Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange: National and International Project Grants
Deadlines
15 May and 15 November
If either date falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Please refer to the Program Guidelines for detailed information.
Program Description
The Aboriginal Peoples Collaborative Exchange (APCE) program provides support for Aboriginal artists to travel to other Aboriginal communities to collaborate in a traditional or contemporary artistic practice. This is a multidisciplinary program that is open to individual Aboriginal artists, arts groups, artists’ collectives and arts organizations.
The program encourages social and community environments that support the development of Aboriginal arts and artistic practices. It aims to foster unique artistic relationships and networks through inter-nation collaborative exchanges among Aboriginal artists, across all disciplines.
In general terms, the APCE program supports collaborations that are:
Creative – Two artists or groups of artists creating a work together.
Developmental – The development of artistic skills and techniques among participants, the advancement of traditional or contemporary artistic knowledge, and the formalized exploration of artistic themes.
Exploratory and Research – Artistic research with Aboriginal communities to recover, examine, and authenticate traditional histories and artistic practices (while respecting each Aboriginal nation’s affirmed protocol.)
Note: For this program, the Canada Council encourages submissions in any chosen Aboriginal language, which will be translated into English or French for the assessment committee.
Artists and Community Collaboration Program (ACCP)
Applicants may find that their project falls within the objectives of the Artists and Community Collaboration Program (ACCP). The fund offers financial support to collaborations in an arts process that actively involves the work of professional artists and non-arts community members in creative relationships, including projects that involve youth and elders.
Applicants may apply to the ACCP through this program.
Applicant Eligibility
Canadian Aboriginal individual artists, arts groups, artists’ collectives and arts organizations are eligible to apply to this program. Foreign Indigenous artists must have a Canadian Aboriginal arts group, collective or organization apply on their behalf.
The Canada Council defines Aboriginal people as First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. For this program, Aboriginal people also include Indigenous and First Peoples from outside Canada.
Applicants should note that meeting the eligibility criteria allows them to apply, but it does not guarantee that they will receive a grant.
Individual Applicants
Individual applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. They do not need to be living in Canada when they apply.
They must also be Aboriginal artists who have:
- completed their basic training (not necessarily in a formal educational institution, but perhaps through a mentorship process)
- produced an independent body of work, and
- 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.
Arts Groups, Artists’ Collectives and Arts Organizations
Arts groups, artists’ collectives and arts organizations must have Aboriginal artists as a majority of their members, and their artistic direction must be provided by Aboriginal artists of Canada. Arts organizations must show an ongoing commitment to Aboriginal arts, and must be operated by Aboriginal people. If they are governed by a board of directors, at least 51 percent of the directors must be Aboriginal people, and one of them must sign the application.
Eligible Activities
Project grants from this program may be used for:
- national projects, where Aboriginal artists travel within Canada to collaborate with other prominent Aboriginal artists or arts groups, or
- international projects, where Canadian Aboriginal artists travel to other countries to collaborate with prominent Indigenous artists from outside Canada. International projects may include bringing foreign Indigenous artists to Canada as part of the collaborative project.
Projects for professional artistic development, proposed by individual artists or arts groups, will be considered. However, projects that include public presentation may be given priority.
Projects must clearly be collaborative in nature and contribute to the development of the applicant’s artistic practice. The collaboration must be formalized between the applicant and the collaborator. The project description must identify the artistic practice at the core of the collaboration and include a written acknowledgement from the artist who is identified as the collaborator.
Grant Amount
Individual Applicants
Individuals travelling within Canada may request a maximum of $5,000.
If they are travelling to and from a destination outside Canada, they may request a maximum of $10,000. Individual applicants may also invite international indigenous artists to Canada.
Aboriginal Groups, Collectives or Organizations
Arts groups, artists’ collectives and arts organizations travelling within Canada may request a maximum of $20,000.
If they are travelling to and from a destination outside Canada, these applicants may request a maximum of $30,000. Arts groups, artists’ collectives and arts organizations may also apply for assistance to bring international Indigenous individuals or groups to Canada for their collaborative project
Established Aboriginal Artists
An additional cost-of-living allowance (to a maximum of $2,000 per month, for the duration of the project) may also be requested by, or on behalf of, an established Aboriginal artist. This allowance is in addition to the maximum grant amount and must be included in the budget submission. This amount is also in addition to the artists’ fees and is meant to assist with the costs of living in two residences during the project.
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
TTY: 1-866-585-5559
Fax: 613-566-4386
March 2011