ArtsNL awards more than $100K for School Touring Program

ArtsNL has awarded $100,804 in grants to support six artistic tours in schools across Newfoundland and Labrador.

The funding, announced Feb. 5, includes support from a $50,000 anonymous donation dedicated to arts in education. The contribution helped expand the reach of this year’s School Touring Program, allowing more students to experience live performances and workshops in their classrooms.

The School Touring Program provides grants to professional artists, groups and not-for-profit arts organizations across a range of disciplines. The initiative is designed to bring high-quality artistic programming into schools while supporting curriculum objectives.

“Through the School Touring Program, artists create engaging experiences that meet students where they are,” said Melanie Martin, executive director of ArtsNL, in a statement. “These visits broaden access to the arts for young people across Newfoundland and Labrador, supporting classroom learning while sparking imagination.”

Funding recipients for 2025-26 include:

• Nickel Film Festival (St. John’s) — $17,200

• Sarah Newell (Humber Valley) — $16,344

• Silver Wolf Band (Happy Valley–Goose Bay) — $20,000

• Soundbone Traditional Arts Foundation (Ladle Cove) — $16,000

• Stephenville Festival Inc. (Stephenville) — $15,142

• Tara Manuel (Corner Brook) — $16,118

The School Touring Program is delivered in partnership with the provincial Department of Education through its Cultural Connections initiative, which aims to strengthen cultural content in school curricula and foster closer ties between artists and school communities.