment team ensure the submitted applications meet the program’s eligibility criteria and required fields are complete. Then a panel of diverse, knowledgeable members from the artistic community will review the applications and conduct the assessment. Applications are evaluated against the criteria listed in the guidelines for each grant.

This process, on average, takes 12 to 16 weeks. Thank you for your patience!

We will be in touch

Applicants will receive notification of the results and information on the next steps, via a notification email from SmartSimple.

To ensure you don’t miss any important email notifications, please keep an eye on your spam or junk folders. You can also check your SmartSimple profile for notifications. If your application requires an update or additional information, you may receive a Revision Request by email within a few weeks of the application deadline.

Am I eligible for funding?

The EAC supports Edmonton-based artists and arts organizations working in all artistic disciplines and their various cultural forms. We accept applications from all disciplines including music, drama, dance, Indigenous arts, Deaf and Disability arts, visual arts, literature, theatre, film, media arts, multidisciplinary, storytelling, fine craft, and combinations thereof.

Although eligibility varies by program, general eligibility requirements for individuals and collectives include:

• Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) – grants are considered taxable income. (If you receive income support, we suggest reaching out to your caseworker before applying to discuss how receiving a grant may impact you.)

• *NEW Individuals or collectives may only have one grant active at a time. Applicants must finish any previous projects and submit their final reports before applying for new funding.

• An Individual or collective may receive one grant from this program annually from January to December.

To be eligible to receive Operating or Programming funding, an organization must:

• Registered and governed as a not-for-profit organization in Alberta or Canada.

• Have operated for a minimum of one year with completed financial statements.
• Have regular, annually recurring activities focused on the arts and culture in Edmonton relating to artistic creation, production, and/​or presentation; the support of sectors or artistic disciplines in the Edmonton arts community; the promotion of participation in art making; and/​or other objectives and actions that enable innovation and build resilience in the arts sector.

• Maintain up-to-date information and documentation in their organizational profile in the EAC online portal, SmartSimple.

Review the specific program guidelines to see if you are eligible and reach out to the Arts Development & Investment team by email or phone at 780−424−2787 if you have any questions.

What kind of help is available?

Those facing barriers while completing their application may be eligible for Access Support. A barrier can include, but is not limited to, language, culture, physical or cognitive limitations, or any inequity that may complicate completing an application. This support provides funding for specialized assistance in conveying the artists’ ideas. This could include hiring a typist, interpreter, translator, or other type of support worker to help with submitting a clear application that accurately reflects the artist’s ideas and intentions. Normally, professional grant writers are not supported by this program unless they are assisting the artist with a specific barrier. Eligible assistance will be supported up to $500. For more information, visit our Access Support program page, contact grants@​edmontonarts.​ca or phone: 780−424−2787.

Can I get someone to review my application?

We offer Draft Application Assistance to help applicants strengthen their applications before the deadline. Over a 30-minute one-on-one video or phone meeting with a Program Advisor, you (and anyone working on your project) can ask questions and get guidance on your upcoming application.

We can help you:

• Clarify which funding stream best aligns with your project’s goals and outcomes.

• Refine the intentions and outcomes of your project.

• Review your budget and supporting materials for clarity and relevance.

• (Optional) EAC staff can provide feedback from a previous unsuccessful application, so that it may be applied to a current application if relevant. If you would like this feedback on a past application, please indicate that when you request the meeting.

Good to know:

• Your draft application must be complete in SmartSimple at least 24 hours before your scheduled meeting, or your meeting may be rescheduled.

• Be sure to book early; the first-come, first-served meeting spots are limited and tend to fill up quickly.

**Links to book Draft Application Assistance are provided with each unique deadline.

How will my application be assessed?

First, the Arts Development and Investment team ensures the submitted applications meet the program’s eligibility criteria and are complete. Then a panel of diverse, knowledgeable members from the artistic community will review the applications and conduct a peer assessment. Applications are evaluated by the criteria listed in the guidelines for each grant. The peer assessors will make recommendations to the EAC. Following assessment, EAC staff summarize all relevant information when presenting investment outcomes for approval. Decisions made through this process are final.

Can I get feedback on my application after it’s been assessed?

Yes, we can provide feedback on previous applications through our Draft Application Sessions. Please check the specific Draft Application Session details for each program in the guidelines. Keep in mind that our grants receive many applications and are highly competitive. A successful grant application does not guarantee success on subsequent applications. Likewise, an unsuccessful application should not deter you from applying for other grants.

How are assessors selected?

Assessors are recruited in several ways, including self-identification in SmartSimple (Tip: To be considered, ensure your SmartSimple profile is up-to-date) and direct recruitment by EAC staff. The panel composition, such as the number of people and relevant skills or backgrounds, is determined by EAC. The following are considerations when determining panels and peer assessors:

• Intention and scope of the funding opportunity
• Discipline-specific and other experience
• Scheduling and availability
• Number of applications received

Once all eligible submissions are reviewed, assessors that fairly represent the applicant community, including artistic peers, individuals with specific expertise, and other community members valuable to the assessment process, are convened.

How do I become an assessor?

Being selected as an assessor can be a rewarding opportunity to engage with other artists from multiple disciplines, offer your skills and perspective, and support the EAC and our arts community.

Assessment is a crucial and important part of the EAC’s processes, and requires the following:

• Dedicated time and a personal commitment for the duration of the process.

• Maintaining confidentiality and identifying all Conflicts of Interest.

• Awareness of EAC’s mission, mandate, values and the 10-year Connections & Exchanges plan.

• Professionalism and time management skills.

• Ability to work independently as well as with others and make group decisions.

• Being respectful of diverse opinions and viewpoints.

Assessors are paid an honorarium for their time in assessment meetings. If you are interested in being considered for future assessor opportunities, please get in touch with the Arts Development and Investment team. 

My application was successful! What are my next steps?

You will receive a Funding Agreement that outlines the terms of your grant including our recognition and reporting requirements. You are required to sign the agreement and submit it to us in order to release payment. If you have any questions concerning the Funding Agreement, reach out to ⁠support@​edmontonarts.​ca.

Do I need to pay taxes on funding I receive from the EAC?

The Edmonton Arts Council is required by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to issue T4A slips to individuals who receive funds in excess of $500 per calendar year. Grant funding is taxable income for the primary applicant and may not be disbursed to a business account. You will need to report this income when you file your personal taxes. The EAC has hosted tax information sessions for artists, to view a recording, click here. For your tax-related questions, contact the Canada Revenue Agency or a qualified financial advisor. 

If you receive income support, we suggest reaching out to your caseworker before applying to discuss how receiving a grant may impact you.

What should I include in my final project report?

Grant recipients for Individuals & Collectives and Equity & Access in the Arts funding are required to submit a final report to the Edmonton Arts Council. Completing the final report closes the financial contract with the EAC and permits them to apply for future funding opportunities.

A project’s final report will collect information about the project finances, project outcomes, and public engagement activities. To make the final report process easier, the EAC has created a guide that outlines some things to consider while completing the project.

Have a question that isn’t answered here? 

Our Video Resources provide further help, including general overviews and application specifics for our funding programs. Or contact us by email at grants@​edmontonarts.​ca or by phone at 780−424−2787.

These short videos are meant to assist you with some of the specific terms and concepts used in our application process.

What we mean by artist collective

What is in an artist resume or CV

What to include in your support materials

How to measure success

How much to pay people

What if your project is bigger than this grant

How the EAC uses artistic discipline definitions

As part of our application processes, the Edmonton Arts Council asks artists and organizations to self-identify their artistic discipline(s) using broad administrative categories. We also ask for artist statements, and other written materials to gather a more specific picture of any one artist or organization’s artistic discipline and unique work. 

Self-identified discipline category is one piece of information that helps the EAC manage processes such as assessment. The aggregated data also contributes to our understanding of the ecology, and our reporting about the work of the EAC. 

We don’t use this information to set targets to benefit any one discipline. If a program or opportunity is specific to one discipline, it will be explicitly stated in the published guidelines. If you have questions, please contact grants@​edmontonarts.​ca. 

Artistic discipline definitions 

Arts and Cultural Worker
An individual who derives a significant portion of their livelihood working in a field that supports artists, and/​or with arts and festival organizations.

Dance
Artistic work based on the movement of the human body in any form or venue, from any customary or contemporary form.

Deaf and Disability Arts
A diverse array of emerging artistic practices in which being Deaf, or having a disability is central to the creative exploration. Artists who are Deaf or living with a disability might not be practitioners of Deaf and Disability arts.

Indigenous Arts 
A diverse array of artistic practices in which the customary work or contemporary experience of Indigenous people is central to the creative exploration. Artists who identify as Indigenous people might not be practitioners of Indigenous Arts.

Literary Art
Artistic work based in the use of language through composition, presentation, or performance in any customary or contemporary form.

Media Art
Artistic work based on moving images and/​or sound, including film and video, or using digital and projection technologies to create and present new types of work.

Multi-Disciplinary
Work that encompasses the integration or co-existence of more than one of the existing disciplines listed. This is usually appropriate for organizations that present multiple art forms, or for specific projects that involve multiple forms such that no single discipline dominates the outcome. 

Music
Artistic work based on sound composition, creation, performance, and re-creation in all its forms from any customary or contemporary form.

Theatre
Artistic work based on the dramatic presentation of real or imagined events or using the forms and conventions of theatre to create and present new types of work.

Visual Art 
Art based on the creation, exhibition, and/​or installation of visual work in any format or varied media, including contemporary and customary craft work from any cultural tradition.

Other
This is to allow for self-identified artistic disciplines that are not otherwise defined. Examples might include Circus Arts, Craft, Sound Art, or Digital Art. 

• “Other” can be identified as a primary or secondary discipline, preferably in combination with one of the existing categories. 
• Using ​“Other” can help the EAC gather data about disciplines we do not currently list or define.