Scholarships & Bursaries
The annual Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Arts Council’s Excellence in Arts Awards support the artistic achievements, aspirations and professional development of young people who have demonstrated exemplary achievement in the Arts. The merit-based awards provide scholarship funds for study at an accredited post-secondary university or college.
Scholarship amounts are a minimum of $1,500 per student.
Scholarships are intended to support post-secondary school education tuition and fee expenses.
Funding will be released into the account of the post-secondary institution of the applicant’s choice upon proof of registration and class enrollment. Students must also submit a thank you letter to the MRPM Arts Council Board of Directors, prior to claiming their award.
Students will have two (2) years following the date of issue to redeem an award.
Eligibility
Currently enrolled Secondary School seniors (Grade 12) who live and/or attend high school in Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows (The SD42 school district) and who plan to attend an accredited post-secondary institution may apply for a scholarship.
Download these forms to fill out your application:
How to Apply
All applications & submissions must be submitted in digital PDF format to learning@arts-on.org. No hard copy submissions will be accepted.
Please submit (pdf files please):
Your application form
An artistic statement
A statement of how the funding will allow you to pursue future education
Your artistic resume
Statement of school marks issued from your school
Minimum of two reference letters
Please review the information document carefully for details on what material to prepare for each discipline.
Please include your name and what the file is in the name of each of your files, e.g. “Lori Ceasar, visual arts submission, application letter.pdf”
Successful applicants will be contacted and will be required to either audition/interview in-person or send a video, which will be determined by the Arts Council in February/March 2026.
Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Please contact learning@arts-on.org with any questions.
2025 Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Arts Council Awards Recipients
Congratulations to the 2025 recipients of the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Arts Council’s Excellence in Arts Awards for the outstanding achievements in the Arts. Best wishes with your post-secondary endeavors.
Finley Ludeman
Garibaldi Secondary School
Visual & Media Arts
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Next year I will be attending the University of British Columbia starting my Bachelor of Design in Architecture.
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"The environment continues to be my biggest inspiration in life and through my art, I aim to highlight local environmental and political issues in my pieces"
Gillian Booth
Garibaldi Secondary School
Visual & Media Arts
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In the fall of 2025, I will be attending Concordia University in Montreal, QU. I have chosen to major in painting and drawing and minor in education, hoping to get my teaching certificate and teach art back in BC.
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“As artists, it is hard not to compare ourselves to others; it was this that held me back from creating for so many years. It was not until I took art as a filler class in high school that my teacher reignited my spark, helping me realize that art is not about being the best. Art is about community, individuality, hate, love, whatever you need it to be, which is what makes it so special.”
Kianna Allock
Garibaldi Secondary School
Visual & Media Arts
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My plan for the future is to become the next generation of innovative animators. I will be attending the Vancouver Film School - Classical Animation program in September.
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“My art has been positively influenced by the community of artists and mentors that I have been surrounded by”.
Luke Drafi
Maple Ridge Secondary School
Music
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This fall, I will be attending the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. I plan to pursue a career as a business owner, using my leadership skills and creativity to guide my future endeavours.
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“Piano has pushed me to grow in ways I never expected. It’s taught me that stepping outside your comfort zone is where the real progress happens.”
“Music has shown me the value of patience, discipline, and passion—lessons I carry with me in everything I do, especially as I look ahead to a future in business.”
Mattie Stapler
Thomas Haney Secondary School
Visual & Media Arts
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I will explore animation at BCIT, through their 3D Modeling, Art, and Animation diploma program. I plan to start during the May intake of 2026. This program will take 2 years to complete.
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“Through the unwavering support from my friends, family and loved ones, I have gained the confidence to not only continue my artistic journey, but to thrive in it. I have gained, from these people who inspire me, the security to truly embrace what I love”.
Arts Program Bursary
The ACT Art Centre strives to make programs affordable for all residents of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. As such, it offers The ACT Access Pass, which helps to offset the cost of arts learning programs for students of any age.
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Each application covers one term of one program per student.
Applications must be received a minimum of 10 days prior to the program start date.
Applicants must live in Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows
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Due to limited funds each year, financial assistance is not guaranteed. Bursaries may cover up to 75% of the costs of the program, but could be awarded for less, depending on funding. Bursaries are non-transferable. Any awarded bursary is applicable only to the person and program for which it was applied.
Travelling expenses are not eligible for funding and any funding awarded must be applied only to the cost of the as program noted in the application. Awards exceeding $500.00 per year will be issued a T4A in compliance with Revenue Canada requirements.
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You are a resident of Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows.
And your family’s combined total income from line 150 of your Notice of Assessment(s) is less than the amount allowed for your family size – see the Family Size & Income Table below to learn your total income maximum number.
And you have all the required documents.
How to Apply
Complete the application below.
Make sure you include the course number you want the bursary to apply to.
Attach proof of income (previous year Notice of Assessment for each person contributing to the household; Social Assistance; Disability Benefits; Employment Insurance, or Income tax return {line 433}). Income is based on the total combined income of the household.
Attach address-related bill (hydro, gas, internet, cable, landline or cell phone).
Submit the Google Forms Application.
Next Steps
The Arts Learning Programs Department staff will review your application, which may take up to 10 business days. Incomplete applications cannot be processed.
You will be notified by phone or email regarding the status of your ACT Bursary
The ALP Manager will contact the City of Maple Ridge registration desk to confirm your bursary. When you register for the program, the cost will be reduced by the bursary amount.
Family Size & Income Table
Statistics Canada, 2023 - Before Tax Low Income Cut-offs (based on a community size of 30,000-99,999)
Family is defined as one primary applicant and/or their legally married or common-law partner, and their legal dependents.
Family income is the total income, line 150 of Notice of Assessment(s) for all family members contributing to the household. (Income includes taxable and non-taxable income including, child support, long term disability, workers compensation, foreign investments and income and benefits or pension).
It does not include child tax benefits or universal child tax credits.
Please Note: If you do not meet the outlined criteria but would like to request a review of your family income and/or circumstance, please submit your application, and supporting documents, along with an explanation for the consideration. A coordinator and/or manager will contact you within 1 to 2 weeks. Special consideration is made on a case-by-case basis.
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