RELEASE: School Touring Program grants announced
Feb 5, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
School Touring Program grants announced
February 5, 2026 (St. John’s, NL) – ArtsNL awarded $100,804 in grants to six tours via the School Touring Program (STP) for the 2025-26 school year. A portion of a generous $50,000 anonymous donation dedicated to arts in education also supported this year’s program, enabling more students across Newfoundland and Labrador to experience live artistic performances and workshops in their schools.
The School Touring Program provides grants to practicing artists, groups, and not-for-profit arts organizations working in a variety of artistic disciplines to bring high-quality artistic performances and workshops that enhance or support various aspects of the school curriculum.
“Through the School Touring Program, artists create engaging experiences that meet students where they are,” said Melanie Martin, Executive Director of ArtsNL. “These visits broaden access to the arts for young people across Newfoundland and Labrador, supporting classroom learning while sparking imagination. By building these connections early, we help cultivate a meaningful relationship with the arts.”
The recipients for 2025-26 are:
| Nickel Film Festival (St. John’s) | $17,200 |
| Sarah Newell (Humber Valley) | $16,344 |
| Silver Wolf Band (Happy Valley-Goose Bay) | $20,000 |
| Soundbone Traditional Arts Foundation (Ladle Cove) | $16,000 |
| Stephenville Festival Inc. (Stephenville) | $15,142 |
| Tara Manuel (Corner Brook) | $16,118 |
The School Touring Program is a partnership between ArtsNL and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Education through its Cultural Connections initiative. Cultural Connections seeks to increase the presence of cultural content in the school curricula and forge links between the arts and school communities. More information on the School Touring Program is available here.
Media Enquiries:
Charlene Jackson
Communications Officer, ArtsNL
Phone: (709) 726-2212 ext. 3
charlene@artsnl.ca
The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (ArtsNL) is a non-profit Crown agency created in 1980 by The Arts Council Act. Its mission is to foster and promote the creation and enjoyment of the arts for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Council is governed by a volunteer board of no fewer than 9 and no more than 11 members appointed by Government. At least 7 members must be artists or arts administrators, and one member is appointed to represent the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation (non-voting). ArtsNL receives an annual allocation of $5.3 million from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to support a variety of granting programs, program delivery, office administration, and communications. It also seeks support from the public and private sectors. It supports the following artistic disciplines: dance, film and video, Indigenous arts and practices, literary arts, multidisciplinary arts, music and sound, theatre and performing arts, visual arts, and other similar creative and interpretative works or activities.
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