Emerging Artist Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by YVR Art Foundation

The YVR Art Foundation is extending an opportunity to Indigenous artists from British Columbia and Yukon, aged between 17 and 29 years (born between 1994 – 2006), who currently live in BC or Yukon, to apply for Emerging Artist Scholarships. Each scholarship is valued at $5000.

These scholarships are granted annually to Emerging Artists who produce visual art that embodies BC or Yukon First Nations culture. The scholarship aims to support artists who are keen to advance their artistic career by exploring new areas of work or practice, studying or working with a Mentor artist, or attending an art school. The visual art category encompasses a wide range of mediums including, but not limited to, drawing, painting, digital art + design, illustration, carving, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, animation, photography, video, and film.

A Jury, comprising senior Indigenous artists and/or curators, will select up to seven Emerging Artist Scholarship recipients each scholarship year. All applicants will be informed of the Emerging Artist Scholarship results by April 2023. The successful candidates will then be awarded their scholarships and invited to a Scholarship Awards Reception in Vancouver in May 2023.

In 2024, the scholarship recipients will be asked to return to Vancouver to exhibit their completed artwork at the awards reception. This will be followed by an exhibition of their work at YVR. (The scholarship covers travel and accommodation expenses).

Artwork for the Scholarship

Emerging Artist Scholarship applicants are expected to propose an artwork to be created during their Scholarship year, which reflects the skills acquired through the proposed mentorship or educational opportunity. The recipients of the Emerging Artist Scholarship award will then have the chance to display their final artwork at the YVR Vancouver International Airport, and potentially showcase their work with YVRAF’s other community partners.

Eligibility Criteria for the YVR Art Foundation Emerging Artist Scholarship:

• Applicants must be of BC or Yukon First Nations descent
• Applicants must live in BC or Yukon
• Applicants must be aged between 17 and 29 in 2023 (born between 1994 – 2006)
• Applicants must create visual* art that is influenced by BC or Yukon First Nations culture, and/or is significant to the artist’s ancestry, research practice, or community. *Artists practicing outside of traditional visual arts mediums, or engaging in multidisciplinary art practices are also encouraged to apply
• Applicants must aspire to become professional artists
• Applicants must have been accepted to study with a Mentor artist or attend an art school
• Applicants must commit to attending the Scholarship Awards Ceremony/Reception in Vancouver on May 25, 2023 (travel and accommodation will be covered by the scholarship)
• Applicants must commit to attending the Scholarship Opening Reception of their completed artwork, one year later, by May 31, 2024 (travel and accommodation will be covered by the scholarship)
• The scholarship recipient must arrange and deliver their completed artwork to YVR no later than April 30, 2024

Please note: An individual can receive an Emerging Artist Scholarship a maximum of two times.