Funding available for film

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Aboriginal artists interested in producing projects in film, video, audio or new media are invited to apply for funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.

Funding is available through the Aboriginal media arts program, run by Canada Council as a pilot project for the past three years, but now a permanent part of the council's grant programming.

Under the program, both established and emerging artists are eligible for funding, with creative development grants and production grants available.

Creative development grants cover the cost of research, script writing, concept development and experimentation with media arts techniques, as well as professional development. Established artists can receive $3,000 to $20,000, while emerging artists are eligible for grants from $3,000 to $10,000.

Production grants cover production costs, with the amounts awarded varying based on the media used for the project, and whether the applicant is an established or emerging artist.

Ian Reid is a program officer in Canada Council's media arts section. He explained that by making the pilot project a permanent part of its grant structure, the council is re-affirming its commitment to make Aboriginal arts one of its strategic priorities.

During the three years the pilot project was in operation, 190 grant applications were received, with 76 grants awarded.

"We're really starting to see Aboriginal film-makers and media artists really starting to get a reputation, starting to do some exciting things," Reid said. "So I think the Aboriginal media arts and film-making community are proving themselves, and that they need the resources. Film-making and media arts is an expensive endeavor, as we all know. In Hollywood, it's millions of dollars, but even to do an independent kind of production costs several thousands of dollars. So, the artists have proven themselves creatively. Now they need the support financially to be able to make those visions a reality."

Reid said the Aboriginal media arts program is unique in that an artist with no training at all, no experience whatsoever in film-making or media arts, can apply for basic training.

"If you have mentors that you're working with, professional production teams, you can apply to do a production as well. So that's a very unique and exciting part of the program, that artists have the opportunity, if they capture the imagination of the committee, to make their vision, to make their dream happen, even without having had the chance to go to film school.

"What I really want to say to artists out there, and young artists, and even young-at-heart artists, is there is this opportunity to make your dream, to make your vision in film and new media a reality, and we want people to be aware of it. We want people to put in applications, to submit the projects. We can't fund all the projects we receive, but a trip around the world begins with one step."

The next deadline for application to the program is April 1. For more information, call the Canada Council for the Arts at 1-800-263-5588, or visit the council's website at www.canadacouncil.ca.