Opportunities for Artists and Art Organizations

The Grants to Professional Arts Organizations Program supports the operating and artistic capacity of Halifax-based professional arts organizations to develop and present artistic work as well as strengthen their capacity. We have two streams of funding, Operating Assistance, and Project Assistance. 

This program is governed by Administrative Order 2014-007 ADM Respecting Grants to Professional Arts Organizations.

Operating Assistance: 2026-27 program closed

This stream supports the general and ongoing operational capacity of professional arts organizations in the Municipality. Organizations are now able to apply for either annual or multi-year Operating Assistance.

Deadline has passed. The next intake of applications will re-open in January 2027. 

Project Assistance: 2026-27 program closed

This program stream supports professional arts activities on a project-specific basis. Funding is provided annually for this program. 

Deadline has passed. The next intake of applications will re-open in January 2027. 

Final Reporting Forms

Successful grant recipients must complete a final report describing the impact of the funding received through this program. A Final Report Form is available below but applicants can now opt for a final report interview. Requests for this format should be sent directly to the Program Contact and should be requested at least 2 weeks before the deadline. Final report requirements and deadline details are included in the grant agreement which is sent with the confirmation of the award. 

Operating Funding - Final Reporting Documents:

Project Funding - Final Reporting Documents:

 

Past Grant Recipients
 

Program Contact:
Lindsay Cory (she/her)
Community Developer – Public Art, Culture & Community
902-456-8384
Lindsay.Cory@halifax.ca

Opportunities for Artists

Call for new Professional and Public Art Jurors

Halifax Regional Municipality is seeking new peer evaluators of the Municipality’s Grants to Professional Arts Organizations funding program and Public Art selection juries. 

Call for new peer jurors is open. 

The implementation of the peer jury process reflects a commitment to efficacy, transparency, and accountability. This jury roster must be composed of artists and other members of the arts community who bring open-mindedness and respect for the views of others, represent a diversity of specializations, artistic practices, and cultural backgrounds, offer fair and objective analysis, based on assessment criteria without bias or prejudice, and are able and willing to work collaboratively.

What is a Peer Jury Roster?

HRM’s Peer Jury Roster is a list of artists and members of the arts community who may be contacted to review and score funding applications and public art proposals with guidance from the Culture & Community team. Assessment panels are initiated throughout the year and are usually around 5 people. Participation will depend on each applicant's background and interest within the arts community. 

Types of Peer Juries:

Public Art

  • Public art juries are arms-length committees that advise and recommend artist proposals for commission, based on their informed and independent consideration of scoring criteria and other relevant factors. Juries help maintain transparency, integrity, and professionalism in the selection of artworks.
  • Ideal jurors: Arts and design professionals (such as artists, curators, arts and culture workers, architects, and landscape architects), specific topic experts, individuals with lived experience, and local representation.

Funding

  • Funding juries are used to evaluate applications to granting programs. Those who serve as peer jurors are crucial in deciding who is awarded grants; they provide us with independent and informed opinions and encourage accountability within the arts community.
  • Ideal jurors: Artists, curators, arts and culture workers not currently applying to the funding program.
Eligibility

The roster of jurors shall be comprised of all those individuals who respond to the call and who are eligible based on the criteria below. 

  • Administrative Order 2024-007-ADM defines a “peer” as an individual who self-identifies as a professional artist, arts administrator, cultural worker, or individual actively involved in related communities of interest, and may include an individual who self-identifies as an emerging artist and demonstrates a commitment to pursuing a professional arts career through training, practice or mentorship. 
  • HRM’s Public Art Policy and the Canada Council for the Arts defines a “professional artist” as someone who has proven, specialized training in an artistic field, is recognized as a professional by their peers who are working in the same artistic tradition and has a history of public presentation or publication. Artists working in community-based, culturally grounded, or interdisciplinary practices are encouraged to apply where their experience demonstrates an active and sustained artistic practice.

HRM strongly encourages applications from artists and arts community members who identify as Indigenous, African Nova Scotian, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, Persons with Disabilities, and/or members of other equity-deserving communities who have been historically underrepresented or have faced barriers to participation in related opportunities. 

We are also looking for jury members with a range of expertise and experience, including:

  • Arts and design professionals, knowledgeable in the field of public art and/or contemporary art (i.e. artists, architects, landscape architects, curators, etc.);
  • Community members with knowledge and insight into HRM’s social and cultural climate, and local awareness of the community (i.e. local volunteers, board advisors, grassroots or non-profit community organizers, youth group members etc.); 
  • Subject matter experts (i.e. accessibility, Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, environmental advocacy, historical knowledge, etc.); and,
  • Individuals with lived experience (i.e. direct involvement in an issue or informal training, etc.) 

Accommodation is available upon request to support equitable participation in the application and peer jury process.

Compensation & Selection

Eligible applicants will be added to a standing roster of prospective jurors. Members will be selected from this roster and invited to perform assessment of applications to the Grants to Professional Arts Organizations Program and Public Art selection juries. This is a paid opportunity. Individuals selected for a public art jury are provided with a fee in accordance with CARFAC’s Professional Jury Rate. 

We aim to build peer juries that are reflective of the diversity of Halifax’s population. This includes having representation from people of different ages, backgrounds, identities, and abilities. Diverse and representative juries help HRM to combat the systems of power that grant privilege and access unequally.

Apply now - Due September 1, 2026

Interested individuals may submit their application via a two-stage process:

Fill out an application form

If you have any questions or need support with your application, please reach out to Program Contact Lindsay Cory, Community Developer, Public Art by email at Lindsay.cory@halifax.ca. 

For more information or help with your application, contact Lindsay Cory, Community Developer, Public Art via email at Lindsay.cory@halifax.ca or phone at 902-456-8384.

Public Art Opportunities

You can see all information on new calls and ongoing projects on our Public Art Calls page.  For more information about recently completed public art projects click here.