Atlantic Canada Business Grants

Indigenous artists

Mi’kmaq Arts Program

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Amount:

$15,000.00

Type of Program:

Grants

Description:

The Mi’kmaq Arts Program supports the development and continuation of Mi’kmaq art forms in the territory of Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia).

There are three types of grants, depending on the assisted activities:

  1. 1
    Creation Grants assist with projects that involve the creation of new work of art in any form including cross-disciplinary or multi-disciplinary work.
  2. 2
    Presentation Grants assist with projects that involve public presentation of artistic work(s).
  3. 3
    Professional Development Grants assist with projects that involve activities intended to strengthen artistic or administrative capacity through formal study programs, mentorship, workshops, apprenticeship, conference and other professional development activity.

In addition, applicants can be awarded in the same 12-month period as a Creation, Presentation or Professional Development grant a Visual Arts Materials Grants which assists artists working in the visual arts, crafts or traditional/customary art forms to create artwork. 

Comments on Funding:

Funding for Creation Grants ranges from $500 to $15,000.
Funding for Presentation Grants ranges from $500 to $12,000.
Funding for Professional Development Grants ranges from $500 to $12,000.
Artists can receive only one Mi'kmaq Arts Program in a 12-month period.

In addition, applicants can be awarded in the same 12-month period as a Creation, Presentation or Professional Development grant a Visual Arts Materials Grants of up to $750.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

September 15

Eligibility:

Applicants must:

  • be Nova Scotia-based Mi’kmaq individual artists, professional arts organizations or groups (including ad-hoc groups):
  • Individuals - the applicant is one person,
  • ad hoc groups - applicants are two or more individuals who are working collaboratively and are not registered in any manner. “Ad hoc group” refers to a group of artists formed for the specific purpose of creating a unique work”,
  • not-for-profit organizations – the applicant is a non-profit society or non-profit co-operative registered in the Province of Nova Scotia, and is in good standing with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
  • complete a self-identification form to demonstrate eligibility, 
  • be professional artists as defined by the Status of the Artist Act (including, but not limited to: having peer recognition, having a history of public presentation, having training appropriate to the artist's chosen discipline (including mentorship and/or apprenticeship training), earning income, fully or in part, from artistic activity, demonstrating serious intent and devotion of energy to practicing art),
  • be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who have maintained their primary residence in Nova Scotia for at least 12 months prior to the application deadline. Applicants who are out of the province temporarily and will be away for no more than 12 months may apply.

It is important to be recognized as an artist in the Mi’kmaq community as Peer Assessment Committees consider community connections. 

Application Steps:

Applicants must:

1

send the application by hand, courier or by email or regular mail and applications must be either received in the Arts Nova Scotia office by 4:30 PM on the deadline date or be postmarked no later than the deadline date, 

2

print out and sent together with the application form all documents including text (e.g. project description, CV, letters of support). It should be printed single-sided with no staples, binders, plastic sleeves, paperclips, or bound in folders. 

3

contact the program officer with enough notice prior to a deadline to ask any questions about the application process.

Documentation Needed: 

Applicants must submit:

  • a self-identification form to demonstrate eligibility,
  • the signed and completed application form, 
  • a detailed project description (max. 2 pages),
  • a detailed budget,
  • a detailed schedule of work,
  • a two-page CV of the applicant and all other artists involved, or a description of artistic practice and applicable training,
  • support material demonstrating the applicant’s professional practice (Images, video/audio, printed pages).

Letters of intent from any person or organization involved in the project, and/or letters of support from professional, practicing artists in the relevant discipline(s) might be necessary. Applicants must contact the program officer when in doubt about these documents.

Other Things to Note:

Applicants who apply to this program are also eligible to apply for funding to other Arts Nova Scotia programs.

Program Contact:

Mi'kmaq Arts Program