Visual Arts Nova Scotia is accepting applications for the Open Grants program from Indigenous, Black, and Racialized groups, galleries, organizations, and/or collectives to create new arts programming or enhance existing arts programming in their community.  We have expanded the Open Grants program so that a gallery, group or collective could apply for up to $500 to assist with costs related to an activity. For this year, only groups from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) community are eligible to apply.

Mandate: The intention of the Open Grants program is to create new programming or enhance existing programming to encourage creative endeavors and art engagement in communities across Nova Scotia.

Eligibility: Any Indigenous, Black, and Racialized group, gallery, organization, or collective in Nova Scotia can apply for up to $500 to assist with costs related to creative endeavors and art engagement activities. Each group/ gallery/ collective is eligible for one grant per year and there will be at least five grants available. We want to ensure that Open Grants supports what is needed in the community, but limits tokenization in arts organizations.

Criteria: Applicants must fill out the short application form found on the VANS website. All applications will be reviewed by a jury and all applicants will be notified of the results. We will not accept applications for a previously funded project (such as a recurring fundraiser, exhibition or annual event). However, if galleries, groups, and collectives had been funded in the past they could apply for a different project.

Deadline: Applications are now open with a deadline of January 14, 2022 at 5pm (for projects happening by December 2022).

See the Open Grants page of the VANS website for details and an application form.