Advanced Artist Award

Overview of the Advanced Artist Award program:

The Advanced Artist Award is a funding initiative by the Government of Yukon that supports professional and established artists who are based in Yukon and actively working in visual, literary, media, or performing arts. The program provides grants to help artists further their careers through specialized training, mentorship, creative research, or the development of significant new works. The program encourages projects that demonstrate artistic excellence and innovation, and that show potential to elevate the artist’s professional profile both within Yukon and on a broader scale. Funding can be used for a variety of purposes, including attending advanced workshops, engaging in mentorships, undertaking self-directed research or production residencies, and developing or presenting major new artistic works. To qualify, artists must demonstrate a strong professional history and a clearly articulated plan for how the proposed activity will advance their career. The award is intended for mid-career or established artists, not emerging practitioners. A peer jury reviews applications and evaluates them based on artistic merit, clarity of proposal, and potential impact. The program is managed through the Cultural Services Branch of the Department of Tourism and Culture and is offered twice per year, aligning with spring and fall intakes.

Benefits of the Advanced Artist Award program:

• Financial support for advanced training, mentorship, or production
• Encourages artistic excellence and innovation
• Enables Yukon artists to participate in national and international opportunities
• Builds professional recognition and career growth
• Supports creative risk-taking and long-term project development
• Applications assessed by peer jury of arts professionals

Eligibility criteria of the Advanced Artist Award program:

• Eligible applicants must:
• Be Yukon residents (living in Yukon for at least 12 consecutive months prior to applying)
• Be professional artists with an established practice in one or more art forms
• Demonstrate a track record of exhibitions, publications, performances, or commissions
• Be applying as individuals, not collectives or organizations
• Submit a clear project plan, timeline, and detailed budget
• Propose activities that begin after the funding decision date
• Ineligible projects and costs include:
• Basic training or beginner-level instruction
• Activities already completed
• Routine operating costs or living expenses unrelated to the project
• Commercial or industrial art production