Indigenous Artists in Communities and Schools Projects

Grants of up to $15,000 and grants of up to $17,000 to Ontario nonprofits, educational institutions, and individuals for projects that feature Indigenous arts and culture. The purpose of the program is to encourage the artistic collaboration of Indigenous artists or Elders with community members, transmit artistic skills and knowledge, and provide hands-on and in-depth arts experiences.

The program supports projects that bring together Ontario-based Indigenous artists or Elders to:

• Work with individuals or groups of people from a community on collaborative activities that create a meaningful arts experience and transmit artistic skills and knowledge
• Teach arts workshops in schools during the upcoming school year, engaging children and youth in creative, active, hands-on and in-depth arts experiences

The program has five categories:

• Community arts projects: to help cover the costs of participatory activities that promote learning, collaboration and/or engagement in the arts
• Indigenous languages through the arts: to help cover the costs of artistic and community-engaged projects in which the primary purpose is the transmission of Indigenous languages through the arts
• Training for community artists and animators: to help cover the costs of Indigenous artists and animators working in community and non-arts settings to seek training and mentorship opportunities that will strengthen their community arts, arts training or arts education practice
• Indigenous artists in schools projects: to help cover the costs of activities that promote learning, collaboration and/or engagement in the arts
• Indigenous artists in northern fly-in communities: supports (a) applicants from fly-in communities working anywhere in Ontario, and (b) applicants from anywhere in Ontario working in fly-in communities

This program funds:

• Community-engaged co-creation, production, exhibitions and presentations, in all arts disciplines
• Workshop series, art camps, summer programs, experiential arts learning activities and after-school art programs
• Community-based arts activities held in schools, community centres, health centres, home studios, galleries, site specific and on the land
• Training for artists who wish to improve their skills and work in community settings
• Hands-on workshops in schools that engage students in a creative process
• Fees and expenses for Elders and language/knowledge keepers who are engaged in an artistic practice, and helpers
• Mentorship of emerging Indigenous artist educators, aged between 18 and 30
• Preparation time, insurance, vulnerable-sector checks, administrative activities of artists.
• Transportation, accommodations and meals, materials and supplies, and equipment rental (if applicable)
• Purchase of small-scale equipment, software, electronics and similar materials required to carry out the project
• Childcare and other dependant care fees enabling individuals to take part in the project (this does not include regular, ongoing expenses)
• Expenses related to making the project accessible to audiences and project participants (other than the applicant) who are Deaf or have a disability