Bill McLennan Masterpiece Study Program Microgrants

$500 Microgrants for BC and Yukon First Nations artists to conduct research and virtual collections visits to museums.

Award Amount

$500

Number of Awards

Up to 10 per year

Application Deadline

Ongoing

Microgrants are $500 grants for BC and Yukon First Nations artists and researchers who wish to further their art or community practice through the research/study of BC and Yukon Indigenous art and artifacts either in person or virtually with a YVRAF museum partner. If applicants propose a collections visit at a museum other than a YVRAF museum partner, they should describe why the collection is important to the research they will be conducting.

Microgrants are intended to cover minor costs associated with short (one-day) or virtual collections visits, including for example time, meals and/or materials associated with the visits. If you are already visiting a city where museum partner or a relevant collection is located, you are eligible to apply for a Microgrant to assist with in-person research costs. Microgrants do not assist with substantive travel costs – please visit the Bill McLennan Masterpiece Study Program Travel Grant page here.

Selection Process and Notification of Results

Applicants should apply as soon as they know the approximate date for their museum collections visit. Applications to the BMMSP Microgrant stream can be submitted throughout the year and applicants will be notified of results approximately one month after submission of their application. Applications can also be submitted on paper and sent via mail. The Microgrant Application Guidelines and Application form can be downloaded below. Applicants will be notified of results as soon as possible and a maximum of one month after submission of their application. Applications to the BMMSP Microgrant stream will be reviewed by a YVRAF Selections Committee on a monthly basis.

YVRAF Museum partners for Microgrant Collections Visits

(This list may be updated on an ongoing basis to include new museum partners)

Museum partners supporting microgrant funded collections visits (either virtual or in-person):

(See Application Guidelines for contact information at each museum listed below)

  • Bill Holm Center for the Study of Northwest Native Art at the Burke Museum in Seattle, Washington, USA
  • Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec
  • Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Museum of Anthropology at UBC in Vancouver, BC
  • Museum of Vancouver in Vancouver, BC
  • Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, England, UK *available mid-2021

Application Assistance

Please contact the YVR Art Foundation Program Coordinator if you require accommodations or assistance when completing the application form.

How to Apply

1. Apply Online:

Review the Application Guidelines and fill out your online application form

2. Apply by Mail or Courier:

Download a pdf copy of the Application Guidelines and Application Form, complete it and mail or courier it to the address listed on the application.

Questions and Inquiries

If you have any questions or inquiries regarding the Bill McLennan Masterpiece Study Program Microgrant or the application process, please contact YVR Art Foundation at 604.276.6261 or by email at programs@yvraf.com

 

The Bill McLennan Masterpiece Study Program is named in honour and memory of long time YVRAF Board Member Bill McLennan (1948 – 2020). 

Bill spearheaded the development of YVRAF’s Masterpiece Study Program and he was instrumental in helping establish many of our partnerships with museums and cultural institutions. Bill was a distinguished curator at the Museum of Anthropology and was well-known for his kindness, sharing his extensive knowledge, and his support of First Nations artists throughout his career. 

Learn more about Bill and his work with the Museum of Anthropology here.

 

 

Program Donors and Partners

YVR Art Foundation gratefully acknowledges the donors, award delivery partners, and cultural organizations whose generous support makes this program possible.

  • American Museum of Natural History
  • Bill Holm Center for the Study of Northwest Native Art at the Burke Museum
  • Candian Museum of History
  • Field Museum
  • Museum of Anthropology at UBC
  • Museum of Vancouver