Alberta Foundation of the Arts Dance Individual Project Funding 2026

This funding provides up to $18,000 to support the development of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists by providing funding for a specific dance project.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineSeptember 1, 2026
• Value$18,000
• Study LevelUndergraduate
• SponsorAlberta Foundation for the Arts
• Eligible CountryCanada

Benefits

$18,000

Requirements

Individual eligibility criteria

The AFA celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible programs for all, free of barriers and discrimination. We recognize the unique contributions all artists make towards our community, and encourage applicants representing diverse communities, including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, women, people with disabilities, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

To be eligible for individual project funding, you must be a resident of Alberta. This means you:

• are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person with an open work or study permit from inside Canada
• have had your primary residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying
• ordinarily live in Alberta for a least six months of each year with the exception of attending a formal program of study

You must be in good standing with the AFA with no open or outstanding projects or reporting to apply. Previous grant recipients must ensure all final reporting has been approved by the AFA before new applications are accepted.

Applicants, including ensembles or collectives, must not be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation.

Collaborating artists, ensembles, and collectives

Collaborating artists, ensembles, and collectives are eligible to apply to this program if all project co-owners meet the individual eligibility criteria as defined above. 

The AFA defines project co-owners as:

•  those who share in the ownership or copyright of the created work
• those who have a significant financial stake in the project

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, in addition to the lead applicant, co-owners include, but may not be limited to, the following:

•  choreographers
• producers

Unless identified as retaining ownership or copyright of the work, contributors who are not normally considered co-owners include, but may not be limited to, the following:

•  dancers
• performers
• designers
• stage managers
• videographers
• Mentors, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers

Project co-owners must select a lead applicant to submit the application. The lead applicant must ensure all co-owners are listed in the application and is responsible for submitting the complete application before the program deadline.

If the project is approved for funding, the lead applicant is also responsible for receiving and managing any funds and completing any related reporting for the project.

If you are unsure whether an artist should be listed as a co-owner in your application, please contact your Arts Development Consultant as listed below.

Selection Process

This funding is administered at the discretion of the AFA board on a project-by-project basis.

Staff convene an expert panel to consider all eligible grant applications submitted to each grant deadline. The expert panel assesses the merit of each application both on its own terms and in relation to all other applications received for a given deadline.

 Assessment of a project is based on the following general criteria:

• the impact of the project on both the applicant and the artistic genre in Alberta
• the artistic, educational or promotional merit of the project
• the appropriateness of the project budget showing commitment from all partners as applicable
• the ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project

Assessment also takes into account the applicant's:

• artistic and technical ability to carry out the proposed project
• level of training, experience, and expertise
• performance and achievements to date
• personal objectives

All expert panel recommendations are reviewed by the AFA board and all decisions are final. Funding is not assured for any project.

Learn more about expert panels and how the AFA adjudicates funding requests for all programs.

Application Deadline

September 1, 2026

How To Apply

Are you qualified and interested in this opportunity? Kindly go to Alberta Foundation for the Arts on gate.alberta.ca to apply

For more details, visit the Scholarship webpage