Frequently ASked questions
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How do I know if I qualify as a Yukon artist?
You will be considered a Yukon artist for the purposes of the Yukon Prize application if you have been a resident of the Yukon for at least two years as of November 16, 2026. Being a Yukon resident means that you consider the Yukon to be your primary place of residence and you would usually have at least one piece of government issued ID with your Yukon address on it. It is not necessary to submit the ID with your application but you may be asked for verification.
Yukon First Nation artists who are not currently Yukon residents but who have maintained a significant connection to the Yukon are also eligible. A significant connection might be, for example, regular visits to the Yukon, participation in cultural events, etc.
Can an artist collective apply?
Yes. Artist collectives can apply, provided the submitted artworks were created collaboratively by the collective and are attributed to the collective as a whole.
If you apply as part of a collective, an individual in the collective cannot also submit a separate application in the same cycle. You’ll need to choose one or the other.
If a collective becomes a finalist or receives a prize, the award is shared equally among all members of the collective.
How do I apply? Does it cost money to apply?
There is no cost to apply.
The Prize Guidelines are available on the website and provide all the information you need to start planning your application.
Can I submit a paper application if I don’t have access to a computer?
Yes, paper applications may be delivered or sent to Mary Bradshaw, Yukon Arts Centre, Box 16 Whitehorse, YT Y1A 5X9 or emailed to paper-submissions@yukonprize.ca. Any non-digital material will be scanned for the jury.
Please contact Mary Bradshaw mary.bradshaw@yac.ca for a paper copy.
What is the definition of professional artist?
You do not need to be a “professional artist” to apply. Any artist, whether working full-time or part-time, is welcome to apply for the Yukon Prize.
I need help filling out the application, who can I contact?
There is a list of people on our Resources page at the end of the Prize Guidelines who you can contact for advice.
Does the art work need to be new work?
The work does not have to be new work created just for the Yukon Prize. It can be existing work, including work that has already been exhibited or sold or that has won an award elsewhere, as long as the work is your original work and was created within the last ten years, i.e. after November 16, 2016, and you have good photos of the artwork and can make it or similar work available for the Finalist’s Exhibition if you are selected as a finalist.
CAN I INCLUDE A WORK IN PROGRESS AS ONE OF THE ARTWORKS IN MY APPLICATION?
Yes, if you have not completed one of your artworks, it can still be included in your application as a work in progress.
It would be helpful to explain what your vision is for the completed artwork in the notes about this artwork.
I have a short video which is relevant to my work. How do I include it?
Include a link to where the video is (e.g. Vimeo, Youtube). This link could go in the description of the artwork or in your Artist’s Statement.
Will I get a confirmation that my application has been received?
Yes, you will receive an automatic confirmation once you submit your application.
Where can I get advice on how to write an artist's statement?
We have some helpful videos on our Resource page that can help.
Check out the Blog posts on this website. One of the earlier Blog posts is called How to write a Bio and an Artist’s Statement and has tips and links to useful resources.
Which artworks should I include in my submission?
You can submit 4 to 8 original works, produced since November 16, 2016. Choose works that represent your best work, keeping in mind that the award recognizes “excellence by Yukon visual artists” and work that demonstrates both technical proficiency and an original voice. See the criteria which are set out in the Rules.
I have a series of related works. Should I group them together as one artwork or is each a separate artwork?
Whether the pieces are considered one artwork depends on how closely related the artworks are.
Could each work live independently or is it only complete when they are shown together?
If you think the piece is only complete when all are together, then you would probably consider it to be one work of art.
This is a subjective question for you to answer.
If you are entering multiple pieces as one artwork, you might want to explain the relationship between the pieces and how they form one artwork in the “about artwork” section of the application. You are only allowed to submit a maximum of 3 photos per artwork, so if you are submitting several items as one artwork, you would likely want to submit at least one photo showing all of the pieces together, and use the other 2 photos to highlight details of the component pieces.
