Aboriginal Artists in Schools

Program for: Individuals

Purpose: This program supports Aboriginal artists and Elders to work in Ontario schools individually or with a partner to provide arts learning experiences.

These arts experiences can:

• be one artistic discipline or many;
• include cultural learning; and
• be up to 150 hours.

The names of Aboriginal artists and Elders who receive funding will appear on a list. The list is used by teachers, principals and school administrators to identify and invite grant recipients into their schools all over Ontario. Schools that can access this program include all First Nations schools, all public schools and any private school registered with the province. The OAC provides additional travel funds to grant recipients if they wish to work in schools outside their community.

Eligibility: This program is open to Ontario Aboriginal artists of any discipline and Elders interested in working with learners on projects taking place in Ontario schools.

The OAC’s definition of the term “Aboriginal” means Status and Non-Status, Métis and Inuit people.

Applicants must reside in Ontario and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.

Francophone artists living permanently in Quebec municipalities in the National Capital region who have been recognized as Ontario artists and who contribute actively to the artistic life of Ontario may be eligible for OAC project funding if they do not seek assistance from the Quebec government for the same project.

This program is a part of the Artists in Education program. Artists and Elders who apply to the Artists in Education program (January 17, 2011 deadline) are not eligible to apply to this program.

Deadline Date: Applications must be in the mail or received by OAC by January 17, 2011. 

Project Grant Basics and Application Form

The following application form is for information only. Before making an application, please ensure you have the most up-to-date application form, which can be obtained by contacting the OAC (see below). Application forms are available on the web at least three months before the deadline.

• Project Grant Basics  (print version)
• Program Application  (print version)
• 2009-2010 Aboriginal Artists in Schools (AAIS) Roster List

Artists and Elders are paid $42 per hour by the OAC to deliver this arts experience to one school or more schools during the 2009-10 school year. Co-applicants are each paid $42 per hour. Provincially-funded and private schools are required to make a contribution of a minimum of $6 per hour. Artists and Elders may require additional materials. Schools are required to cover material costs and other like expenses.

Written and oral applications are both accepted.

Final Report

• Travel Request Form  (form-fillable Word)  (print version)
• Final Report Form  (form-fillable Word)  (print version)
• Post Project Overview  (form-fillable Word)  (print version)
• Artist Educator Agreement  (print version)
• Teacher Evaluation Form  (print version)
• Artist Feedback Form  (print version)

Reference Documents

• Artist Educator Reflection Form  (a reference document for arts educators)
• Arts Education Positive Partnership Form  (a resource for arts educators and teachers)
• The Arts Ed Slim Kit  (a resource for artists working in schools)

For more information, please contact Nasreen Khan, Arts Education Officer, 416-969-7428, toll free 1-800-387-0058 extension 7428, nkhan@arts.on.ca.
OR
Sara Roque, Aboriginal Arts Officer, 416-969-7454, toll free 1-800-387-0058 extension 7454, sroque@arts.on.ca.

Services in French are available by contacting Heather Meek, Program Assistant; 416-969-7401, toll free 1-800-387-0058 extension 7401, hmeek@arts.on.ca.