How to Apply for Arts Grants in Atlantic Canada

Grants are the primary fuel behind much of the arts sector in Canada, but it’s not always easy to know how to approach this funding system as an independent artist. From the national body of Canada Council for the Arts to provincial bodies like Arts Nova Scotia to local organizations, it’s important to understand how to navigate each context. While it may seem like an uphill battle to have your work supported, a bit of guidance goes a long way in making those bi-annual deadlines and application checklists a lot less daunting.

In this introductory workshop, we will discuss the broad goals of approaching an independent artist’s grant, what you should have to support your application, and how to tap into what you as an artist bring to the table. We will offer insight from both artistic and institutional perspectives, a realistic viewpoint of our grant systems, and a healthy approach to the stress of application season.

Brandon Lorimer and Lindsay Jacquard will lead this overview of applying for arts grants in Atlantic Canada. In-person attendance at Trident Booksellers & Cafe (Halifax) includes coffee or tea, and a hybrid Zoom option will be available. Cash signups available in-store.

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Lindsay Jacquard (she/her) is an artist and arts administrator living in Menagoesg/Saint John, New Brunswick. She holds a Master’s in Arts Leadership from Queen’s University and a BFA from NSCAD University. She has worked with organizations across the Maritimes, including Imperial Theatre, Third Space Gallery, and the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts. Lindsay’s own artistic practice involves painting, portraiture, strangeness, and play.

Brandon Lorimer (he/him) is an artist and arts journalist from Kjipuktuk/Halifax. An alumnus of the Bus Stop Theatre Playwrights Unit, Montréal Playwrights Workshop, and AFCOOP’s Film 5 Program, his primary artistic practice encompasses film, theatre, and interactivity. Brandon is head of Wolf Hart Productions, a film company creating works that speak to our modern struggle; it debuted its first short DWELLING at the 2023 Third Watch Festival. He enjoys existential hope, absurd dread, and Arizona green tea.