Indigenous Artists in Communities and Schools Projects is a multidisciplinary program supporting projects that bring together Ontario-based, professional Indigenous artists and arts professionals in communities and schools to provide access to the arts and create meaningful art experiences that transmit Indigenous artistic skills and cultural knowledge to participants.
The program is open to emerging, mid-career, and established Indigenous artists and arts professionals.
It welcomes applicants working in both customary/traditional and contemporary Indigenous art expression.
Indigenous OAC staff members administer the program, and applications are assessed by juries comprised of Indigenous artists.
The program has four categories:
Indigenous Artists in Northern Fly-in Communities: provides additional funding for Indigenous artists living and working in Northern fly-in communities, and funding for travel and accommodation expenses for artists to share and collaborate on art projects in Northern fly-in Indigenous communities (see definition below)
Indigenous Artists in Communities: provides funding for participatory activities which promote learning, collaboration, and engagement between practicing Indigenous artists and individuals (who aren’t professional artists) in communities throughout Ontario
Indigenous Artists in Schools: provides funding for artists to promote hands-on learning activities for children and youth in schools, with a focus on teaching creative artistic expression from an Indigenous perspective
Indigenous Languages Revitalization: provides funding for arts projects in which the primary purpose of the project is the creative use and transmission of Indigenous languages through the arts