Blue Creators Grant

The Blue Creators Grant, one of three grant types currently offered by COLC, provides a unique opportunity where art meets science, helping to transform the way we think about and engage with the ocean. We invite creators to harness the power of artistic approaches to help bridge the knowledge – action gap.

 

Through the Blue Creators Grant, we empower creators to use their art form as a community-driven, participatory tool to spark crucial ocean conversations, deepening public understanding of ocean science, building emotional connections, and igniting possibilities and pathways for community-led ocean-climate action.

 

Eligibility & Scope

This grant empowers creators of all sorts to employ their skills in a wide range of projects, including but not limited to:

 

  • Visual arts projects (e.g., interactive installations)
  • Performance arts (e.g., musical performances, circus performances, dance)
  • Digital multimedia content creation (e.g., documentary film, animations)
    • Projects that create 1. interactive, participatory, dynamic installations that 2. evoke conversation, understanding, connection, building ocean-climate action connections/behaviours
    • In which the creation (be it an installation, performance, or other) is used or mobilized in such a way to create an interactive, participatory experience with a target audience or broader public, with the aim of helping to strengthen ocean-climate understanding, building emotional connections, and inspiring pathways for community engagement/action.

To be considered for the Blue Creators Grant, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

 

  1. Applicant must be 16 years of age or older.
  2. Applicant must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada and currently living somewhere in Canada.
  3. Applicant must demonstrate interest in, experience of, and/or a commitment to science communication through their creative work.
  4. Applicant must submit a completed application, including a 1-2 minute video.
 

The application form will be available once the grants for 2025 are live.

 

  1. The call for funding applications will be open for over a month. The creative project being proposed must happen anytime between February 1 and August 31, 2024.
  2. There was a total of $21,000 in funds for this grant call for 2024. 
  3. The online application form will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Be sure to complete all fields, including the uploading of one sample piece of your work (PDF, video file, jpeg, website link, etc).

Gallery

Here’s a peek at what this year’s Blue Creators got up to over the years!

Each year, Ocean Week Canada features artist-led talks, creative community workshops, concerts, and immersive experiences across the country. These artist-led creations, musical events, and activities flow into the national program of Ocean Week Canada events every June. Meet the Ocean Week Canada featured artists and the Blue Creators Grant recipients and view all their events by visiting the OWC Artists Space.

More questions? Contact Meghan Callon meghan@colcoalition.ca, the Communications & Design Manager at COLC.