Hnatyshyn Foundation: William and Meredith Saunderson Prizes for Emerging Visual Artists

Application Deadline: March 18, 2026

Program Summary:

The William and Meredith Saunderson Prizes for Emerging Visual Artists support Canadian emerging visual artists whose practices show potential and who are deemed to have the determination and talent to contribute to the legacy of art in Canada. Each year, three Saunderson Prizes of $10,000 each are awarded, as well as three Saunderson finalists’ prizes of $4,000 each.

Nomination Process:

Candidates must be nominated to be considered for a Saunderson Prize. Representatives of public and private galleries, fine arts training institutions, and artist-run-centres are invited to submit a nomination. An institution may only nominate one candidate per year.

Eligibility criteria:

To be eligible for a Saunderson Prize, candidates must:

• Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada;
• Be an emerging professional artist*

* Although the definition of “emerging artist” is subjective, for the purposes of the Saunderson Prizes, we consider artists who meet the following criteria to be emerging artists:

1. The Candidate has:
   • A body of work that incorporates specialized training (not necessarily gained at an academic institution);
   • A public presence and peer recognition;
   • The determination and talent to contribute to the legacy of art in Canada;
   • Had their work featured in at least two curated exhibitions at a commercial art gallery, public art gallery, or artist-run centre in Canada in the last five years;
   • The Candidate is not currently studying at an undergraduate or college level.
2. The Candidate may be considered ineligible for a Saunderson Prize if they have accomplished 3 or more of the following milestones:
   • The candidate’s work has been included in 5 or more solo exhibitions at a commercial art gallery, public art gallery, or artist-run centre (solo exhibitions having taken place in the context of a university or college course do not count towards this exclusion);
   • The candidate obtained a Master of Fine Arts more than 5 years before the nomination deadline;
   • The candidate earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts more than 10 years before the nomination deadline;
   • The candidate was nominated for, shortlisted for, or received, a major Canadian art prize more than three years before the nomination deadline.

An artist who has accomplished 3 or more of these milestones but who still considers that they are an emerging artist may still be nominated. Their application may be accepted or rejected at the Foundation’s discretion. Such candidates may be required to provide context justifying their eligibility.