TORONTO: September 2, 2026 – Access Copyright Foundation, an arm’s length foundation of Access Copyright, is pleased to announce the 25 Canadian writers, visual artists, publishers and organizations that will be receiving support in 2026 for their education and training goals.
The Foundation has awarded $60,000 in grant funding for this year to members of Canada’s creative community to further their expertise and to expand their knowledge through courses, training and workshops, traveling to and attending conferences as well as connecting with mentors for intensive mentorship.
“Great Canadian stories are fueled by the curiosity of creators and publishers,” said Foundation Board Chair Paul Seesequasis. “That quality also fuels their desire to continually learn. I remain very pleased that the Foundation can support these opportunities so they can keep growing at their craft and in their creative practices.”
The Foundation awarded its first set of Professional Development Grants in 2011. In total, over 350 Professional Development Grants have been awarded to Canada’s creative community totaling over $600,000 in grant funding for professional development, a critical reinvestment by the Foundation into our country’s cultural sector.
Access Copyright Foundation grants are awarded through a peer review process administered by SK Arts on behalf of the Foundation. Jurors for the 2026 Professional Development program were writer Donna Besel; artist and writer Erica Isomura; and writer Clea Roberts.
About Access Copyright Foundation
Access Copyright Foundation provides support to creators and organizations engaged in the development and dissemination of publishable Canadian works in the literary and visual arts. We are an arm’s length foundation of Access Copyright, a collective voice of creators and publishers in Canada.
To learn more about Access Copyright Foundation, please visit the Foundation’s website.
For a look at how Access Copyright Foundation’s grants support Canada’s creative community, please visit the Foundation’s Spotlight page.
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For media inquiries:
Robert Gilbert, Manager, Communications and Marketing, Access Copyright