Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange: National and International Project Grants
Deadlines
15 May and 15 November
Program Description
The Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange program assists individual Aboriginal artists or Aboriginal arts groups, collectives and organizations to travel to other Aboriginal communities to share traditional or contemporary artistic practices that will contribute to the development of their own artistic practice. The program fosters unique artistic relationships and networks through these collaborative exchanges among Aboriginal artists across all disciplines.
Eligibility
Eligible Aboriginal Applicants
Canadian individual applicants, groups, collectives and organizations are eligible to apply to this program. Foreign indigenous artists must have a Canadian Aboriginal group, collective or organization apply on their behalf.
I. Individual applicants must be Aboriginal artists. They must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Individual artists must have:
- completed their basic training (not necessarily in a formal educational institution but perhaps through a mentorship process)
- produced an independent body of work
- received the recognition of their peers through the public presentation of their work or have been recommended by an established Aboriginal artist or an Aboriginal arts organization.
II. Groups or collectives must have Aboriginal artists as a majority of their members. Their artistic direction must be provided by Aboriginal artists of Canada. Arts organizations must be owned and operated by Aboriginal people. At least 51 percent of the directors on their board must be Aboriginal people, and one of them must sign the application.
Groups, collectives or organizations must show an ongoing commitment to Aboriginal arts.
In Canada, Aboriginal peoples include Status, Non-Status, Métis and Inuit people. For this program, Aboriginal peoples also include Indigenous and Aboriginal people from outside Canada.
Ineligible Applicants
- First Nations Band Councils
- Educational institutions (schools, universities)
Eligible Activities
The grants may be used for:
- National project grants, which allow individual Aboriginal artists or Aboriginal arts groups, collectives and organizations to travel within Canada to collaborate with other prominent Aboriginal artists and artistic groups.
- International project grants, which allow individual Aboriginal artists or Aboriginal groups, collectives and organizations from Canada to travel to other countries to collaborate with prominent or highly regarded indigenous artists and artistic groups, in response to an invitation. This category also supports projects to bring established indigenous artists and artistic groups from other countries to Canada, to work with Canadian Aboriginal artists and/or arts organizations.
Examples of Successful National Project Grants
- A dance company from British Columbia was invited to workshop and share their knowledge with a dance group from Ontario, and to give a public presentation of their works.
- An invitation was extended to an Inuit women’s video collective from Igloolik to lead a one-week workshop for artists in Iqaluit.
Examples of Successful International Project Grants
- An elder from British Columbia traveled to Alaska, where she collaborated with Chilkat and button blanket artists.
- A basket maker from Alberta traveled to the eastern United States to work with an elder/master basket maker to learn a new technique of cane basket weaving.
Grant Amount
Amount Available
Individuals
Individuals traveling within Canada may request a maximum of $5,000. If they are traveling outside Canada, they may request a maximum of $10,000.
Only established Aboriginal artists may apply for a living allowance of up to $2,000 per month in addition to the maximum amount, which must be included in their budget submission. Established artists are those at a mature stage in their careers who have created an extensive body of work and have made a nationally and/or internationally recognized contribution to their discipline through public presentation of their work.
Aboriginal Groups, Collectives or Organizations
Aboriginal groups, collectives or organizations may apply for a maximum of $20,000 for travel within Canada. They may apply for a maximum of $30,000 for travel outside Canada.
Those traveling to or from northern Canada may request a higher amount. The circumstances creating the higher costs must be clearly described in the application.
Aboriginal groups, collectives or organizations applying for assistance to bring international indigenous individuals or groups to Canada are subject to the same maximum amount as noted above.
Eligible Costs
- Travel (excursion fares only), accommodation and per diem costs.
- For established artists only, a living allowance to defray the costs of living in two places at once (maximum of $2,000 per month) for the duration of the project.
- Fees or honoraria for guest artists or groups.
- Administration costs (for example, fax or telephone costs), to a maximum of 10 percent of the total budget.
- Freight, shipping and insurance charges (the declaration of contents must be submitted as part of the final report required from successful applicants).
- The cost of materials, supplies and various other items directly related to the work being created.
- Rental fees for equipment (for example, video, photographic and audio equipment).
- Rental fees for rehearsal and presentation or workshop space.
- Costs for promotional and marketing material (this applies to arts organizations only).
Application Form
Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange: National and International (pdf, 147 KB)
This form can only be printed and cannot be filled out on-line.
Further Information
Noël Habel, Program Officer
Aboriginal Arts Office
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa ON K1P 5V8
Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, ext. 4178 or 4222
TTY (TDD) machine, for hearing-impaired callers: 613-565-5194
Fax: 613-566-4386
July 2009