YVR Art Foundation offers Mid-Career Artist Scholarships of $5000 each to British Columbia and Yukon First Nations artists who are aged 30 years or older and who presently reside in BC or the Yukon.
Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis to Mid-Career Artists who create visual art that reflects BC or Yukon First Nations culture and who wish to further their artistic career by expanding their work or practice into a new area, by study or work with a Master Artist/Mentor, attend a school of art, or create a visual art project that is of cultural significance to their community. Visual Art can include (but is not limited to) drawing, painting, digital art + design, illustration, carving, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, animation, photography, video and film.
Up to three Mid-Career Artist Scholarship recipients will be selected per scholarship year by a Jury composed of established Indigenous artists and/or curators. All applicants will receive notification of the Mid-Career Artist Scholarship results by April. Scholarship recipients will then be awarded and invited to attend a Scholarship Awards Reception in Vancouver in May.
Scholarship recipients will also have the option to display their finished artwork at YVR International Airport the following year.
Scholarship Artwork
Applicants for the Mid-Career Artist Scholarship award propose to create a specific artwork while working with a Master Artist, attending a school of art, or working on a project that is of cultural significance to the artist’s community. Mid-Career Artist Scholarship award recipients have the option to display their final artwork at the Vancouver International Airport, and the potential opportunity to showcase their work with YVRAF’s other community partners.
If any additional exhibition opportunities arise during the Scholarship year, award recipients will be informed and invited to participate.
Application Assistance
Please contact the YVR Art Foundation Program Coordinator if you require accommodations or assistance when completing the application form.
How to Apply
There are two ways 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 Forms, complete it and mail or deliver/courier it to the address listed on the application: See below for instructions on how to mail or deliver your application.
Questions and Inquiries
If you have any questions or inquiries about the Mid-Career Artist Scholarship Program eligibility criteria or the application process, please contact the YVR Art Foundation, by phone at 604.276.6261 or email programs@yvraf.com.
To be eligible for a YVR Art Foundation Mid-Career Artist Scholarship, applicants must:
- Be of BC or Yukon First Nations ancestry
- Reside in BC or Yukon
- Be age 30 or older in 2024 (born in 1994 or prior)
- Create visual* art that engages with BC or Yukon First Nations culture, and/or significant to the artist’s ancestry, research practice, or community. *We encourage artists practicing outside of traditional visual arts mediums, or engaging in multidisciplinary art practices to still apply
- Wish to further their artistic career by expanding their work or practice into a new scale or area by working with a Master Artist/Mentor, attending a school of art, or working on a visual art project that is of cultural significance to their community
- Have completed art training including, but not limited to, formal education in visual arts, worked with an artist mentor, or a combination of similar experience
- Have achieved local and/or provincial recognition through public presentation(s) of their artwork
- Be able to submit a portfolio of artwork that demonstrates the artist’s commitment to their practice
- Be able to submit confirmation/acceptance of an opportunity to work with a Master Artist/Mentor, attend a school of art, or a proposal to work on a project that is of cultural significance to the artist’s community
- *Only if the scholarship recipient chooses to display their artwork at the YVR Vancouver International Airport in 2025, they must arrange and deliver their completed artwork to YVR no later than April 30, 2025
Note: A Mid-Career Artist Scholarship can be awarded to an individual one time only.
*Applicants who receive Emerging or Mid-Career Artist Scholarship Awards will not be eligible to receive a Bill McLennan Masterpiece Study Travel Grant in the same intake year, as stated in the BMMSP Application Guidelines.
Eligible Programs of Study
Artists can apply for a Mid-Career Artist Scholarship to work with a master artist in a particular medium, attend a school of art or to create an artwork or work on an art project that is of cultural significance to the artist’s community.
Review frequently asked questions about the Mid-Career Artist Scholarships program below. If you have further questions, please contact us at programs@yvraf.com or by phone at 604.276.6261.
What should I include in my portfolio?
It is important that your portfolio show your best work, but if possible we encourage you to include images that are relevant to the project you are proposing (e.g. if your proposed project is a button blanket, include images that showcase your design and sewing skills).
Should I include images of my master artist’s work with my application?
Although it is not required for your application, if you wish to, you may include images of your master artist’s work along with their CV. Including images of your master artist’s work may enhance the strength of your application.
How specific should my Budget be in my application?
You should be as specific as possible. Potential categories in your budget may be but are not limited to: travel expenses, master artist honorarium, materials and supplies, living expenses etc.
How specific should the description of my Proposed Use of Scholarship Award be in my application?
The description of your Proposed Use of Scholarship Award should be as specific as possible.
Clearly state whether you plan to: work with a master artist, attend a recognized school of art OR to work on a special art project of cultural significance to your community. Include details such as, how many days/hours a week you would spend with your master artist (if applicable).
Give as much detail as possible about how receiving this scholarship will impact you and your art career and be clear about whether you plan to submit artwork for your Scholarship award, or if you will be submitting a Report. If you are submitting artwork, give as much detail as possible (ie. type of object, size and materials etc.).
Should I include my own resume or CV?
Yes, you may include your own resume or CV. It would enhance the work/volunteer section of the application if you included a resume or CV.
When can I apply for this scholarship?
All scholarship applications will open in January, with a deadline in late February (date to be announced). Watch this site for the announcement that applications are being accepted. Applications submitted at any other time will not be considered.
How many times can I receive a Mid-Career Artist Scholarship?
Artists are eligible to receive a Mid-Career Artist Scholarship only once.
Can I apply for a Mid-Career Artist Scholarship if I have received a Emerging Art Scholarship?
Yes. Artists are eligible to receive a maximum of two Emerging Artist Scholarships and one Mid-Career Artist Scholarship.
Can I apply for a Bill McLennan Masterpiece Study Travel Grant if I have received a Scholarship Award in the same year?
No. Applicants who receive Emerging or Mid-Career Artist Scholarship Awards will not be eligible to receive a Bill McLennan Masterpiece Study Travel Grant in the same intake year, as stated in the BMMSP Application Guidelines.
What ages are eligible to apply for the Mid-Career Artist Scholarships?
Applicants for the Mid-Career Artist Scholarships must be 30 years of age or older.
