PEI Arts Grants

Description

The mandate of the PEI Arts Grants is to support, assist, encourage and represent the arts community in the province. Funding is available to Prince Edward Island artists through a juried grant application process.

What type of funding is available?

The PEI Arts Grants program offers three types of grants to support the professional artists of Prince Edward Island: Create, Share and Learn grants. Each stream serves a different purpose and requires a different application. You can apply to up to two streams per round, but only one application per stream is allowed. You cannot apply to two streams for the same project. 

Create (Creation Grant)

The purpose of the Create grant is to support the research, development, creation and production of artistic projects by professional Prince Edward Island artists including in but not limited to the following disciplines: fine crafts; dance; interdisciplinary arts; film and media arts; music; theatre; visual arts; and writing and publishing.

This grant is available to individuals or small groups/bands at the established and emerging professional artist levels. Eligible costs include living expenses (up to $800 per month), travel expenses, accommodation expenses, and direct project costs, such as materials and supplies, pre-production research, documentation costs as well as equipment and facility rental.

Capital costs are not considered eligible expenses. These include computers, printers, technology equipment, office equipment and furniture, facility and technical equipment, land, buildings and renovations of leased spaces, vehicles as well as artistic equipment and tools such as easels, kilns, silkscreen presses, soundboards, etc.

Amateur artists and/or students are not eligible for funding under this program. Festivals, contests, events and not-for-profit organizations are not eligible for funding under this program. Artistic activities that are led by non-professionals are also ineligible.

Total maximum Create grant amounts that can be awarded annually:

• Established Professional Artists: $8,000
• Emerging Professional Artists: $5,000

Share (Dissemination Grant)

The purpose of the Share grant is to assist with the presentation of works by professional PEI artists to the public, ideally in a critical and/or curatorial context, including in but not limited to the following disciplines: fine crafts; dance; interdisciplinary arts; film and media arts; music; theatre; visual arts; and writing and publishing.

This grant is intended to support opportunities to publicly share and present artistic works in order to increase access, understanding, and appreciation of Prince Edward Island art. It is meant to connect PEI artists with diverse communities provincially, nationally and internationally to allow them to engage more deeply with the public and develop a stronger profile.

Eligible projects include the following: tours, presentations, exhibitions, performances, screenings, web presentations of original artworks, limited reproductions, publishing, and translation. This program is intended to support the dissemination of specific completed works of art.

Purely commercial self-promotion ventures are not eligible for funding under this program.  

Share grants are available for individuals or small groups/bands at the established professional and emerging professional artist levels.

Amateur artists and/or students are not eligible for funding under this program. Festivals, contests, events and not-for-profit organizations are not eligible for funding under this program.

Eligible costs include travel expenses, accommodation expenses, shipping/freight, limited reproductions, printing expenses, artist fees, framing, professional fees, installation costs, as well as facility and equipment rental. Capital costs are not eligible. These include computers, printers, technology equipment, office equipment and furniture, facility and technical equipment, land, buildings and renovations of leased spaces, vehicles as well as artistic equipment and tools such as easels, kilns, silkscreen presses, soundboards, etc. Artistic activities that are led by non-professionals are also ineligible.

Total maximum Share grant amounts that can be awarded annually:

• Established Professional Artists: $2,500
• Emerging Professional Artists: $2,000

Learn (Professional Development Grant)

The purpose of the Learn grant is to support the career growth and professional development of PEI artists’ careers including in but not limited to the following disciplines: fine crafts; dance; interdisciplinary arts; film and media arts; music; theatre; visual arts; and writing and publishing.

Learn grants provide financial assistance for professional development and skill-building activities that advance the artistic work and careers of eligible applicants. Eligible programs include mentorships, apprenticeships, internships, residencies, specialized short-term training programs, portfolio and support material development, taking and giving workshops, participation in seminars, conferences or other significant events.

Programs that are a part of full-time study programs are not eligible for funding under this program.  

Learn grants are available for individuals or small groups/bands at the established professional, emerging professional and amateur artist levels. Festivals, contests, events and not-for-profit organizations are not eligible for funding under this program.  

Eligible costs include program costs, materials and supplies as well as travel expenses. Capital costs, subsistence and self-study programs are not eligible. Activities that are carried out to satisfy the course requirements of an educational institution are not eligible. Activities that directly support the delivery of an educational program or course are not eligible.

Total maximum Learn grant amounts that can be awarded annually:

• Established Professional Artists: $2,500
• Emerging Professional Artists: $2,000
• Amateur Artists: $1,000

Is there certain eligibility that I need to consider?

New project submissions from an applicant in default on any reporting, project completion or financial obligation to Innovation PEI will not be reviewed until a resolution to the default is reached.

Incomplete applications that do not meet the basic eligibility criteria of this program will not be evaluated by the peer assessment committee. This includes applications that are missing mandatory documentation including a detailed budget, an artist CV and relevant support materials. 

Residency

To apply to the PEI Arts Grants program, you must be a resident of Prince Edward Island and have maintained this as your primary residence for a minimum of twelve consecutive months prior to the date of application. Artists on extended travel for their work are still considered PEI residents, but those who move their primary residence to another province or country within the twelve consecutive months prior to the application deadline are not eligible.

In situations where residency is called into question, the applicant may be asked to provide a copy of the most recent tax filing as proof of residency.

Groups and bands must have a majority of their members reside in PEI.

Professional Status

There are several ways to establish professional status as an artist. As a professional artist, you should meet three or more of the following criteria in relation to your arts practice:

• You have received compensation that is considered part of your personal or business income;
• You have presented your work to the public through recordings, exhibitions, publications, screenings, performances, readings or other means of dissemination;
• You devote a reasonable amount of time to creating or disseminating your work;
• You have received reviews, or appraisals by public and/or peer assessment/recognition;
• You have a membership in a professional or industry association or guild recognized by their discipline;
• You have undertaken formal education or training from educational institution(s), or have undertaken self-directed training through a commitment to informal training opportunities that demonstrate commitment to skill development.

Each granting stream also has unique eligibility requirements outlined above and in the attached guidelines.

What's the difference between an emerging and established artist?

The professional status of an artist is based on the stage of one's career, not on chronological age. Your artist CV should be able to support your identification and demonstrate the stage of your career as an emerging or established artist. Failure to provide an artist CV that clearly establishes you as a professional artist may result in your application being deemed ineligible.

An emerging artist is a professional artist who identifies with the following characteristics:

• You are at the early stage of your career;
• You view art as your vocation;
• You have specialized artistic training (formal or informal) and
• You have created a modest body of work that includes demonstrated efforts to have had public presentation.

You are considered an established artist if you identify as a professional artist with the following characteristics:

• You are recognized in your artistic discipline by your peers;
• You have specialized training;
• You have a significant history of public presentation and regional and/or national representation; and
• You have created an extensive body of work.

You may be considered an amateur artist if you demonstrate a high calibre of artistic talent and wish to bridge into a professional career. Students 16+ are eligible to apply however, a parent or guardian must sign the application on the student’s behalf.

What is the deadline to apply for a grant?

The Fall 2025 PEI Arts Grants call for applications will open on Monday, September 22 at 12 p.m. and close on Monday, October 20 at 4 p.m.