The Government of Yukon and the Canada Council for the Arts are pleased to announce the creation and implementation of a new partnership initiative to support Yukon's emerging Indigenous artists and cultural carriers. The Canada Council is partnering with the Government of Yukon to distribute $50,000 in funding to artists in the first year and $150,000 in the second year.
The project launch has been set for early 2023.
This two-year pilot project will expand Yukon's funding administration capabilities, co-develop, and deliver additional funding, support a focused period of outreach and engagement for equity deserving artists and groups, and distribute increased arts and cultural funds across the region.
Co-delivery project to support Indigenous artists in the Yukon
The project grows out of a shared desire to develop new ways of supporting Indigenous artists and arts workers with strong Indigenous leadership and impact.
This partnership initiative will leverage the relationship developed between the Canada Council and the Government of Yukon in co-hosting the third Arctic Arts Summit, during which outreach, capacity building, professionalization, and mentorship for Indigenous artists were identified as key areas where the partners can work together to create change. This project aims to render the Canada Council and the Government of Yukon’s cultural funding more accessible to Indigenous artists and cultural carriers.
The Government of Yukon’s Tourism and Culture Department will recruit an Indigenous Outreach and Program Officer, based in Whitehorse, who will support Indigenous artists in applying for arts funding from both territorial and federal sources. The Officer will engage and support Indigenous artistic practices and help build capacity to create, perform and export.
This project responds to the Government of Yukon’s Creative Potential: Advancing the Yukon’s Creative and Cultural Industries strategy and particularly its commitment to modernize funding supports and remove barriers to funding programs. It also advances the Canada Council’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan commitments to strengthen its presence, interactions, and support for artistic and literary activity in the north of Canada.
More details on this initiative will be announced in the fall 2022.