This program is for individual senior professional artists who:

• Are age 60+;
• Do not have full-time employment outside their artistic practice;
• Have maintained an artistic practice for at least 25 years.

Artists may practice in any of the following disciplines supported by ArtsNL: theatre, literary, music, dance, visual arts, film and television, and multidisciplinary.

Successful applicants to this program are not eligible for other ArtsNL granting programs while receiving funding through the two-year Senior Artist Program.

Criteria that define “professional artist” include, but are not limited to:

• Recognition as a professional in their practice by their peers (i.e., artists working in the same artistic practice);
• Training in their artistic field (not necessarily in academic institutions);
• Significant commitment to their artistic practice;
• History of professional public presentation, publication, or being engaged with a practice in a public context.

If you are unsure whether you meet the definition of a professional artist, please review the definition on the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website.

While senior artists may meet the assessment criteria, application to a funding program does not guarantee success. Uptake to this program is expected to be significant and the Senior Artist Program’s funding envelope will support 10 senior artists at the full amount of $40,000, spanning two fiscal years.

Applicants to the Senior Artist Program may still explore other funding opportunities outside of ArtsNL.

• Living expenses
• Supplies and materials
• Service fees (e.g., dramaturge, editor, other artists)
• Facility venue or studio space rental
• Professional recording
• Professional skills development
• Exhibitions
• Travel (e.g., accommodation and per diems)
• Workshop fees

• Commercial projects
• Mass-produced products
• Capital purchases such as musical instruments, computers, printers, software, or equipment

Up to $400,000 will be available to award in the Senior Artist Program, which will span two fiscal years. Successful applicants will be approved for $40,000 in the initial application process.

• $20K will be advanced in 2023-2024 upon successful entry to the program.
• $20K will be advanced in 2024-2025 with the submission of a short progress report.

• Age (photo of a government-issued ID).
• Residency (defined as being a current resident of Newfoundland and Labrador for a minimum of 12 consecutive months at the time of application).
• Artist CV—comprehensive list of professional experience, including exhibitions, publications, awards, and or relevant education or training.
• Support Material—a portfolio of work (high-quality images, digital recordings or other samples of your work).
• Artist Statement—describe your artistic journey and what led you to where you are today.
• Purpose—what do you want to accomplish in your artistic practice over the two years and how will this grant help you achieve it?
• Timelines—outline your plan for the next two years with milestones.
• Budget.

The Senior Artist Program acknowledges artists who have made significant contributions to the arts and whose artistic merit has been long-established. These artists have delivered quality work time and again throughout their practice. This program acknowledges that delivery of work and provides an opportunity for financial stability to advance their practice over the next two years.

Assessment Committee will evaluate:
• What the applicant wants to accomplish with two years of uninterrupted funding.
• Well-articulated goals or milestones for the continuation of their artistic practice over the next two years.
• The benefit, significance, and/or impact this funding will have on the applicant’s ability to create over the next two years.
• Timelines/budgets for the next two years.

Any artists undertaking engagement with Indigenous content, artists, and communities must have documented confirmation from the Indigenous community in which the project is connecting.

Progress Report
A progress report must be submitted before the advancement of the second grant (i.e., March 2025). This report should:

• Provide an update on your previously stated goals for the year in your original application (include the activities you’ve undertaken and the progress on your work). It is understood that your plan may change throughout the year—just describe how and why your plan changed.
• Describe your plans for the second year of funding through the Senior Artist Program.
• Briefly describe the impact/benefits (or drawbacks) of the Senior Artist Program.

Final Report
A final report must be submitted upon completion of the Senior Artist Program (March 2026). Final reports on all ArtsNL grants must be submitted before ArtsNL will release funding for any other grant programs the applicant may be eligible for.

It is important to note that the information provided in the progress report and the final report is valuable to ArtsNL because it helps measure and demonstrate the impact of the funding program.

Completed applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. NT on Friday, March 1, 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Technical support from ArtsNL staff will be available until 4:30 p.m. NT on the deadline day. Program staff will contact an artist if applications are missing attachments or other information.

All applicants are encouraged to phone program staff to discuss their application before the application deadline.