COMMUNITY ARTS ANNUAL OPERATING grants for organizations
The Community Arts Program provides Annual Operating support to non-profit Toronto arts organizations (both incorporated and unincorporated) engaged on an ongoing basis in community arts. Funding through this program supports both operations and programming. The City of Toronto provides the funding for this program through its Community Partnership and Investment Program.
Art practiced at a community level creates a powerful sense of inclusion, understanding, and the possibility of self-expression among participants. It can involve one or more art practices, such as music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and storytelling. The collaborative involvement of professional artists with community members is a necessary component.
General Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for Annual Operating funding, an applicant must:
- be non-profit;
- have professional artistic leadership and pay appropriate professional fees to artists;
- be located in the City of Toronto and have a significant portion of its activities occurring within the City;
- have a history of sustained community arts activity over the two years prior to this application;
- have received a minimum of two project grants through TAC’s Community Arts program. (Grants awarded through the Appeal process are not counted);
- have a viable administrative structure;
- have sound financial management;
- submit verification of financial results of the last completed fiscal year:
- for requests over $15,000, audited financial statements are required;
- for requests of $15,000 or less, if annual operating revenues are $100,000 or more, a review engagement is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements);
- for requests of $15,000 or less, if annual operating revenues are under $100,000, unaudited financial statements that include a balance sheet and a statement of income and expenses is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements or a review engagement);
- demonstrate a range of revenue sources on an annual basis, including earned, government and private sector revenues;
- be governed by a Board of Directors or other body responsible for the organization.
- Schools, tuition-funded training programs and curriculum-based programs are not eligible to apply to this program.
- Organizations must conduct their community arts activities on an annual, ongoing basis either throughout the year or on a seasonal basis. A single project does not constitute annual or seasonal activity.
- Organizations, whose level of activity varies from season to season, in keeping with their mandate, must describe their multi-year creation and production cycle. Annual and biennial festivals that have completed a minimum of two editions are also eligible.