The Government of Yukon is committed to supporting the growth and development of the Yukon’s creative and cultural industries. In keeping with this priority, the Yukon government is launching the Creative and Cultural Career Advancement Fund to provide support for Yukon creative or cultural practitioners.
The Creative and Cultural Career Advancement Fund is designed to help alleviate financial barriers and enable recipients to immerse themselves in their practice, increase artistic and business skills, and contribute to broader growth in the Yukon’s creative and cultural industries through skill sharing and mentorship opportunities.
Each year, the Creative and Cultural Career Advancement Fund will provide three $50,000 awards to Yukon creative and/or cultural practitioners. Applicants may work in any discipline from within the creative and cultural industries and must be able to demonstrate how their practice and career potential will evolve and grow as a result of this investment. Applicants must also demonstrate how they plan to improve their business skills and how they will share and give back to the sector’s development.
The full program guidelines as well as the application form will be available online starting April 26, 2023. The deadline for the first year’s intake of applications is October 16, 2023. In subsequent years the intake deadline will be May 15. Applications may be submitted in writing, through video or as a sound file. Budgets and financial reporting will still be required in written form.
Administered by the Department of Tourism and Culture, with support from Economic Development, this fund is a priority action identified in Creative Potential: Advancing the Yukon’s Creative and Cultural Industries strategy. Feedback from the sector clearly demonstrates a need for funding that facilitates sustained momentum and support for artists and cultural practitioners and for those wishing to transform their practice into a career.
Through the new Creative and Cultural Career Advancement Fund, our government is supporting Yukon creatives and cultural practitioners with building capacity to perform, sell and export works both in the territory and beyond. These investments help advance artistic and business expansion while strengthening the sectors and bolstering broader economic growth. Since the launch of Creative Potential: Advancing the Yukon’s Creative and Cultural Industries strategy, our government has launched the Express Micro-grant, the Indigenous Artists and Cultural Carriers Micro-grant, and revamped how we support the territory’s music and film industry. This new fund marks another step towards advancing sustainable sector growth across the territory.
Premier and Minister of Economic Development Ranj Pillai
Across the territory, there is an abundance of creativity and culture that captivates Yukoners and visitors alike. To support the continued growth of this sector, our government is launching the new Creative and Cultural Career Advancement Fund. Each year, this fund will support three individuals with professional growth and development, potential for income generation and progress towards achieving career goals. These investments support individuals while contributing to diverse and creative communities across the Yukon.
Minister of Tourism and Culture John Streicker
Three applicants will each be awarded $50,000 in funding.
The fund is designed to provide the conditions necessary for an artist or cultural practitioner to immerse themselves in developing their career, creating meaningful work, experiences and relationships with Yukon communities and developing skills and learning that will be shared back to the sector.
For the first year, applications will be accepted on October 16, 2023. In subsequent years the intake deadline will shift earlier in the year to May 15. Funding decisions will be made and communicated to applicants within 12 weeks.
The creative and cultural industries include those working and/or participating in the areas of writing and publishing, audio-visual and interactive media, music and sound recording, visual and applied arts, live performance, heritage and libraries and the labour force and institutions required to support them (including First Nations and municipal governments, businesses and non-profit organizations).
The fund is subject to the 2023-24 Government of Yukon’s budget approval.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Cameron Webber
Communications, Tourism and Culture
867-332-0400
cameron.webber@yukon.ca