Indigenous Arts Individual Project Funding 2025 for PhD

Eligibility Criteria

• are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person with an open work or study permit from inside Canada
• have had your primary residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying
• ordinarily live in Alberta for a least six months of each year with the exception of attending a formal program of study

Offered Benefits

This funding provides up to $18,000

Application Process

Applications are accepted through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system. Your online application must be received through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so that we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls. 

• applicants may submit only one application to the AFA each deadline across all disciplines
• the AFA does not accept incomplete applications
• applications must be received prior to the commencement of the project
• projects involving more than one artist must be submitted by one individual on behalf of the ensemble or group

We do not accept separate applications for the same project.

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Email us at   to get your login information at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please include:

1. your legal name
2. the funding opportunity to which you are applying
3. your email address.

Your username and password will be sent to the email address provided.

What to submit

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

GATE Front Office online formlets:

• applicant information: Legal name and Confirmation of the applicant status (minor/Albertan)
• if you are under the age of 18 years at the time of application, a parent or legal guardian must e-sign the Applicant Agreement as the designate for the funding, and be responsible for
  • the completeness and accuracy of the application in full
  • receipt and use of funding
  • reporting on the use of funds
  • serving as contact person for any inquiries relating to the grant
• contact information for primary applicant
  • ensembles must designate one contact person for all requirements of the grant as the primary applicant
  • this designated individual must e-sign the Applicant Agreement
• address: Street and mailing address for the primary applicant
• general information: Confirmation of the application category (art production, marketing, research, or training/career development) and applicant status (individual/ensemble)
• project description: A brief project description (20 words) and the project start and end dates
• project co-owners: A listing of the project co-owners involved in the project, their position or role, and confirmation of Alberta Residence
• individual applicant agreement: A declaration of agreement with the statement of conditions e-signed by the primary applicant or designate
• project expenses: A listing of project expenditures in Canadian dollars
• project revenue: A listing of non-AFA revenues in Canadian dollars
  • the difference between expenditures and revenues will comprise the grant request to the AFA with the funding not exceeding $18,000

Attachments:

The GATE Front Office attachment section indicates that not all attachments are required for submission. This is because they are only required for certain types of projects (e.g. marketing plan for a marketing project). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all attachments noted in the guidelines are submitted with their application according to project type.

Please submit the following attachments:

• an artistic resume of no more than four pages
  • indigenous traditional artists may submit a description of their traditional Indigenous arts background and other relevant cultural history
  • resumes of all project co-owners involved in the project
• Detailed project description, including an outline of the objectives, planned activities, timelines, and expected results and impact on the applicant's artistic development
  • appropriate protocols and permission from the community to use traditional tribal knowledge must be addressed
  • in keeping with oral traditions, Indigenous project descriptions are welcome as oral submissions no longer than 3 minutes in length
  • for more information on how to submit oral project descriptions, contact the Arts Development Consultant for this program, prior to the application deadline, at the contact information below. 
• commission applicants must submit a completed and signed contract with the commissioner and a plan for the exhibition, presentation, display, publication, screening or performance of the commissioned work
• official invitations, confirmations, or itineraries
• a detailed marketing plan
• applicants who have been accepted into a mentorship must provide a letter of agreement as proof of acceptance and support from the mentor, Elder or cultural resource person
• additional support materials that may assist in the assessment process
  • all support material should be scanned into a single file and attached to the online application

Applicants may be asked for additional information.

Format

• wherever possible, support material should be uploaded as an attachment into GATE (up to 4 MB)
• for files too large to include as attachments in GATE, they may be  submitted via email to  as email attachments or downloadable links
  • please format your subject line: , eg. "H.Lee AIPG-56-172631" 
  • please ensure link contains downloadable files (MP3 or MP4 preferred)
• alternatively, please mail a hard copy CD or USB to 10708 – 105 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0A1
  • please include your first initial, last name and project number on the CD or USB
  • support material must be submitted or postmarked no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date

For more details, visit  Alberta Foundation for the Arts scholarship webpage.