Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts
About the awards
The awards were created in 1999 by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Governor General of Canada. Since then, they have celebrated the vibrant arts community in Canada and recognized remarkable careers in the visual and media arts.
Up to eight awards are distributed every year: six awards recognize artistic achievements, one award recognizes an exceptional fine craft artist (Saidye Bronfman Award) and one award recognizes an outstanding contribution to contemporary visual arts, media arts or fine craft. The winners all receive a medallion and a cash prize of $25,000 each.
The GGArts are part of the Canada Council’s suite of prizes recognizing artistic merit and outstanding contribution to the arts.
Additional information
1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414 ext. 5268
Deadline
October 5, 2025
Annual competition
Prize amount
$25,000 each
Up to 8 awards are given annually:
- 6 Artistic Achievement
- 1 Saidye Bronfman Award
- 1 Outstanding Contribution
Nomination-based
For the upcoming prize deadline, nominations will be submitted through the online portal, opening in the summer of 2025.
The Canada Council is committed to equity in all its activities, including the administration of prizes and awards.
Accessibility
If you are Deaf, hard of hearing, or a TTY user, please use your preferred MRS (Message Relay Service) or IP service to contact the Canada Council.
The Canada Council for the Arts can also receive calls from a video relay service (VRS). For more information, visit the VRS Canada website.