Helpful Hints

Artist Biography

(250 words max)

Your bio is an opportunity to introduce yourself to the jury and is important to help Peer Assessors get to know you and better understand the context of your work. We recommend including some information on:  

• Your community and family ties in Inuit Nunaat

• Where you learned the skills you have today (from Elders in the community, self-taught, mentorship, any education or training, etc.)

• If you have participated in any opportunities to showcase your work, such as exhibitions, community performances, films or TV shows, trade shows or; had your work published in a book, magazine or catalogue; or other professional opportunities

• Any upcoming shows

• If your artwork is part of a gallery, museum, or organization’s art collection

Write your biography as if you are someone else writing about you. Check out the IAQ Profiles for some examples!

If you would like to have a Profile, you can contact [email protected] to get one started (which can take 1-2 months to complete). To learn more about writing an artist biography watch a recording of the related Illisarniq workshop here. 

Artist Statement

(250 words max)

Please tell us about your artistic vision. This can be written in your own voice and make it unique to you and your work. Answering questions like these will help the Peer Assessment Committee better understand you, your inspirations, and why you make the work that you do: 

• What inspires you to make work?

• What kind of work do you make and what themes, feelings, or stories do you explore in your work?

• What message are you trying to communicate through your work?

• What are your artistic or career goals?

To learn more about writing an artist statement watch a recording of the related Illisarniq workshop here. 

Proposal Description

(1 page max for Sutaarutit/Iniqarvik, 2 pages max for Tuuragaq)

The description of your project is an important part of your application.This is the only way for Peer Assessors to know what you are hoping to use the funding for. It is also an important way to show that your project is accomplishable and why you want to complete it.

• Describe your artistic vision and tell us how you plan to use your funding

• Clearly describe your desired outcomes (what are your goals and what are you hoping to accomplish?

• What tools, materials, space or other resources will you need during your project?

• What do you need to accomplish your goal? (specific materials, access to mentorship, travel, time, etc.)

• Is there a specific theme you will explore? 

• Why is this project important to you? How will it help your career?

• Approximately when will the main parts be complete?

• Will you be getting funding from other sources?

• Do you have any collaborators and if so, have they already agreed to participate?

We strongly encourage you to write the full amount for your proposal, but recommend a minimum of at least 250 words. We know you’re enthusiastic about your project, so let it come through in your writing and have fun with it!

Artist CV

(3 pages max, Tuuragaq only)

Different from your biography, which is a more personal look at you and your story, please include your artistic resume as a way to give the Peer Assessment Committee a more detailed overview of your career and accomplishments to help them understand your practice better. We recommend including the following information, if it’s relevant to you:

History of Showcasing Your Work

• Exhibitions your work has been included in or that you curated

  • We recommend organizing these into sections for solo, two-person, and group shows. Please include the dates, institutions/venue, name of the show, and if the exhibition toured

• Performances you have participated in 

  • Please include the dates, institutions/venue, name of the performance, and your role

• Albums you have performed on or released

  • Please include the dates, album names, and your role

• Films you have helped to make

  • Please include the dates, film titles, and your role

• Publication history 

  • Please include the dates and titles of any written materials, readings, etc.

Education or Training 

• Family or community based mentorships

• Formal post-secondary education

• Workshop certificates

Collections

• Public or private collections that your art is a part of, such as Government of Nunavut Inuit Fine Art Collection, The Art Gallery of Guelph, Winnipeg Art Gallery-Quamajuq, TD Bank Collection, etc

Honours and Awards 

• Honours, awards, and recognitions you have received, such as the Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award, Sobey Art Award, Ontario Art Council Indigenous Arts Award, etc.

  • Please make sure to include the year of each

Media and Publications

• Any TV, radio, or online interviews, artist talks, panel discussions, etc.

• Any publications in which your work as been included, such as the Inuit Art Quarterly

  • Include print and online articles

To learn more about writing an artist C.V. watch a recording of the related Illisarniq workshop here.

CV Examples

• Kenojuak Ashevak

• Kyle Aleekuk

Your IAQ Profile is an excellent resource for your CV! If you don’t have one, you can contact [email protected] to get one started. Take a few minutes to browse through for some inspiration! 

Artistic Examples

Quality of Images: Please be mindful of the quality of images you submit. Images should be clear, detailed, and show the quality of your work. Consider the following when choosing images to submit: 

• Avoid taking images with low or uneven lighting. 

• Try to avoid having other objects in the background by using a plain, blank background

• Avoid grouping multiple artworks into one image

• Make sure your artwork is in focus and isn’t blurry

• Avoid submitting screenshots of your work whenever possible

• Submit images using the best photo resolution available to you

For more tips about documenting your artwork, please watch our workshop with Cora Kavyaktok on Photographing Your Artwork.

Budget

(Iniqarvik, Tuuragaq)

Below is a sample budget you can use while creating your own. Budgets are an opportunity to show the Peer Assessors that your project is viable and also where you need funding the most. Please provide details about your expenses so the jury can easily understand what expenses you will be incurring, which can include but are not limited to these Eligible Expenses.

• Materials, tools, equipment

• Travel 

• Honorariums

• Shipping

• Subsistence (living expenses, rent, gas, utilities)

Please provide your best estimates of all expenses. Your budget needs to balance, where your total revenue matches your total expenses. The main goal is to show that your project is viable and you are prepared. To help balance your budget, you can choose to count your own time as an in-kind revenue source.

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.