Windsor Endowment for the Arts (WEA) and Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards Seek Nominations/Applications for 2026 Awards

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The Windsor Endowment for the Arts (WEA) and the City of Windsor are partnering once again to deliver the 2026 WEA awards and grants celebration as well as the Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards (WMAA). The biennial awards and grants were last presented in 2024. This year, WEA and the City will present the awards in late May/early June 2026. Details of that celebration are still being worked out between the partners and will be shared closer to the event date.

Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards 2026

Launched in 2014, The Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards (WMAA) celebrate and recognize those individuals and organizations that support locally developed arts — providing exciting, surprising, and meaningful opportunities to strengthen Windsor’s creative community. Only Windsor residents are eligible for the WMAA. Applications/nominations for the WMAA will be accepted from Friday, February 6, to Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Visit Mayor's Arts Awards (CityWindsor.ca) to apply. There are three categories for the WMAA:

  • Individual Artist - $1,500, plus a keepsake award. Presented to an individual artist engaged in a broad spectrum of activities having to do with creating, practising, or demonstrating art. Art is broadly conceived to include all genres and disciplines, including performance, visual, literary, media, and design.
  • Arts Organization - $1,500, plus a keepsake award. Presented to an arts organization that demonstrates a clear commitment to creating, practising and demonstrating art within the community.
  • Arts Volunteer - $1,000, plus a keepsake award. Presented to an individual that supports the arts by providing their own time and services without receiving payment for their volunteer work.

Windsor Endowment for the Arts Awards and Grants 2026

Launched in 2010, the Windsor Endowment for the Arts (WEA) Arts Awards and Grants program is a biennial granting program offered to recognize and support creative projects from a diverse range of homegrown talent from Windsor-Essex.

Any resident of Windsor and Essex County can apply for the WEA awards and grants. WEA welcomes applications via their WEA online application portals now through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, for one of their 11 art grants totalling $31,000; or for nominations for one of their 4 Art Leadership Awards of merit.

The WEA Arts Awards and Grants available for 2026 are:

  • Arts Leadership Awards - Four awards of merit are presented to recognize and celebrate outstanding individuals, philanthropists, businesses and/or organizations devoted to the arts in the following areas: Community Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts.
  • Emerging Artist Grants - $3,000 each. Four grants are presented to support the professional and creative development of emerging artists with 2 to 7 years of professional arts practice. These grants include Emerging Artist in Film Arts Grant, Emerging Artist in Literary Arts Grant, Emerging Artist in Performing Arts Grant, and the Lois Smedick Emerging Artist in Visual Arts Grant.
  • Arts Infrastructure Grants - $3,000 each. Four grants are presented to individual professional artists/arts professionals, ad hoc groups, collectives, organizations, and businesses dedicated to developing the arts. These grants include Community Arts Grant, Performing Arts Music Infrastructure Grant (New), Performing Arts Theatre Infrastructure Grant (New), and the Carolyne Rourke Visual Arts Infrastructure Grant.
  • Elizabeth Havelock Grant in the Arts - $3,000. One grant is presented to foster and support the artistic excellence of a mid-career artist with 7 to 15 years of professional arts practice in any artistic discipline. This grant has been increased by $1,000 this year.
  • The Morris and Beverly Baker Foundation Youth Grant in the Arts - $2,000. One grant is presented to a graduating high school student who will pursue visual art studies at the post-secondary level.
  • The Eric Jackman Youth Grant in the Arts - $2,000. One grant is presented to a graduating high school student who will pursue performing arts studies (music or theatre) at the post-secondary level. This grant has been increased by $1,000 this year.

    Quotes

    “The Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards program remains one of the key components of Council’s overall significant investment in arts, culture, and heritage in Windsor. I am pleased to once again partner with WEA to present our awards together in a meaningful way that celebrates a broad spectrum of artists, arts organizations, and creatives. This year, I have increased the financial honorarium component of the three Windsor Mayor’s Arts Awards by $500 each. In Windsor, we are focused on Investing Responsibly to strengthen our future. As always, these programs provide a further opportunity to support, encourage and recognize our local artists while building on Windsor’s proud history of investment in our creative community. I encourage folks to apply for this recognition, and to join us in the spring when we celebrate together once again.”
    - Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens

    “Celebrating the vibrant spirit of our region, we once again invite local artists to apply for WEA art grants. The arts play a vital role in enriching cultural life, fostering connection, and contributing to a strong and engaged community. Through these grants, we aim to invest in artistic practice that strengthens our cultural landscape and supports the continued growth of the arts across our region."
    - Veronica Barris, President, Windsor Endowment for the Arts

    Please visit www.wea-arts.com and Mayor's Arts Awards (CityWindsor.ca) for the latest information.

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