Please note: We have recently changed our system, making it easier for schools to apply for grants and as a result, we are experiencing high volumes of applications. Please bear with us, knowing that we are asking schools to apply 3-4 weeks in advance of the workshop dates, and that we have 6-10 working days to process the grants.

The ArtistsInspire program has made some good progress in equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion over the course of the program. Prioritizing regional artists and limiting repeat school-artist partnerships have been some positive actions, and we know we can do more to ensure fair access while also providing a positive experience for teachers, students and teaching artists. Currently, our first-come, first-served grant process is leading to two main challenges: 

  • Artist distribution is heavily in the cities, and so  
    • City-based artists receive a larger portion of grants 
    • Regional artists miss out on opportunities 
  • High competition for school funding 
    • Regional schools miss out on opportunities 

Our Goals & Direction 

We are focusing our strategy on prioritizing strategic groups, including: 

  • Indigenous, Black, and racialized artists 
  • Regional schools and students 
  • Emerging/Young artists 
  • 2SLGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse communities 

To do this, we are aligning our direction with the ELAN Inclusion Plan and important demographic research into English-speaking artists in Quebec. 

Read More: 

ELAN Inclusion Plan https://www.quebec-elan.org/en/policies/#inclusion  

Artists in Quebec https://statsinsights.hillstrategies.com/p/english-language-artists-in-quebec 

 

We Need Your Input! 

We are currently researching best practices from other arts agencies to design a more equitable grant structure, some of which could be: 

  • A priority or filter system for strategic groups 
  • Multiple application windows to ensure fair access at the beginning of the year 
  • Checks and balances after several grants per artist 

We invite artists, schools, arts consultants and community stakeholders to provide feedback on how to structure fairness and support artist diversity: 

Join the Schools Consultation: 

  • Date: May 4th, 2026   

Join the Artists Consultation: 

  • Date: May 18, 2026 

Fill out the Feedback Form: 

Timeline 

We are dedicated to dialogue and feedback between now and June 1, 2026. This will allow us ample time to consider your feedback and improve our system in a way that works for both our talented teaching artists and the program’s objectives to reach more schools and students across Quebec.  

The New AIG Grant Equity System will be implemented on August 1, 2026. We want to act on the feedback and to rework documentation and our application systems over the summer holiday to be ready by the start of the school year. This will allow schools and artists to hit the ground running from the first day the grants open. 

Share your perspective and have your say!