Guidelines and Application
VANL-CARFAC is once again offering a funding opportunity for visual artists in Newfoundland and Labrador! The Pivotal Point Grant is valued at $5000.
Aim of the Grant
The Pivotal Point Grant will provide financial support for a project and/or activities that will significantly advance an artist’s career, help evolve their practice and/or develop the artist’s reputation and visibility within the art world.
Examples include, but are not limited to: development of new audience/market through exhibitions; publications and presentations; skill set development for use of new media or materials crucial to the creation of a specific body of work; participation in a residency that provides time and facilities to generate new work; or support for creation of a body of work or for exhibition costs at a significant venue.
Deadline for Application:
January 23rd, 2026
Notification of result:
By February 16th, 2026
Eligibility
The applicant must be a current member of VANL-CARFAC. You may become a member at the time of application.
This grant is open to professional visual artists who are residents of Newfoundland and Labrador:
- Must be a current resident of Newfoundland and Labrador for a minimum of twelve consecutive months immediately prior to the time of application
- Must be at least eighteen years of age
Definition of professional artist
A creator of visual art has the status of professional visual artist if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- The artist is earning a living through art making, teaching art or possessing a diploma in an area considered to be within the domain of the fine arts
- The artist creates work or utilizes techniques learned through methods outside of institutional academia, or within the established practices of their cultural traditions
- The artist has their work often seen by the public or is regularly exhibited
- The artist is recognized as such by consensus of opinion among professional artists.
Eligible Expenses
Eligible expenses include all reasonable expenses that will be incurred during the course of the proposed activity such as: travel, materials and supplies, technical support, residency costs, fabrication costs, shipping, studio rental, development and publication of promotional materials. The proposed project can be for individual or collaborative projects (include documentation for each collaborator). Other types of expenses will be considered as long as clearly justified by the nature of the proposed plan.
- Travel
- Materials and supplies
- Residency fees
- Studio rental
- Small equipment (up to $2000)
- Training costs
- Wages for assistants
- Consultant fees
- Technical services
- Professional development costs
- Exhibition expenses
- Publication costs
- Contribution towards living expenses
Ineligible expenses:
- Retroactive costs
- Purchase of building
- Renovations or construction
- Tuition
Required application support materials
- Completed application form and detailed budget
- Detailed project description that clearly outlines the program or nature of activities, how this will be carried out within the stated timeline and how this will be beneficial to the advancement of your career and/or artistic practice (max. 2 pages)
- Up-to-date curriculum vitae
- Artist statement that provides context for previous work (max. 500 words)
- Digital documentation of previously created artwork’s (maximum of 10 images), DVDs, audio/video documentation (Original artwork will not be accepted)
Optional Support Materials:
- Letters of support
- Confirmation of residency or exhibition
- Recent reviews, catalogues, etc.
Assessment Criteria will be based on the following three components:
- Artistic merit of work produced
- Strength and feasibility of proposed activity
- Ability to enhance the artist’s career/artistic practice.
Adjudication Process
All applications will be reviewed by the VANL-CARFAC staff for eligibility and completeness. All applications that meet these criteria will then be assessed by a committee of artists and arts professionals chosen by VANL-CARFAC’s board of directors.
Final Report
A comprehensive final report is required that includes an outline of the project/activities, a budget and the benefit to the artist. This report is due within one month of completion of the project.
Timeline:
Projects to be completed by February 16th, 2027
Submission:
Click here to download a copy of the APPLICATION FORM. This form must be filled out and included with your application.
Applications may be submitted via Dropbox or by email to vanlcarfac@gmail.com. Applications can also be dropped off or submitted by mail to:
Pivotal Point Grant
Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL-CARFAC)
155 Duckworth Street
St. John’s, NL A1C 1G9