Grants for Canadian Writers

Grants for Canadian writers are available from numerous sources on the federal and local levels.

Grants are out there, but where? If you're wondering where to find grants for Canadian writers, the following resources will provide a great start to your research:

The Canada Council for the Arts presents a variety of grants for professional Canadian writers. These grants offer support for Canadian literature in the following ways:

• creation
• translation
• publication
• promotion

Funding is also used to pay for author residencies, literary readings and festivals, and other activities related to the proliferation of Canadian literature.

To apply for an Alberta Creative Development Initiative: Grants to Individuals, visit their website to read their tipsheet and to find help in preparing your grant application.

• Alberta Creative Development Initiative: Grants to Individuals
• Grants for Professional Writers: Creative Writing
• Travel Grants for Professional Writers
• Aboriginal Emerging Writers Residencies
• Grants to Aboriginal Writers, Storytellers and Publishers
• Spoken Word and Storytelling Program

The Writers' Trust reaches out to support the works of Canadian writers with annual awards and prizes which give writers the time and resources they need to sharpen their craft. These awards include:

• The RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers - Winner: $5,000; Finalists: $1,000
• The Writers' Trust of Canada/McClelland & Stewart Journey Prize - Winner: $10,000; Winning publisher: $2,000
• The Writers' Trust of Canada's Matt Cohen Prize - In Celebration of a Writing Life - $20,000
• The Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize - Winner: $15,000; Finalists: $2,000
• The Writers’ Trust Non-Fiction Prize - Winner: $15,000; Finalists: $2,000
• The Writers’ Trust Notable Author Award - Winner: $25,000
• The Writers' Trust of Canada's Shaughnessy Cohen Award for Political Writing - Winner: $15,000; Finalists: $2,000
• The Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature - Winner: $15,000
• The Writers' Trust Award for Distinguished Contribution

The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council is a nonprofit organization. They work with the government and community to promote the arts of the province with financial assistance.

• The Winterset Award - $5,000 and $1,000
• The Lawrence Jackson Writers Award - $500
• The Rhonda Payne Award - $500
• Project Grants
• Community Arts Program

• Creation Grant – This program is designed to assist professional New Brunswick artists so they have the time to devote to research, development and execution of original projects in the arts.
• The Documentation Grant – Much like the Creation Grant, this grant provides assistance to New Brunswick artists for research, development and execution but this grant is for original documentation of the arts activities.
• NB Regional Arts Funding Program – Check their website for particulars depending what region you live in.

This foundation receives $100 million of government funding annually. Check their application materials to see how to apply.

Once you decide which grants to apply for, the work begins with writing the grant proposal. Check the guidelines for the grant you plan to target as proposals can range from short documents of 2-3 pages or may require a complete set of developed documents that include details like:

• project plans
• budgets
• other specific details

Take the time and diligence to put together a professional proposal and it will increase your chances of receiving the grants for Canadian writers for which you apply.

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• Grant Writers
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• Foundation Grants for Writers
• Federal Grants for Women Writers
• Grants for New Writers