The Year Ahead: 2026 calls for artists
January 14, 2026
The Hnatyshyn Foundation is pleased to announce the timeline of its 2026 calls for nominations for all awards and programs.
This year, we look forward to running all of our typical programs, and beginning a new partnership with Esse arts + opinions, a bilingual Canadian contemporary art publication, by supporting its Young Critics’ Competition.
If you are a potential nominator or nominee for any of the Foundation’s programs, we encourage you to take note of the following dates, so as to not miss calls for nominations. We encourage professors, arts professionals and artists to share this newsletter with your networks to make our programs accessible to a greater number of exceptional Canadian artists, art writers, and curators.
Ongoing call
Esse x Hnatyshyn Foundation Young Critics Competition
Writing award and publication opportunity for critics of contemporary art pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies in art history and theory in Canada
Deadline: May 10, 2026
DETAILS: ESSE YOUNG CRITICS COMPETITION
Upcoming calls
Please refrain from submitting nominations before the calls formally open, per the dates below. Early nominations will not be considered.
Developing Artist Grants
Study grants for Canadian performing artists pursuing post-secondary studies in classical music, jazz, contemporary dance, and theatre
Nominations open: January 21, 2026
Deadline to nominate: March 11, 2026
DETAILS: DEVELOPING ARTIST GRANTS
The Gerda Hnatyshyn Launch Grants
Project grants for Canadian performing artists who recently completed studies, or have equivalent experience, in theatre, classical music, contemporary music, and dance
Nominations open: January 21, 2026
Deadline to nominate: March 11, 2026
The Hnatyshyn Foundation Joysanne Sidimus Ballet Grant
Study grant for a Canadian ballet student preparing to transition towards a professional career in performance
Nominations open: February 9, 2026
Deadline to nominate: April 13, 2026
DETAILS: JOYSANNE SIDIMUS BALLET GRANT
The William and Meredith Saunderson Prizes for Emerging Visual Artists
Awards supporting exceptionally promising Canadian emerging visual artists
Nominations open: January 28, 2026
Deadline to nominate: March 18, 2026
The DARC Indigenous Residency
Fully-funded residency for Indigenous media artists in mid-career
Dates: TBA in spring 2026
We look forward to discovering the works of this year’s laureates!
On behalf of the Hnatyshyn Foundation’s Board of Directors and staff, we wish you a very happy, creative, and inspiring new year, and we thank the artists who brought us hope, critical reflection, and joy in 2025.
