Emerging Artist Grants
4 grants are presented to support the professional and creative development of emerging artists in the following areas:
- Film Arts
- Literary Arts
- Performing Arts
- Visual Arts
Value: $3,000 each
Emerging Artist Grant Categories
Windsor Endowment for the Arts awards one Emerging Artist Grant for each of the four following categories:
1. Film Arts
This grant is awarded to emerging filmmakers in Windsor and Essex County for the creation of short films (fiction/documentary) and feature-length films (fiction/documentary).
Funds provided: $3,000.
2. Literary Arts
This grant is awarded to those making a significant contribution to the literary arts in Windsor and Essex County. Its focus is to promote local artists in the process of establishing themselves in any of the following disciplines: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, journalism, and book publishing, or any combination thereof.
Funds provided: $3,000.
3. Performing Arts
This grant is awarded to those making a significant contribution to the performing arts in Windsor and Essex County. Its focus is to promote emerging artists whose works involve music, dance, and/or theatre performance.
Specific examples of performing arts might include singing, orchestral work, musical arrangement, dancing, dance instruction, choreography, dramatic and/or comedic acting, puppetry, theatre directing, and theatre instruction, and so on.
Funds provided: $3,000
4. Lois Smedick Emerging Artist in Visual Arts Grant
This grant is awarded to those making a significant contribution to the visual arts in Windsor and Essex County. Its focus is to promote emerging artists in the process of establishing themselves in any of the following disciplines: fine art, fine craft, design art, and digital art, or any combination thereof.
Specific examples of visual arts might include painting, sculpting, architectural design, set design, costume design, photography, and so on.
Funds provided: $3,000
In 2018, the Emerging Artist in Visual Arts Grant was renamed The Lois Smedick Emerging Artist in Visual Arts Grant in honour of our late board director, Lois Smedick, the renowned and respected Windsor scholar and arts patron.
Grant Funding
Emerging Artist Grants are awarded to support the professional and creative development of artists at the start of their careers. These grants may be used to:
- Sustain the artist;
- Develop a new project;
- Support an ongoing project;
- Aid research and study;
- Promote new forms of art to the general public;
- and/or Encourage creativity and innovation.
Artists who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility Requirements
Applications for Emerging Artist grants will be accepted from an Individual Artist, Artist Duo, or Two Artist Collaborators who meet the following criteria:
- Has been a resident of the City of Windsor or one of the municipalities within Essex County for at least one year prior to applying for this grant.
- Is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
- Is 18 years of age or older.
- Is recognized as a professional, practicing artist by other artists working in the same field.
*This means that you are actively making art, not just thinking about it. You have shown your work in public. Other artists doing similar work see you as a peer. If you are an undergrad student, you are not considered a professional artist yet (exceptions apply).
- Has completed basic training (formal or informal) in your field.
*This means you have finished school (or workshops, courses, mentorships, etc.) in your field, or you are self-taught, and are now practicing your art or craft for the long term.
- Has 2 – 7 years of experience practicing your art.
*Experience can mean lots of things. For example, you have been painting for a few years, or have spent several years studying dance or composing music. If you can talk about your practice, your art and your personal approach, you are probably an experienced artist.
- You seek payment for your work.
*Do you sell your work? Do you charge admission to see your work? Do you receive compensation for your work? You don’t have to be making a living solely from your art, but you seek an income from it.
- Can demonstrate a commitment to your artistic development.
* Do you attend workshops, seminars, courses or receive mentorship in your field? Have you served on the board of an arts organization, or are involved with an art exhibition, event, festival etc. in Windsor-Essex?
If you are unsure about your eligibility for a WEA grant, please email Stephanie at info@wea-arts.com. Emails will be answered within 24 hours from Monday – Saturday.
*Description from Ontario Arts Council. (2019). OAC Grant Application 3rd Edition Survival Guide: Tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://www.arts.on.ca/oac/media/oac/Grants/Grant-Survival-Guide-EN.pdf?ext=.pdf
Application Process
The application window for the 2022 Awards & Grants Program has closed.
The next opportunity to apply for a WEA art grant will be in January 2024.
Grants Selection Process
All grants are awarded by a jury made up of community members recognized for the knowledge, skill, and expertise they bring to their artistic fields. The Board of Directors of WEA is responsible for their selection. The identity of the jurors will be made public at the Awards and Grants Ceremony.
The decisions of this jury are final.
Program Timeline
- January 25: Online application portal opens.
- March 25: At midnight, the online application portal closes.
- Mid-April: The jury panels review and deliberate on the grant submissions.
- May 2: Successful grant applicants will be notified by phone call and/or email.
- May: The WEAs Awards and Grants Ceremony. Date & Venue TBD
- November: Progress reports on each grant project to be submitted to WEA.
Confidentiality
Personal information submitted by the applicants and discussions pertaining to the applicants’ submissions are held in strict confidentiality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click the button below to view the list of Frequently Asked Questions.