REMINDER: Call for nominations — Launch Grants
March 3, 2026
The deadline to nominate a performing artist for a Launch Grant is fast approaching!
The Gerda Hnatyshyn Launch Grants provide assistance to the most promising Canadian performing artists in the early years of their career.
Nominate an artist by March 11, 2026
Program details
One grant of $10,000 is awarded annually in each of the following disciplines:
Classical Music
Contemporary Music
Contemporary Dance
English Theatre
French Theatre
Launch Grants are intended to support a project, for which candidates must submit a proposal.
Eligibility
The Launch Grants are designed to support artists in the early stages of a professional career. Please review the guidelines specific to each discipline to confirm eligibility. In general, candidates must meet one of the following qualifications to be considered eligible:
All disciplines except Contemporary Music: candidates recently completed (up to three years from the nomination deadline) or are about to complete (by June 30 of this year) their most recent post-secondary studies or training in their discipline, and do not intend to enrol in further studies in the 2026-2027 academic year.
Contemporary Music: candidates who have not studied music, and do not intend to in the 2026-2027 academic year, may still be eligible for a Launch Grant if they demonstrate being in the the early stages of their professional performance or recording career and are deemed by the Foundation to have equivalent experience (please see the Contemporary Music Guidelines in full to confirm eligibility).
Nomination process
Candidates cannot apply for these awards. Professionals working in their nominee’s performing arts discipline may nominate one candidate a year for a Launch Grant.
The instructions to nominate a candidate are listed on our website, at the above link, under “Guidelines”.
Eligible projects
The Launch Grants are intended to support a creative project, for which the candidates must submit a proposal. Creative projects supported by a Launch Grant can take many forms including, but not limited to, the production of a new work, the performance or touring of a work, or recording a work for public dissemination. We encourage candidates to contact the Foundation to verify the eligibility of their project before submitting a proposal.
We look forward to discover exciting works by this year’s candidates!
Please direct any questions to:
Marianne Brown, Executive Director
