Calling all creators, storytellers, performers, and arts organizations! Whether you paint, write, compose, sculpt, perform, or organize community arts initiatives, funding opportunities are waiting for you.
We invite you to join us at the Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre for an exclusive, FREE informational funding session with the Canada Council for the Arts.
Important Note for Attendees:
This event serves as an informational funding open house and Q&A session for individual artists, arts organizations, arts groups, and collectives. This event is an information session, not an artistic performance.
What to Expect: Schedule of Events
Bring your questions, your ideas, and your enthusiasm! We have structured the evening to give you direct access to expert guidance:
- 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Open House: Drop in, mingle, and start connecting with fellow local creatives.
- 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Presentation: Discover available grants, awards, and funding streams in a comprehensive one-hour session.
- 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM | Q&A: Ask your specific questions and get real-time answers about the application process.
Meet Your Consultant: Francine Cunningham
During this special session, you will meet Francine Cunningham, the Artist Liaison Consultant for the Canada Council for the Arts’ Alberta Focus Initiative.
Francine brings a wealth of experience to this role as an award-winning writer, artist, and educator. She is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta, grew up across Calgary, Edmonton, and 100 Mile House, BC, and holds Métis and European settler heritage. Today, Francine resides in rural southern Alberta, writing and mentoring emerging artists.
In her role with the Canada Council, Francine focuses directly on supporting:
- Rural Albertan creators
- Indigenous communities both on and off reserve
- Anyone who needs extra help navigating the grant application process
Francine connects with local communities through virtual and in-person information sessions, webinars, and one-on-one visits. She looks forward to sharing valuable funding information, strengthening relationships within the Alberta arts ecosystem, and ensuring that provincial artists make their voices heard on a national scale.
What is the Alberta Focus Initiative?
The Canada Council for the Arts created the Alberta Focus Initiative as a dedicated two-year commitment to strengthen engagement with Alberta’s dynamic creative sector.
Through this initiative, two Alberta-based arts liaison consultants build an on-the-ground presence across the province. These consultants engage directly with local creators to boost awareness of grant opportunities, provide field intelligence back to the Canada Council, and ensure accessible, meaningful support reaches historically underserved communities.
Event Summary & How to Connect
- Who should attend? Artists of all disciplines and experience levels, arts collectives, and arts organizations.
- Cost: FREE!
- Learn More Online: Visit www.CanadaCouncil.ca/Alberta
Don’t let grant applications intimidate you—come learn how to secure the resources your creative vision deserves. We look forward to seeing you at the Lougheed Centre!