Deadline Approaches for Individual Arts Funding

Members of the arts community who are interested in applying for professional development, creation and presentation assistance have until June 30 to do so.

These programs are being administered by the Department of Tourism and Culture. Formerly offered through the Nova Scotia Arts Council, these programs will continue to operate under a new council that will oversee provincial investment in arts and culture.

There are several programs under Grants to Individuals that assist professional artists, arts administrators, producers and curators who live in Nova Scotia. The professional development program assists in the pursuit of excellence through formal study, mentoring, apprenticeships or conferences. The creation program assists with project costs in creating new work in any art form. The presentation program assists with the direct costs an artist incurs in presenting work to the public.

Previous guidelines for applications still apply and reviews will continue to be conducted by a multi-disciplinary peer-assessment committee.

Applications will be accepted from established artists and emerging professional artists who work in any art discipline, including visual art and craft; media arts, including experimental film, video and electronic art; literary arts; and the performing arts, such as music, theatre and dance. Interdisciplinary works will also be considered.

Applications from cultural industries, including commercial film, video production, recording, publishing, commercial design or production crafts are not eligible for these three programs.

All applications for the professional development, creation and presentation programs must be postmarked by June 30.

More information is available from the Department of Tourism and Culture, at 902-424-6471 or the department's Web site, at <a href="http://www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/culture.html">www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/culture.html<a/>.

Nova Scotia's Department of Tourism and Culture invests over $5 million in cultural programming. Additional provincial resources support cultural tourism and cultural heritage activities throughout the province.