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Deadline: October 7, 2026
Program Summary:
The awards were created in 1999 by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Governor General of Canada. Since then, they have celebrated the vibrant arts community in Canada and recognized remarkable careers in the visual and media arts.
Up to eight awards are distributed every year: six awards recognize artistic achievements, one award recognizes an exceptional fine craft artist (Saidye Bronfman Award) and one award recognizes an outstanding contribution to contemporary visual arts, media arts or fine craft. The winners all receive a medallion and a cash prize of $25,000 each.
The GGArts are part of the Canada Council’s suite of prizes recognizing artistic merit and outstanding contribution to the arts.
Grant Amount:
Six awards recognize artistic achievements of $25,000 each.
Eligible Applicants:
Eligible nominators:
Nominators can be individuals, groups of co-nominators (up to 3 people) or representatives of an organization.
All nominators must be:
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, as defined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. They do not need to be living in Canada.
- recognized Canadian specialists in visual arts, media arts or fine craft
- at least 18 years old
Examples of specialists include but are not limited to:
- Art critics or curators
- Arts Administrators
- Canadian private art dealers
- Deans, chairs or professors at a Canadian university or art college
- Professional artists
- Representatives from professional associations of artists or national service organizations
Eligible candidates
All candidates must be:
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada as defined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. They do not need to be living in Canada.
- at least 18 years old
- living on the nomination deadline date
Artistic Achievement Award candidates must be artists in visual or media arts who have:
- demonstrated a commitment to a long-term practice in their field
- received recognition from their peers and communities regionally, nationally or internationally
- created a substantial body of work throughout their career
Examples of visual arts practices include but are not limited to:
- Architecture
- Drawing
- Painting
- Performance art
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture and/or installation
Examples of media arts practices include but are not limited to:
- Moving images works (video or film)
- Animation
- Expanded cinema
- Installation
- Single or multi-channel
- New media
- Audio and sound art
- Bio art
- Database art
- Digital art
- Immersive and interactive environment
- Interactive installation
- Robotics
- Social media art
- Web-based art
GGArts honour individual achievement, artistic partnerships (up to 3 individuals) and small collectives (up to 5 individuals). For partnerships and collectives, each candidate must meet the eligibility requirements for the prize.