Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Commission Prize

• The artwork must be presented at the City of Hamilton 2027 Arts Awards Event, which will take place as part of Hamilton Arts Week Festival (date TBD).
• Due to time limitations at the event, if the artwork is a full-length play, album, film or other longer work, the commissioned artist will be asked to select an excerpt for presentation. 
• The commission fee is $2,000 CAD. This fee includes the recipient’s artist fee and all costs related to the creation / production of the artwork.
• The Arts Awards program will provide support and resources to assist with the public presentation of the work (e.g. equipment rental, audio / visual equipment, artist fees for performers other than the commission recipient, staffing to assist with installation, etc.). A budget of approximately $500 per commission has been allocated for costs related to the presentation of the artwork.
• The commissioned artists will retain all moral rights and copyright to the artwork. As part of the terms of the commission, the City will license the artworks for the promotion of and display at the Arts Awards event; the artist will take possession of the work following the event.
• The commissioned artists will be expected to prepare an initial project proposal in early 2027 for feedback and provide a more detailed proposal once additional event details and location are confirmed. The commission fee will be paid subject to the approval of the project proposal by the Director of Tourism and Culture or their designate.

Eligible Applicants

• Individual artists who are 18 years of age or older or an artistic collective (e.g. band, duo, troupe, collaborative, etc.) whose members are 18 years of age or older. Note, performers under the age of 18 years are permitted provided the project leaders / lead applicants are 18 years or older.
• Artists or majority of collective members (minimum 75%) have been practicing professionally for less than five (5) years.
• Current resident of Hamilton (including Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, Stoney Creek, Waterdown), Six Nations of the Grand River or Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation consecutively for the past two (2) years or longer at the time of submission. Artistic collectives are eligible for nomination provided that a minimum of 75% of the collective has lived in Hamilton, Six Nations of the Grand River or Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation consecutively for the past two (2) years or longer. 
• Must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) or have an application pending for Permanent Residency.
• May be self-taught or have art training through formal education, apprenticeship, or with a mentor or elder.

Ineligible Applicants

• Full-time students are not eligible to apply (high school or post-secondary students in an art program).
• Previous Shirley Elford Emerging Artist Prize winners are not eligible to apply.
• Previous City of Hamilton Arts Awards recipients are not eligible to apply, with the exception of Emerging Artist award recipients.

A Selection Panel composed of local arts professionals and emerging artists representing a variety of disciplines and community groups will evaluate the applications. The panelists will select the strongest application based on an established scoring criteria. Adjudication will take place in Spring 2026 and Prize recipients announced at the City of Hamilton 2026 Arts Awards Event.