Purpose
The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) supports Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) creativity and celebrates the vitality of diverse cultural and artistic expression.
Indigenous Artists in Communities and Schools Projects is a multidisciplinary program supporting projects that bring together Ontario-based, professional Indigenous artists and arts professionals in communities and schools to provide access to the arts and create meaningful art experiences that transmit Indigenous artistic skills and cultural knowledge to participants.
The program is open to emerging, mid-career, and established Indigenous artists and arts professionals.
It welcomes applicants working in both customary/traditional and contemporary Indigenous art expression.
Indigenous OAC staff members administer the program, and applications are assessed by juries comprised of Indigenous artists.
The program has four categories:
- Indigenous Artists in Communities: provides funding for participatory activities which promote learning, collaboration, and engagement between practicing Indigenous artists and individuals (who aren’t professional artists) in communities throughout Ontario
- Indigenous Artists in Schools: provides funding for artists to promote hands-on learning activities for children and youth in schools, with a focus on teaching creative artistic expression from an Indigenous perspective
- Indigenous Languages Revitalization: provides funding for arts projects in which the primary purpose of the project is the creative use and transmission of Indigenous languages through the arts
- Indigenous Artists in Northern Fly-in Communities: provides additional funding for Indigenous artists living and working in Northern fly-in communities, and funding for travel and accommodation expenses for artists to share and collaborate on art projects in Northern fly-in Indigenous communities (see definition below)
Priorities
- projects that provide people of all ages with access to authentic Indigenous artistic and cultural expression and experiences
- projects that involve, support and pay fees to Indigenous artists
- projects that take place in remote Northern fly-in Indigenous communities
- projects that take place in Indigenous communities and schools
- projects that use and revitalize Indigenous languages
- projects that use and revitalize traditional Indigenous art practices and cultural knowledge
- projects that apply an Indigenous approach to contemporary artistic expression
Grant amount(s)
- Indigenous Artists in Communities: maximum $15,000
- Indigenous Artists in Schools: maximum $15,000
- Indigenous Languages Revitalization: maximum $15,000
- Indigenous Artists in Northern Fly-in Communities: maximum $17,000