Funding

 The Dance Individual Project Funding | Alberta Foundation for the Arts  approaches on September 1, 2025 and Arts Development Consultant Jodie Vandekerkhove is providing a free webinar for those interested in applying.

AFA Individual Project grants can provide up to $18,000 to support the development of individual Alberta dance artists, students, instructors, choreographers, designers, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists by providing funding:

• to pursue training, 
• to develop a specific artistic work
• to pursue research, or 
• to pursue marketing activities. 

Jodie will be providing tips and other useful information to apply for all project types, helping you develop your funding application and increase your chances of success.

Tuesday, August 12 at 7pm link below:

 Webinar link

A Message from AFA Board Chair Cynthia P. Moore

On February 27, 2025, the Alberta government announced Budget 2025. I am pleased to share that funding for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) was again increased by $4.5 million or by 15 percent to $34.6 million for 2025-26.

This is the second year that the AFA’s funding has been increased by $4.5 million. This is part of the Alberta Government’s commitment to increase the AFA’s funding to nearly $40 million by 2026. The AFA board is pleased to build on the work that was started last year in increasing support for the arts community.

Our results thus far this year have been very positive. As of December 31, 2024, the AFA has provided 726 grants totalling approximately $21.2 million – nearly a 40 per cent increase in the number of grants at this time in 2023.

There is more work to do. Soon, the AFA board will approve a 2025-26 spending plan. In line with the AFA’s mandate, this plan will continue to prioritize and invest in artists, art, and cultural materials, and will adhere to the priorities outlined in the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.

I am also pleased to share that in the upcoming fiscal year, we will begin to implement new and refreshed funding programs that have been in development since we began reviewing our grant programs in 2022.

The AFA is modernizing its grant programs to provide more targeted funding support to arts organizations and individual artists. More information will be made available on our website at affta.ab.ca. The AFA will communicate directly with clients as changes start to take effect.

It is exciting times for the AFA and the arts community!

Cynthia P. Moore
Chair, Alberta Foundation for the Arts

Budget 2025 information

• Budget 2025
• Alberta Arts, Culture and Status of Women 2024-25Business Plan (PDF) – English | French
• 2025-26 Government Estimates (PDF) – Expense Vote by Program: Operating Expense 4.2 Assistance to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts on page 54

Image: Calgary Opera performers Alessia Vitali (singer) and Jonathan Brandani (pianist) perform at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

On January 23, the Honourable Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women was joined by AFA Chair Cynthia P. Moore to announce how increased provincial arts funding this year is supporting Alberta artists and arts organizations. Watch:

So far this fiscal year, Alberta’s government has provided $21.2 million in grant funding for 304 arts-based organizations and 422 individual artists, with more funding to be approved before the fiscal year is over. This represents a 40 per cent increase in the number of grants provided compared to this time in 2023.  

“Alberta is proud to be home to talented artists in every corner of the province, and the arts sector remains a significant contributor to Alberta’s economy and quality of life. Each year, the arts sector contributes more than $1.2 billion in GDP and keeps more than 17,000 Albertans employed. When the arts thrive, Alberta thrives.”   

Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women 

This additional funding commitment has already had an impact on how the AFA has been able to distribute dollars to local artists, with an increase to the maximum eligible grant amount for individual artists from $15,000 to $18,000. 

“The AFA is thrilled by the funding commitment made by Alberta’s government to increase support for the arts community. This has allowed us to support even more Alberta artists this year and providing important support for arts organizations across the province. The AFA will continue to prioritize and invest in artists, art, and cultural materials in line with our mandate and government’s priorities.” 

Cynthia Moore, board chair, Alberta Foundation for the Arts 

Read the full news release on Alberta.ca. 

Apply for a grant

Artists, the next deadline for Individual Project Grants is March 3, 2025. Find funding to support your next art project. 

AFA Individual Project Grants can provide funding through four broad categories:

• art production (art creation)
• research
• marketing
• training and career development

Explore our resources to help you develop you AFA grant application. 

On June 25, 2021, the Alberta government announced it would work with Indigenous communities to establish a permanent memorial on the Alberta legislature grounds for the victims of the residential school system.

Indigenous artists can submit a Expression of Interest for a memorial on legislature grounds to honour residential school students who never came home.

Funding

Up to $1 million.

Eligible applicants

This Request for an Expression of Interest is open to the following categories of Indigenous artists from or living in Alberta:

• individual artist
• artist-led teams
• artist collectives
• partnerships of artists

Recent familial connections to Alberta First Nations or with the Metis Settlements and Métis Nation Regions are required.

Deadline

Deadline to apply: July 29 at 2 pm MT.

For more info:

news release

Learn more on eligibility requirements and how to apply by clicking on the pink button below.

For further information or to set up an informational meeting please contact ir.rscrg@gov.ab.ca.

We have an important update for artists interested in applying for Music Individual Project Funding by March 1. AFA music grant applicants must now upload music samples directly into their GATE Front Office online application.

What does this mean for you?

Music applicants must now upload two audio samples as attachments to their application. This includes those artists applying for career development, training, or marketing projects.

Samples should reflect your artistic practice, and may include:

• scratch demos
• high-quality demos
• past commercial recording
• recordings of previous compositions or scores
• or two other representative works

Only arts administrators that are applying for training or career development projects are exempt.

• these applicants can upload a blank document as attachments to complete their applications

Format and resources

File size is limited and artists must prepare their samples accordingly. Each audio file must be:

• under 5 minutes
• in MP3 or AAC format
• no larger than 8MB

We encourage artists to edit their files into the required format and length before submitting their applications. Free online resources include:

• Pro Tools
• Reaper
• Garageband
• Audacity

New requirements for music commissions

Music applicants for Commission projects must attached a signed contract by commissioners.

We strongly encourage applicants to use the Model Composer Commissioning Contract, available through the Canadian League of Composers.

• download the contract

More information

You can find more information about how to attach audio files to your application in Music grant guidelines under How to apply.

• view the guidelines

Next deadline

March 1, 2023. The AFA must receive your application by 11:59 p.m. MST on the deadline.

Current applicants and recipients

If you have already submitted an application for March 1, your Arts Development Consultant will update your application on your behalf.

If you are a current recipient of an AFA Music grant and still need to submit your report, you can also upload audio files directly to GATE Front Office. Please visit the Music grant guidelines under Reporting for requirements.

• view the guidelines

Questions?

Contact Jason Flammia, Arts Development Consultant – Music.