How do I know if I’m eligible to apply to ArtsNL for funding?

ArtsNL uses the definition of an artist as outlined in the Arts Council Act.

Definition of an artist:

A person shall be considered to be an artist where the person

             (a)  demonstrates an intention to develop the person’s arts practice for purposes other than personal enjoyment;

             (b)  is recognized as an artist by the person’s peers;

             (c)  demonstrates a history of

                      (i)  presenting the person’s artistic works publicly,

                     (ii)  publishing the person’s artistic works, or

                    (iii)  engaging in the person’s artistic practice in other public contexts; and

             (d)  has specialized training in the person’s artistic field.

Definition of a collaboration of artists:
Each individual in the collaboration must meet the definition of an artist under the Arts Council Act (see above). A maximum of three individual professional artists can be part of a collaboration.

Definition of a professional arts group:
A group of artists who work in one or more of the artistic disciplines supported by ArtsNL:

  • that has the creation and/or presentation of works of art as its primary activity
  • that is composed of at least two individuals
  • that has all members meeting the definition of an artist under the Arts Council Act
  • that charges artist fees at established national standards for the artistic discipline(s) and practice in which it operates
  • that pays individual members artist fees at established national standards for the artistic discipline(s) and practice in which it operates
  • that has internal oversight of the group’s finances and can produce an annual financial statement

Definition of a professional not-for-profit arts organization:
A formal organization operating in one or more of the artistic disciplines supported by ArtsNL:

  • that has the creation and/or presentation of works of art as its primary activity
  • that is registered or operates as a non-profit arts entity
  • that has a board of directors overseeing the operations of the organization
  • that has a paid artistic director, general manager, or equivalent
  • that pays artist fees at established national standards for the artistic discipline(s) and practice in which it operates
  • that has internal or external oversight of the organization’s finances and produces an annual financial statement

Definition of a community-based arts group:
A group of individual artists who work in one or more of the artistic disciplines supported by ArtsNL:

  • that has the creation and/or presentation of works of art as a primary activity
  • that is composed of at least two individuals
  • that operates in a not-for-profit capacity
  • that operates as a community-based organization (i.e., run by volunteers and typically does not pay a professional administrator or artistic director)
  • that has internal oversight of the group’s finances and can produce an annual financial statement

Definition of a community-based not-for-profit arts organization:
A formal organization operating in one or more of the artistic disciplines supported by ArtsNL:

  • that has the creation and/or presentation of works of art as a primary activity
  • that is registered or operates as a non-profit arts entity
  • that has a board of directors overseeing the operations of the organization
  • that operates as a community-based organization (i.e., run by volunteers and typically does not pay a professional administrator or artistic director)
  • that has internal or external oversight of the organization’s finances and produces an annual financial statement

Definition of a school in the kindergarten to grade 12 Newfoundland and Labrador school system:
An educational institution recognized as a school by the province of Newfoundland and Labrador that teaches the prescribed Newfoundland and Labrador school curriculum for kindergarten to grade 12 to children and youth.

All applicants must also meet the required age and residency requirements:

Residency, age and activity requirements:

Artist:

  • Must be a current resident of  Newfoundland and Labrador for a minimum of twelve consecutive months at the time of application
  • Must be at least 18 years of age or hold post-secondary standing

Arts groups and not-for-profit arts organizations:

  • Must have been active in Newfoundland and Labrador for a minimum of one year at the time of submitting an application
  • Must have actively engaged in professional arts activities within the last year
  • Must have at least half its members (for groups), or member artists and board members (for organizations) who are at least 18 years of age, or have post-secondary standing

Community-based arts groups and community-based not-for-profit arts organizations:

  • Must have been active in Newfoundland and Labrador for a minimum of one year at the time of submitting an application
  • Must have actively engaged in community-based arts activities within the last year
  • Must have at least half its members (for groups), or board members (for organizations) residing in Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Must have at least half its members (for groups), or board members (for organizations) who are at least 18 years of age, or have post-secondary standing

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