Contemporary Arts provides financial assistance to artists through the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC), support to the film industry through the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation (NLFDC), and to the music industry through the programs of MusicNL. It encompasses supporting artistic expression of the province's unique and diverse culture through all forms of artistic endeavour, and sustaining dynamic and diverse cultural industries, including cultural export. Programs include: the arts component of the Cultural Economic Development Program (CEDP), Publishers Assistance, Cultural Events, the Arts and Letters Awards. Visual arts are also supported through the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Art Procurement Program of the Rooms Corporation. As well, the Division takes a lead in special projects as they arise, such as the Cultural Olympiad of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and the 2010 Juno Awards in St John’s.
Individual artists and arts groups/organizations whose principal activity is the creation, production, promotion, or development of theatre, music, dance, film, writing, or visual arts. Students and amateur artists (Arts and Letters). Individuals, private companies, not-for-profit organizations, partnerships, cooperatives, and provincially-based sectoral organizations whose principal activity is in one of the following: Visual Arts; Performing Arts (music, theatre, and dance); Literary Arts; Book and Periodical Publishing; Film and Video; and Sound Recording. The Arts Division also acts as a direct liaison and partner, where appropriate, with other departments of the provincial government, with municipal governments and the federal government and its agencies, to support the growth and development of the cultural industries of Newfoundland and Labrador.