Call for Submissions (Alberta): 2026 Emerging Artist Awards Competition – Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Theater News

Apply for Emerging Artist Award

Applications for the 2026 Emerging Artist Award are open until February 18, 2026.

The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity oversees the adjudication process for the Emerging Artist Awards. Apply at Banff Centre Lieutenant Governor of Alberta 2026 Emerging Artist Award

The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation established the Emerging Artist awards to support and encourage Alberta’s most promising artists at an early stage of their careers. The awards are not project grants but are designed to support the unique development needs of emerging artists whether it be supplies, further study or experiences, funding to travel for auditions, study or work, or even income replacement for non-arts related employment.

Emerging Artist are defined as those who have mastered the basic techniques of their art form through education and/or apprenticeship and are in the early years of launching a professional career. Emerging artists have created and publicly presented a modest body of independent work and are ready for the next steps in their artistic development. Emerging Artists must have lived and practiced their art in Alberta for two years or more, and/or have spent the formative years of their artistic career in Alberta if you have since moved out of the province.

Artists may come from any of the following disciplines and are not limited by the examples:

The Performing Arts – creators, composers, choreographers, interpreters, and performers in music, dance, theatre and opera

The Visual Arts – painting, print making, sculpture, performance and installation art, photography, new media and fine craft

Cinematic Arts – film and video drama, documentary and art film/video

Design

Architecture

Literary Arts, both English and French – fiction including novel, short story, blended genres, poetry and drama, creative non-fiction

Up to 10 Emerging Artists will receive a $10,000 cash award, a professional video profile, and the title of 2026 Emerging Artist. Winners will be announced in June 2026.

Any questions regarding the award can be sent to administrator@artsawards.ca

The Emerging Artist Awards are designed to support and encourage promising artists early in their professional careers. Emerging Artist Awards are given out every second year (in even years). For more details see About the Emerging Artist Award.