Scholarship Program Overview

YVRAF, in collaboration with corporate sponsors, offers an art scholarship to Aboriginal youth 25 years of age and younger residing in BC.

This scholarship is rewarded on an annual basis for youth who wish to develop their artistic potential in traditional Northwest Coast Aboriginal art.

The YVRAF scholarship reinforces the values of the Foundation by recognizing British Columbia’s young Aboriginal artists -- ensuring youth with artistic potential receive training and skill development in visual media. It also serves to support youth in creating Northwest Coast Aboriginal art forms suitable for display in public buildings.

The late Bill Reid, the first patron of the Foundation, expressed his concern that if the quality of Northwest Coast art is to flourish and evolve, artists must learn the fundamental skills of Northwest Coast art early in their artistic careers.

“These scholarships provide not only fundamental training but also hope and encouragement to talented youth. It could make the difference in turning artistic potential into promising careers.” Frank O’Neill, Honourary Chair

The YVRAF Board desires to provide more than just scholarship funding to award recipients. It hopes to provide them with inspiration, contacts, exposure to the art community and ongoing support, during the award year and beyond.

Eleven scholarships have been awarded during the first three years of the program.

Scholarship recipients:

• Use scholarship funding support to develop their art through attendance at workshops, schools or work with masters, mentors or elders in their particular media;

• Are introduced to established artists, galleries and the art community;

• Create artwork, displayed for one year at Vancouver International Airport.