New OAC program supports careers of young professional artists

Toronto, November 3, 2021 – The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has established Career Catalyst: Project Grants for New Generation Artists, a $1 million grant program for professional artists aged 18 to 30. The program supports activities that will help build career momentum as individual artists recover from pandemic-related challenges.

Program details and applications are now available through OAC’s website.

The grants for this one-time program are set at $2,000 each. The deadline to apply is December 16, 2021. Applications will be reviewed through a streamlined peer assessment process, and applicants will be notified of results approximately 12 weeks after the program deadline.

Please forward this bulletin to any professional artists you think might be eligible.

Who can apply to the Career Catalyst: Project Grants for New Generation Artists program?

This program is open to professional artists who are aged 18 to 30 (at the time of their application) who can demonstrate that they have a professional practice in any discipline or activity funded by OAC. It is the only OAC program dedicated to New Generation Artists, one of six OAC priority groups.

What does this program fund?

Eligible activities include:

• Skills development through training and mentorship,
• Marketing and promotion,
• Purchase of artist materials and supplies,
• Software and hardware upgrades,
• Studio or workspace upgrades,
• Artist’s website development.

Artists new to OAC grant programs who may have had limited access to public arts funding are encouraged to apply.

Proposals with the potential to benefit an applicant’s career in the long term will be prioritized.

The program will also prioritize New Generation artists who are also members of other OAC priority groups (artists of colour, Deaf artists and artists with disabilities, Francophone artists, Indigenous artists, and artists living in regions outside Toronto).

Learn more about the Career Catalyst: Project Grants for New Generation Artists program.

For specific questions, please contact:

Zhe Gu Officer 416-969-7459 Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-387-0058 zgu@arts.on.ca		Shawna Caspi Program Administrator 416-646-7469 Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-387-0058 scaspi@arts.on.ca

For general information about OAC, please contact:

Kirsten Gunter Director of Communications 416-969-7403 Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-387-0058 kgunter@arts.on.ca