Funding

A Message from AFA Chair Cynthia P. Moore

I am pleased to share that the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) Board of Directors has approved its 2024-25 annual budget. This budget is based on an increased provincial allocation of $30.1 million. 

In Budget 2024, Alberta’s government increased funding to the AFA by 18 per cent. They then committed to further increases until 2026-27 with the annual allocation reaching a record-level $39.1 million. We are pleased that this additional funding will allow us to provide further support to artists and arts organizations across the province.

Our board has taken time to consider the best way to implement the funding increase this year. This will set an important foundation for future years. With increased funding annually over the next three years, we will be able to support the arts community in a measured and impactful way.

This year, our focus is on increasing support for individual artists. We expect to fund nearly triple the number of individual project grants. The maximum eligible amount has been raised to $18,000, commencing with applications received prior to the September 1, 2024, program deadline. We are excited to invest these additional resources in many creative projects and the professional development of our artistic community.

At the same time, we are restoring funding to some other AFA grant programs, Arts Presenting and Arts and Education, to pre-pandemic levels. It is also important to note that the AFA will be maintaining funding this year for organizations receiving multi-year operating grants. We recognize that many of these organizations may have been hoping for an increase. We will continue to look at ways we can best support Alberta’s entire arts sector through ongoing engagement with the arts community.

Additional resources will be provided to the AFA Art Collection to increase access and public circulation. With this support, we will continue to grow this important cultural legacy and make it available to a greater number of Albertans.

The AFA remains committed to supporting equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) through our programs and services. Last year, for the second year in a row, the AFA used its Organization Activation Projects grant to support projects focused on EDIA. We look forward to hearing about the impact of these initiatives as they rollout this year.

In closing, I would like to thank the Honourable Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women for the opportunity to serve as the Chair of the AFA. She is a tireless advocate for the cultural sector. I look forward to working with her and all of those engaged in Alberta’s artistic community. 

Kindest regards,

Cynthia P. Moore, Chair
Contact the Chair at afacontact@gov.ab.ca

Eligible artists in Alberta can now apply to the AFA for a project grant for up to $18,000. The next deadline to apply is September 3. 

This increase is part of the AFA’s 2024-25 budget, which was increased by Alberta’s government in Budget 2024 by 18% to $30.1 million. Read more about our spending plan.

If you submitted your application before June 24

If you already applied to the September 1 deadline and you have questions about if this change impacts your specific application, please reach out to your grant consultant for more information.

As a reminder, project expenses incurred before final submission of your grant application are ineligible for AFA funding.

First time applicants

If you have never applied for an AFA grant, visit our website for Frequently Asked Questions and find additional grant resources for individual artists.

The AFA supports artists through seven discipline-specific Individual Project Funding Opportunities for Dance, Film & Video, Indigenous Arts, Literary Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts and New Media. Each funding opportunity supports arts activities in in art production (artistic and cultural creation), research, marketing, or training and career development.

The AFA only accepts applications through GATE Front Office online application system. First-time applicants will require a username and password. Email registrationafa@gov.ab.ca to obtain your login information at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please include:

• your legal name
• the funding opportunity to which you are applying
• your email address

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

A Message from AFA Board Chair Paul R. Baay

On February 29, the Alberta government announced Budget 2024. I am pleased to share that funding for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) was increased by $4.5 million, or by 18 percent from last year, to $30.1 million for 2024-25.

In addition to this year’s increase, the government has committed to incrementally increasing funding to the AFA so that it will reach nearly $40 million by 2026.

The AFA board is incredibly pleased with the government’s increased investment in the arts, and I know this will be good news for those in our arts community. We look forward to utilizing additional resources to continue to support the development of the arts in all corners of the province by funding artists, arts activities that engage audiences, and the organizations that bring them together. 

As usual, the AFA board will work on a plan for allocating its budget amongst our programs and services that will best utilize resources including the budget increase. Once that plan is approved, we will communicate our funding approach to the community. At this time, the AFA has not made any decisions related to program funding allocations.

The AFA board will work to ensure our spending plan is reflective of community priorities and continues to be informed by engagement with the sector. In line with our mandate, we will continue to prioritize and invest in artists, art, and cultural materials. 

As the government’s approach is incremental, the AFA’s will be as well: we will carefully and responsibly plan for increased resources as they are allocated to the foundation.

The board acknowledges the valuable feedback received from Alberta’s arts community over the past year. Alberta’s arts community is ready to thrive, not just survive, in a healthy and vibrant creative environment. Increased investment will help but we also recognize that collaboration and information sharing will be vital to support the sector to redefine success in a post-pandemic world.

We appreciate your continued engagement and look forward to sharing further updates with you soon.

Paul Baay
Chair, Alberta Foundation for the Arts 

Budget 2024 information

• Budget 2024
• Alberta Arts, Culture and Status of Women 2024-25 Business Plan (PDF) – English | French
• Government of Alberta 2024-27 Fiscal Plan (PDF) – Schedule 21: Allocation of 2024-25 Net Gaming / Lottery Revenue to AFA on page 161