YVR Art Foundation Announces 2025 Art Scholarship Recipients and Awards $55,000 to First Nations Artists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2025
MUSQUEAM TERRITORY/RICHMOND, B.C: YVR Art Foundation announces 11 recipients of the 2025 YVR Art Foundation art scholarship awards. YVR Art Foundation offers annual scholarships to B.C. and Yukon First Nations artists who create visual art that reflects B.C. or Yukon First Nations culture. Each recipient is awarded a $5,000 scholarship.
“On behalf of YVR Art Foundation, I extend our deepest congratulations to the artists selected for a 2025 YVRAF Scholarship,” said Elisabeth Kyle, Executive Director, YVR Art Foundation. “For all of us at YVRAF, it is an honour to support the artistic practice and career development of emerging and mid-career First Nations artists from across B.C. and Yukon. We are excited to meet a new cohort of skilled artists each year and proud to provide opportunities for art mentorships, education, exhibition and community projects.”
YVR Art Foundation scholarships are awarded to B.C. and Yukon First Nations artists in two categories: Emerging and Mid-Career. The Emerging Artist Scholarship is for artists who are starting out on a professional path to further develop their art practice through working with an artist mentor or attending a school of art. For artists taking their work to a new level or discipline, the Mid-Career Artist Scholarship is for more experienced artists to study with a master artist, pursue a special community project, or attend a school of art.
Recipients of the 2025 YVR Art Foundation Emerging Artist Scholarships
Nora-Jane Edenshaw (Haida)
Christina Green-Speck (Kwakwaka’wakw, Tahltan and Tsimshian)
Nang kaajuus (Tsm’syen)
Savannah Medeiros (Ts’msyen, Nisga’a)
Elijah Morberg (Tahltan, Tlingit)
Ary Pullano (Gitxsan)
Derek White Jr. (Haida)
Zoe Kompst (Musqueam Nation) Musqueam Mentorship Scholarship
Recipients of the 2025 YVR Art Foundation Mid-Career Artist Scholarships
Joshua Conrad (Stó꞉lō belonging to Chawathil FN)
Kolten khasalus Grant (Squamish, Kwakwaka’wakw)
Raven Thorgeirson (Haida)
“Each year, the YVR Art Foundation introduces us to artists whose work reflects the cultural richness and diversity of First Nations across B.C. and the Yukon,” said Alana Lawrence, Vice President, Communications, Environment & Indigenous Relations, Vancouver International Airport. “These scholarships honour Indigenous talent and storytelling, and reflect our commitment to reconciliation through deeper understanding, connection, and respect. We congratulate the 2025 recipients and are proud to help share their work with the world through YVR.”
Scholarship recipients are selected through a formal adjudication process and by a jury composed of established Indigenous artists and curators.
Since 2005, YVR Art Foundation has awarded more than 250 scholarships, grants and awards to B.C. and Yukon First Nations artists totaling over $900,000. More than 125 scholarship recipient artists have exhibited their work at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), contributing to YVR’s celebrated sense of place.
–YVRAF–
About YVR Art Foundation
YVR Art Foundation is a not-for-profit, charitable organization that supports the development and advancement of BC and Yukon First Nations art and artists by providing scholarships, grants, awards and exhibition opportunities. YVR Art Foundation is funded through generous operating support from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) as well as individual donors, private foundations, corporate sponsors, and community partners. For more information about the YVR Art Foundation, visit www.yvraf.com.
YVR Art Foundation’s offices are located at Vancouver International Airport, which we acknowledge is on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people.
For further information contact:
Amy Pitura
YVR Art Foundation
604.276.6261
