YVR Art Foundation offers Emerging Artist Scholarships of $5000 each to British Columbia and Yukon First Nations artists who presently reside in BC or the Yukon. And meet one or more of the following:
- Is in the early stages of their career; in the first few (1–4) years of pursuing a career in their field
- Has goal of becoming professional artist
- Has not yet had a solo exhibit of their work
- Is not yet recognized as established by their peers and community
- Is typically between the ages of 17 – 29
Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis to Emerging 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 Mentor artist or attend a school of art. 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 seven Emerging 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 Emerging 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 be invited back to Vancouver the following year to display their finished artwork at the awards reception, followed by an exhibition of their work at YVR. (Travel and accommodation will be provided as part of the scholarship).
Scholarship Artwork
Applicants for the Emerging Artist Scholarship award propose to create an artwork during their Scholarship year that is representative of the skills developed through the proposed mentorship or educational opportunity. Emerging Artist Scholarship award recipients then have the option to display their final artwork at the YVR Vancouver International Airport, and the potential opportunity to showcase their work with YVRAF’s other community partners.
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 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 Emerging Artist Scholarship Program eligibility criteria or the application process, please contact YVR Art Foundation, by phone at 604.276.6261 or email programs@yvraf.com.
Frank O’Neill Award
One of the YVR Art Foundation Emerging Artist Scholarships is named in honour of Frank O’Neill, who was General Manager and CEO of the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) from 1987 until his retirement in 2006. Funded by YVR, this scholarship recognizes Frank’s cultural vision, determination and contributions to the development and public display of BC First Nations art at the airport. Frank is a Founding Director of the YVR Art Foundation, and was President of the Foundation from 1998 to 2005.
Note: a separate application is not required for this award. All applicants for the YVR Art Foundation Emerging Artist Scholarship will be considered for this award.
To be eligible for a YVR Art Foundation Emerging Artist Scholarship, applicants must:
- Be of BC or Yukon First Nations ancestry
- Reside in BC or Yukon
- Meet one or more of the following:
- Is in the early stages of their career; in the first few (1–4) years of pursuing a career in their field
- Has goal of becoming professional artist
- Has not yet had a solo exhibit of their work
- Is not yet recognized as established by their peers and community
- Is typically between the ages of 17 – 29
- 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
- Have the goal of becoming a professional artist
- Have been accepted to study with a Mentor artist or attend a school of art
- Commit to attending the Scholarship Awards Ceremony/Reception in Vancouver
- Commit to attending the Scholarship Opening Reception of their completed artwork, one year later (travel and accommodation will be provided as part of the scholarship)
- The scholarship recipient must arrange and deliver their completed artwork to YVR by April one year after receiving the award
Note: an Emerging Artist Scholarship can be awarded to an individual a maximum of two times.
*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 an Emerging Artist Scholarship to work with a Mentor in a specific medium, or to attend a school of art or training program.
Review frequently asked questions about the Emerging Artist Scholarship 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 mentor’s work with my application?
Although it is not required for your application, if you wish to, you may include images of your mentor’s work along with his/her CV. Including images of your mentor’s work may enhance the strength of your application.
What do the display cases at YVR look like for the artwork that would be exhibited at YVR?
The display cases measure: 43″ wide x 29″ deep x 66″ high, and the artwork you propose to exhibit at YVR must fit within the case. (See photo below):
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, mentor 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 Program of Study should be as specific as possible. You should include, for example, how many days/hours a week you will be spending with your mentor, as well as details concerning your artwork you would create for the scholarship. You should also discuss how your artwork relates to the skills you already have and the skills you would hope to gain if you received the scholarship. When describing the artwork you would create for your scholarship, be as specific as possible (ie. type of art, size, 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 annually in January, with a deadline in late February/early March (see Application Deadlines). 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 an Emerging Artist Scholarship?
Artists are eligible to receive a maximum of two Emerging Artist Scholarships.
Can I apply for a Emerging Artist Scholarship if I have received an Aspiring Artist Award?
Yes.
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.
