Inuit and First Nations Arts – Development of Organizational Capacities

Inuit and First Nations Arts – Development of Organizational Capacities is sponsored by Le Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec (CALQ). This program contributes to the growth, recognition, and appreciation of Inuit and First Nations artists and arts, and encourages the reappropriation and transfer of traditional knowledge and Inuit and First Nations languages and art, as well as their continued professional deve…

Inuit and First Nations Arts - Revitalization, Creation and Transmission – Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec Inuit and First Nations Arts - Revitalization, Creation and Transmission Inuit and First Nations Arts - Revitalization, Creation and Transmission Architectural research, Arts and crafts, Circus arts, Dance, Digital arts, Film and video art, Literature and storytelling, Multidisciplinary arts, Music, Song, Theatre, Visual arts Dissemination and promotion, Other, Professional development, Research, creation, exploration and production, Travel Recognition, a program for the Inuit and First Nations arts This link will open in a new window Application form and registration Evaluation of applications With a view to encouraging environmentally responsible practices, the CALQ introduced on February 25, 2026 a new sub-criterion for this program, related to environmental responsibility .

This sub-criterion is part of the Project Management section, along with other elements such as soundness of the budget and the ability to carry out the project. It contributes to the overall analysis without being a determining factor . Its role is to encourage ecological thinking adapted to the reality of each applicant.

CALQ teams are available to offer support as needed. Go to Mon dossier CALQ This link will open in a new window and complete your grant application online. Before submitting an application, be sure to read the program over carefully.

If you have any questions after reading the program or if there is anything else you would like to clarify, please email or phone the program manager. The manager can also provide information and advice on how to present your project and what to include in your application.

In a spirit of recognition and promotion, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec wishes to support the Inuit and First Nations arts community in Québec in its quest for reappropriation, reconstruction and development. In that light, the CALQ has put in place Recognition, a program for the Inuit and First Nations arts.

At the same time, the CALQ invites all artists and artistic organizations, Inuit and First Nations and non-Inuit and First Nations alike, to adopt an approach that is respectful of Inuit and First Nations artistic expression, cultural protocols and rights.

Collaborative initiatives leading to genuine exchanges should pave the way for the completion of artistic projects addressing or incorporating distinctive aspects of Inuit and First Nations cultures.

The program is divided into five components: Revitalization, creation and transmission (for artists) Revitalization, creation and transmission (for arts organizations) Development of organizational capacities (for arts organizations) Microgrants (for artists) Contribute to the knowledge, recognition and promotion of Inuit and First Nations artists and the Inuit and First Nations arts.

Foster the reappropriation and transmission of traditional Inuit and First Nations knowledge, languages and arts, in addition to their development. Facilitate the early career and professional development of Inuit and First Nations artists by supporting their first professional experiences and fostering sponsorships and guidance. Support Inuit and First Nations artists in their practice throughout their careers.

Support the dissemination, circulation and promotion of Inuit and First Nations works and artists inside and outside Québec. This grant category is geared towards established Inuit and First Nations artists This link will open in a new window as well as emerging Indigenous artists This link will open in a new window .

An application by a group of artists or writers to carry out a collective project should be submitted by a sole artist/applicant who must be Inuit or a member of one Canada's First Nations and must meet the program's eligibility criteria.

If the application receives a favourable response, the grant will be paid to the artist/applicant who, as the grant recipient and group representative, will be responsible for managing the project and budget. To be eligible, applicants must: Be Inuit or a member of one of Canada's First Nations. Be continuously engaged in their artistic practice, whether traditional, customary, contemporary or a mixture thereof.

In addition, candidates must meet any of the following criteria: Have participated in at least one production outside of their training period and disseminated in a peer-recognized context. Have produced and disseminated at least one artwork publicly in a peer-recognized place and/or context outside of their training period.

If they do not meet the above criteria, up-and-coming artists must demonstrate that they have received recognition from their peers, elders or community, as certified by a letter. Be a Canadian citizen, customarily reside in Québec and have resided in Québec for the past 12 months. Candidates residing outside Québec for two years or more are no longer eligible for the program, unless they have retained their Québec resident status.

In that case, candidates are responsible for demonstrating their eligibility by confirming their membership in the provincial health insurance plan (RAMQ). Candidates may submit up to five separate grant applications per fiscal year (running from April 1 to March 31) covering all of the CALQ's programs. All applications submitted, including those that prove ineligible, count towards the annual maximum.

Unless indicated otherwise in the programs, applications received as of February 24 (or as of March 1 in the case of travel applications) will be included in the following fiscal year. Candidates may not have more than three projects at the same time being analyzed, supported or carried out. To be deemed eligible, applications must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the project start date.

Candidates who fail to submit a grant report for more than three months following project completion. Legally incorporated groups. Projects completed as part of a program of studies leading to the granting of a diploma.

Projects that have already been rejected by the CALQ. Incomplete applications. Research, collecting, documentation, information-related artistic transmission, first works, creation, continuing education, professional development, internships, mentoring, travel, residencies, exchanges, first professional experiences, sponsorship, circulation, promotion, etc. Candidate's remuneration.

Fees for participant artists (excluding the artist applicant). Rental of studios, halls and equipment. Registration and internship fees.

Travel and living expenses (accommodation, per diems and visa fees). Expenses relating to project execution, pre-production, production or resumption/revival. Other expenses relating to carrying out the project.

These must be detailed in the budget. Expenses already covered under the auspices of another CALQ program or by any other organization. This amount may represent up to 100% of the eligible expenses.

An application must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the project start date to be deemed eligible. The date of submission online or by WeTransfer is deemed to be the date of receipt of the application. The CALQ sends an email acknowledgement of receipt.

Applicants registered for Mon Dossier CALQ can track the progress of their grant application file’s processing directly in their online file. Subject to the provisions of the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information , the CALQ respects the confidentiality of the documents and information submitted to it and/or already in its possession.

Quality of artistic work (40 points) Quality of past work of the candidate. Artistic interest of the project. Interest and relevance of the project (40 points) Degree of relevance of the planned activities in relation to one or more of the program's objectives .

Project management (20 points) Realism of budget projections. Ability to carry out the project. Efforts devoted to environmental responsibility.

The applications are initially analyzed by the individuals in charge of the CALQ's programs based on the eligibility conditions and the general program objectives. Applications deemed eligible are evaluated by a jury formed in accordance with the Policy concerning the CALQ's juries, committees and assessors. The jury is primarily made up of recognized Inuit and First Nations artists, creators and cultural professionals/managers.

The jury is intended to be representative of the Inuit and First Nations artistic community (urban regions, territories, generations, customary/traditional/contemporary art forms, disciplines, activities, expertise) and may include one person from outside Québec. Once the jury's work has been completed, recommendations are made to the CALQ's board, which then approves them. he decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

The CALQ will informs the applicant of its decision approximately four months after the application deadline. An applicant registered for Mon Dossier CALQ will receive an email inviting him to consult his online file to find out the result. If the application is successful, along with the announcement letter the applicant will receive a document describing the terms and conditions governing the use of the grant.

If the application is unsuccessful and the applicant is not registered for Mon dossier CALQ , the CALQ will communicate its decision in writing. After receiving the results, the applicant may request the jury's or the evaluator's general rankings of the project for each evaluation criterion. The CALQ wishes to reiterate that its decisions are final and without appeal.

No form of verbal abuse, harassment or intimidation towards its team after a decision is rendered, nor at any point in the application process, is tolerated. If this transmission mode is not available for the present program or if you cannot use it, the CALQ will receive the application file by WeTransfer. Instructions for sending are provided on the Application form – detail project .

Form - Detail of the project Form - Personal information Budget template - Libre Office The required contents are detailed on the application form. A portion of the application may be submitted orally or in writing.

Register for direct deposit This link will open in a new window Report on the use of a grant This link will open in a new window Board members, employees and members of juries and committees of the CALQ are subject to Codes of ethics and professional conduct This link will open in a new window .

All must act in good faith in performing their duties and refrain from taking part in any discussion concerning a grant application that risks creating a conflict of interest. Confidential or privileged information transmitted to them may not be used for personal reasons.

Code of ethics and professional conduct governing jury and committee members and assessors hired by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (65 KB) Guide for grant recipients - Obligations and reports This link will open in a new window Glossary of terms used by the CALQ This link will open in a new window Policy governing juries, committees and assessors (87 KB) Laws pertaining to the CALQ's various grant programs This link will open in a new window