Submit Applications for Touring Artist Fund (Canada)

Deadline: 15-Sep-2026

The Touring Artist Fund (TAF) supports professional Yukon artists, ensembles and artistic companies to tour and present their work within or outside Yukon. Applicants can request up to $10,000 per tour, with priority given to tours outside Yukon that provide artists with professional performance, exhibition and audience-development opportunities.

About the Touring Artist Fund

The Touring Artist Fund is designed to help professional Yukon artists reach new audiences and expand their artistic careers through touring opportunities. The fund supports touring across a variety of artistic disciplines, including: Transportation or shipping associated with touring artwork or equipment. Travel and accommodation connected with eligible touring activities. A qualifying tour must involve more than one event or public presentation. Funding Available

Applicants can request:

Up to $10,000 per tour Higher amounts may be considered in exceptional circumstances for sector-wide initiatives.

Great Northern Arts Festival: Funding is capped at $1,000 per applicant.

For the Great Northern Arts Festival, eligible expenses may include: Meals Accommodation Travel Shipping costs Applicants should ensure that their requested amount is directly connected to the eligible touring expenses. Who Is Eligible? The Touring Artist Fund is intended for professional artists and performing groups based in Yukon.

Eligible applicants include:

Individual Yukon artists. Ensembles. Artistic companies. Professional performers. Applicants must have resided in Yukon for at least one continuous year before applying. Additional Requirements for Ensembles Ensembles must demonstrate that they have an established history of performing together. Applicants must also have a confirmed invitation from a venue resulting from a professional selection process. Examples of professional selection processes may include: Venue invitations following a jury review. Curatorial selection. Professional programming decisions. Invitations from recognised presenting organisations. What Makes a Tour Eligible? The Touring Artist Fund is intended for genuine touring activity rather than a single performance or presentation.

A qualifying tour should:

Include more than one event or public presentation. Present professional artistic work. Have a confirmed venue invitation. Result from a professional selection process. Provide opportunities to present Yukon artistic work to audiences. Involve an artist, ensemble or artistic company meeting the residency requirements. Tours outside Yukon receive priority because they can provide Yukon artists with greater exposure to audiences and professional networks beyond the territory. Why the Touring Artist Fund Matters Touring can be an important part of professional artistic development. It allows artists to reach new audiences while creating opportunities to build professional relationships and increase the visibility of Yukon’s creative sector.

The fund can help artists:

Expand their audience. Present work outside Yukon. Build professional networks. Gain exposure in new markets. Strengthen artistic careers. Share Yukon culture with audiences elsewhere. Develop touring experience. Increase opportunities for future bookings and collaborations. Supporting touring also contributes to the broader Yukon arts and cultural ecosystem by increasing the visibility of local artists and creative work. How to Apply Applicants should prepare their application around the proposed tour, confirmed invitations and eligible expenses.

1. Confirm Your Eligibility

Check that you are a professional Yukon artist, ensemble or artistic company and have met the required one-year Yukon residency period.

2. Secure a Venue Invitation

Obtain confirmation from the venue or presenting organisation. The invitation should demonstrate that the opportunity resulted from an appropriate professional selection process.

3. Develop Your Tour Plan

Provide details about:

Where the tour will take place. The venues involved. Dates of presentations. Number of events. Artistic work being presented. Target audiences. Professional purpose of the tour.

4. Demonstrate That It Is a Tour

The proposed activity must include more than one event or public presentation. Clearly list the different performances, exhibitions or presentations included in the tour.

5. Prepare the Budget

Identify the costs associated with the tour and request funding that is appropriate to the scale of the project.

6. Explain the Professional Benefits

Describe how touring will contribute to your artistic development, audience reach, professional network or career opportunities. Tips for a Strong Application Applicants can strengthen their proposals by clearly demonstrating the professional value and practical feasibility of the tour.

Consider the following:

Prioritise professional opportunities: Explain how the tour resulted from a professional invitation or selection process.

Show the complete itinerary: Clearly identify all venues and presentations.

Demonstrate audience impact: Explain who will experience the work and why the tour is valuable.

Highlight Yukon representation: Show how the tour contributes to the visibility of Yukon artists and culture.

Provide a realistic budget: Make sure expenses are directly connected to touring.

Explain career benefits: Identify specific professional opportunities created by the tour.

Plan transportation carefully: Touring may involve significant travel, accommodation or shipping requirements, so these should be clearly explained.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Applying for a single event instead of a multi-event tour. Applying without a confirmed venue invitation. Failing to demonstrate the professional selection process. Applying before meeting the Yukon residency requirement. Providing insufficient information about the tour itinerary. Submitting an unclear or unrealistic budget. Failing to explain how the tour benefits th