2025 Developing Artist Grants - Call for Nominations & More Awards Coming!
January 27, 2025
The Hnatyshyn Foundation is very happy to announce the call for nominations for this year’s Developing Artist Grants for performing arts students, as well as some exciting news about additional awards!
Norey Lau, 2024 Developing Artist Grant laureate for Contemporary Dance. Choreographer: Andrew Clifton. Photo: Jeremy Mimnagh.
The Developing Artist Grants
To foster excellence in new talent, The Hnatyshyn Foundation assists the most promising young Canadian performing artists enrolled in post-secondary educational or training institutions. Grants of $12,500 are awarded annually in the following disciplines:
Classical music (orchestral instrument - strings)
Classical music (orchestral instrument - winds, brass, percussion)
Classical music (piano)
Classical vocal performance (The Carl and Trudy Michailoff Grant)
Contemporary dance
Jazz performance (The Oscar Peterson Grant)
Acting (English theatre)
Acting (French theatre)
Instructors at Canadian universities and performing arts colleges are invited to review the nomination guidelines on our website and submit a nomination by March 31st.
Deadline to nominate a student: March 31st 2025
Deadline for nominees to submit their application: April 28th 2025
To give candidates ample time to prepare their submission materials, we recommend that schools submit nominations as early as possible.
To nominate a student, please see the guidelines at the link below.
We look forward to receiving nominations and to seeing the candidates’ performances!
The Carl and Trudy Michailoff Developing Artist Grant for Classical Vocal Performance & Runner-up Grants
This year, the Developing Artist Grant for Classical Vocal Performance is generously supported by Andrea Michailoff Russell, in honour of her late parents, Carl and Trudy Michailoff.
About Carl and Trudy Michailoff
Carl and Marjorie “Trudy” Michailoff were Toronto-based patrons of the arts who shared a particular affinity for the opera. In explaining their wish to leave a legacy gift in support of the arts, the late Mr. Michailoff said: “the celebration and enjoyment of the arts has been an essential, vibrant and emotional part of our lives, and it is our sincere hope this gift allows others to appreciate the intrinsic beauty it holds. Investing in the next generation ensures the longevity of creative expression and the joy it provides.”
The Hnatyshyn Foundation is extremely grateful for the trust and vision of the Michailoff family. Their decision to honour their parents by supporting the next generation of artists is deeply meaningful.
Runner-Up Grants
We are thrilled to announce that the runners-up of our Developing Artist Grants will receive a grant of $4,000 each this year. This expansion is partly supported by the Michailoff family.
There is no shortage of promising young artists and we look forward to supporting their development in even greater numbers this year!
Ian Sabourin, 2024 Developing Artist Grant Runner-Up Grant for Classical Vocal Performance. Photo: Curtis Perry.
The year ahead: Expanding and increasing our support
In the words of our founder, the Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, “Artists have the ability to create beauty out of chaos and to find meaning in the midst of confusion. They help us to make sense of our world, and to imagine new and better possibilities for the future.”
The mission of our Foundation is to enrich the legacy of Canadian art and strengthen the bonds that unite us as a nation. In 2025, we thus look forward to empowering exceptional Canadian artists and curators through grants, awards and residencies. In addition to our regular programs, we will be:
awarding the five inaugural Gerda Hnatyshyn Launch Grants of $10,000 each to assist the most promising Canadian performing artists in the years immediately following their education or training in the performing arts;
expanding the Digital Arts Resource Centre Indigenous Residency, valued at over $10,000, to Indigenous artists residing anywhere in Canada;
awarding additional grants of $3,000 each to the three runners-up of our William and Meredith Saunderson Prizes for Emerging Artists; and,
as noted above, awarding up to 8 awards of $4,000 each to the runners up for our Developing Artist Grants.
We are delighted that with these new and expanded awards are growing the legacy of Ray and Gerda Hnatyshyn, whose unwavering commitment to the arts inspires our work.
Change of address
We are excited to be moving to a new space! Please note our new address, 123 Slater Street, Suite 610, Ottawa, ON, K1P 5H2.
From all of us at the Foundation, we wish you a new year full of creativity, good health, and happiness!
