COMMUNITY ARTS

PROJECT Grants for organizations and collectives

The Community Arts Project Grants program provides funding to professional arts organizations and community groups for community-engaged arts projects that demonstrate vision and excellence, and to amateur arts organizations for projects involving professional artistic leadership. 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, but the collaborative involvement of professional artists with community members is a necessary component.

• Applicants must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives that operate on a not-for-profit basis.
• A collective is defined as a group of two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project or on an ongoing basis. This funding cannot be used to support an organization’s ongoing staff or faculty salaries. This program does not support schools, tuition-funded training programs, or curriculum-based programs.
• Applicants must be located within the City of Toronto and the activity for which the grant is requested must occur within the City of Toronto.
• Applicants may receive only one grant per calendar year through Toronto Arts Council.

Funding Categories

Applicants may apply in one of four categories:

1. Community Arts Residency:

This category provides support to community groups wishing to host a professional artist over a significant period of time. In a community arts residency, the artist brings her/his art form to the community, working with a variety of community members in a way that encourages maximum participation in every aspect of the artmaking. The process of collaboration is as important as the resulting artistic product.

2. Arts Access

This category provides support for arts programs in underserved neighbourhoods and communities. Applicants may include community service organizations, professional arts organizations and artists’ collectives. Grants in this category are intended to help overcome barriers to participation in the arts. Examples of possible barriers are age, physical ability, geography, or socio-cultural and economic barriers. Maximum grant in this category is $10,000.

3. Community arts festivals:

This category supports fees and salaries for professional, Toronto-based artists and artistic directors participating in community-based arts celebrations. Eligible events can include festivals, pageants, and multi-disciplinary events that celebrate a particular neighbourhood or community. The arts must be the central focus of the celebration. Please note that the funding priority for this category is the cost of the professional artistic fees and salaries. Requests may not exceed 30% of the project budget. Maximum grant in this category is $10,000.

4. Artistic Development:

This category provides assistance to amateur arts organizations for special projects that will increase their artistic skills, knowledge and range of creative expression. For example, an amateur theatre company may wish to hire a professional director or acting coach, a visual arts guild may wish to bring in a workshop leader with special expertise, etc. The grant is for the fees of the professional artist(s) leading the Artistic Development project. Requests may not exceed 50% of the project budget. Maximum grant in this category is $4,000.

2008 application deadlines:

New applicants to the Community Arts Projects program are advised to contact Community Arts Officer Dan Yashinsky prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 202, yashinsky@torontoartscouncil.org

ANNUAL OPERATING grants for community arts organizations

Objectives

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.

TAC contributes to the development of community arts in Toronto by supporting community-engaged arts activity that demonstrates vision and excellence. In addition to funding professional arts organizations engaged in community arts activities, TAC recognizes the vital contribution amateur arts organizations make to the cultural life of Toronto and provides funding opportunities to assist these groups to access professional artistic leadership.

General Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Annual Operating funding, an applicant must:

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.

2008 application deadline: March 3

New applicants to the Community Arts Annual Operating program are advised to contact Community Arts Officer Dan Yashinsky prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 202, yashinsky@torontoartscouncil.org

DANCE

PROJECT grants for individual choreographers, dance organizations and collectives

The Dance Projects program provides funding to professional choreographers, organizations and collectives for the creation, production and presentation of dance works, and other projects that support the development of dance in Toronto. The program recognizes a diversity of dance practices, including traditional, classical and contemporary, urban, culturally diverse and Aboriginal dance practices. The City of Toronto provides the funding for this program through its Community Partnership and Investment Program.

• Individuals must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents (Landed Immigrants) or have an application pending for Permanent Resident Status. If requested, you must be able to provide documentation to verify this.
• Individuals must have been a resident of the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the deadline, and live and work in Toronto for at least 8 months a year. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet the residency requirement.
• Choreographers must have completed at least 1 (one) year of independent dance practice and a minimum of 5 (five) publicly performed pieces.
• Professional artists who are pursuing a graduate degree may not apply for work related to their thesis.
• Individuals may receive only one grant per calendar year through this program, but may be eligible to apply to other TAC programs.

• Organizations and collectives must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives which operate on a non-profit basis. A collective is defined as two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project (ad hoc) or on an ongoing basis. At least 50% of the members of the collective must live in Toronto.
• All members of an organization or collective must have completed at least one year of independent dance practice.
• Organizations and collectives must be located in the City of Toronto. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet this requirement.
• Organizations and collectives may receive only one grant per calendar year through TAC.

• Choreographers who operate a company that receives Operating support from TAC
• Organizations or collectives that receive Operating support from TAC
• Dance schools
• Undergraduate students

Funding categories

You may apply in one of four categories:

• Creation:

This category supports choreographic creation, including research and development, exploration and commissions. Some form of presentation (e.g., in-studio, with invited peers or public) must be included as part of the process. If you create your work in stages, you may apply for funding for different stages of creation, but remember you can only receive one grant in a calendar year from TAC. The maximum grant in this category is $8,000.

Eligible expenses include:

• Production & Presentation:

This category supports creation, rehearsal, production and presentation of fully developed dance works, including the remount of repertoire. The maximum grant in this category is $10,000.

Eligible expenses include:

• Dance Series and Festivals:

This category supports dance series and festivals. The maximum grant in this category is $10,000.

Eligible expenses include:

• Dance Field Development:

This category supports projects that develop and advance the practice of dance in Toronto, and/or contribute to an understanding and appreciation of dance. Projects can include dance technique or choreographic workshops, laboratories, conferences, etc. Professional development projects must benefit a group; individual professional development projects are not eligible. Individuals are not eligible applicants in this category. The applicant must be an organization or collective. The maximum grant in this category is $8,000.

Eligible expenses include:

TAC will not fund 100% of a project, except in the Creation category. Applicants to the Production/Presentation, Series/Festivals and Dance Field Development categories must indicate a range of revenue sources, which may include donated goods and services.

2008 application deadlines:

New applicants to the Dance Projects program are advised to contact Dance Officer Soraya Peerbaye prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 221, soraya@torontoartscouncil.org

ANNUAL OPERATING grants for dance organizations

Objectives

The Dance Program provides Annual Operating support to professional non-profit dance organizations (both incorporated and unincorporated) engaged in the creation, production, presentation and preservation of dance, and other activities that contribute to the development of dance, dance artists, and dance audiences in Toronto. 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.

General Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Annual Operating funding, an applicant must:

Organizations must conduct their dance 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

2008 Application deadline: February 1

New applicants to the Dance Annual Operating program are advised to contact Dance Officer Soraya Peerbaye prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 221, soraya@torontoartscouncil.org

Multi-Year Operating (2007 recipients) – Mid-Cycle Report

Dance organizations that received Multi-Year Operating funding in 2007 are required to submit a Mid-Cycle Report by March 3, 2008. Your 2008 grant will not be released unless you have submitted a mid-cycle report.

Please contact Grants Officer Soraya Peerbaye at 416-392-6802 ext. 221. soraya@torontoartscouncil.org

LITERARY

PROJECT Grants for literary organizations and collectives

The Literary Projects program provides funding to professional, non-profit, Toronto literary organizations and collectives for one-time or time-limited literary projects involving production, presentation and other activities that support the development of the literary arts in Toronto. These grants contribute to the direct costs associated with a literary project, including artistic fees, production and technical costs, marketing and publicity costs, administrative costs, etc. The City of Toronto provides the funding for this program through its Community Partnership and Investment Program.

General Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives which operate on a not-for-profit basis. A collective is defined as a group of two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project or on an ongoing basis.

Organizations/collectives must be located within the City of Toronto and the activity for which the funding is requested must occur within the City of Toronto.

Organizations/collectives may receive only one grant per calendar year through TAC.

The payment of artist fees is a requirement in this program.

This program does not fund publishing or book/publication launches.

2008 application deadlines:

New applicants to the Literary Projects program are advised to contact Literary Officer William Huffman prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 208, william@torontoartscouncil.org

ANNUAL OPERATING grants for literary organizations

Objectives

The Literary Program provides Annual Operating support to professional non-profit literary organizations (both incorporated and unincorporated) engaged in the presentation, dissemination and/or other activities that contribute to the development of the literary arts, literary artists and literary audiences in Toronto. 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.

General Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Annual Operating funding, an applicant must:

Organizations must conduct their literary 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.

2008 application deadline: March 3

New applicants to the Literary Annual Operating program are advised to contact Literary Officer William Huffman prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 208, william@torontoartscouncil.org

• A minimum of 1 book, or
• A minimum of 4 texts of creative writing published in literary magazines, recognized periodicals or anthologies, or
• A minimum of 40 pages of articles published in literary magazines, recognized periodicals or anthologies, or
• A minimum of 10 published poems, or
• Artists working with oral traditions must have a substantial history of public performance and be recognized as mid-career or senior artists by their peers.

• Applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents (Landed Immigrants) or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this.
• Applicants must be current residents of the City of Toronto and must have lived in the City for at least one year prior to the application deadline.
• Full-time undergraduate students are not eligible.
• Applicants may receive a grant through Toronto Arts Council’s Writers or Playwrights Program only once every two years.

academic textbooks or books designed primarily for an educational/scholarly market
anthologies or collections that include a number of writers’ works
calendars, daybooks, agendas or almanacs
catalogues of exhibitions
children's activity books
commissioned works, including industrial or business histories or biographies
cookbooks
directories
Film, video or television scripts
index compilations or bibliographies of minimal critical content
instruction or self-help books or manuals
professional reference books aimed at a specialized audience
promotion or book launches
publishing
translation or tuition fees
travel or food guides

Application Package - Grants to Writers

2008 Grants to Writers Application (ADOBE PDF)

Music

PROJECT Grants for music organizations and collectives

The Music Projects program provides funding to non-profit, Toronto music organizations and collectives to pursue one-time or time-limited music projects involving production, presentation, dissemination and/or other activities that support the development of music in Toronto. These grants contribute to the direct costs associated with a music project, including artistic fees, production and technical costs, marketing and publicity costs, administrative costs, etc. The City of Toronto provides funding for this program through its Community Partnership and Investment Program.

The Music Program seeks to support a diverse range of musical forms with a high priority given to applicants that demonstrate a commitment to the performance of works by Canadian composers.

General Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives which operate on a not-for-profit basis. A collective is defined as a group of two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project or on an ongoing basis.

Organizations/collectives must be located within the City of Toronto and the activity for which the funding is requested must occur within the City of Toronto.

Organizations/collectives may receive only one grant per calendar year through TAC.

The payment of artist fees is a requirement in this program.

This program does not fund recording projects, music competitions, awards or award ceremonies.

2008 application deadlines:

New applicants to the Music Projects program are advised to contact Music Officer Brenda L. House prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 212, brenda@torontoartscouncil.org

ANNUAL OPERATING grants for music organizations

Objectives

The Music Program provides Annual Operating support to non-profit music organizations engaged in the creation, production and presentation of music, and other activities that contribute to the development of music, music artists, and music audiences in Toronto. 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.

Priorities

The Music Program supports a diverse range of musical forms with a high priority given to organizations that demonstrate a consistent commitment to the development and performance of original works by Canadian composers.

General Eligibility Requirements

Organizations must conduct their music 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.

Program Eligibility Requirements

In addition to the General Eligibility Requirements listed above, in order to apply for annual operating support,

Choral Organizations must produce a minimum of two self-presented concerts with different repertoire in each season (self-presented means that the choral organization takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling).

Opera/Music Theatre organizations must produce a minimum of two operas per season, for companies mandated to present standard repertoire, or undertake workshops, for companies dedicated to new work development.

Orchestras, Bands, Ensembles must have a minimum of two self-presented concerts in each season (self-presented means that the orchestra takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling).

Producer/Presenters must present professional, curated music programming that reflects a defined artistic mandate. Series presenters must demonstrate a track record of self-presented, ongoing performances (self-presented means the organization takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling).

Priorities

The Music Program supports a diverse range of musical forms with a high priority given to organizations that demonstrate a consistent commitment to the development and performance of original works by Canadian composers.

General Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Multi-Year Operating funding, an applicant must:

Program Eligibility Requirements

In addition to the General Eligibility Requirements, in order to apply for multi-year operating support:

2008 application deadline: March 3

Applicants to the Music Multi-year Operating programs are advised to contact Music Officer Brenda L. House prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 212, brenda@torontoartscouncil.org

Multi-Year Operating (2007 recipients) – Mid-Cycle Report

Choral organizations that received Multi-Year Operating funding in 2007 are required to submit a Mid-Cycle Report by March 3, 2008. Your 2008 grant will not be released unless you have submitted a mid-cycle report.

Please contact Grants Officer Brenda L. House at 416-392-6802 ext. 212. brenda@torontoartscouncil.org

• Applicants must be practicing professional artists and have maintained an independent practice for at least one year.
• Applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents (Landed Immigrants) or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this.
• Applicants must be current residents of the City of Toronto and must have lived in the City for at least one year prior to the application deadline.
• Full-time undergraduate students are not eligible.

• Manufacturing, distribution or promotion
• Purchase of equipment, computer software, instruments, etc.
• Recording projects
• Travel, touring
• Professional development, training or study

Theatre

PROJECT Grants for theatre organizations and collectives

The Theatre Projects program provides funding to professional, non-profit, Toronto theatre organizations and collectives for one-time or time-limited theatre projects involving creation, production, presentation, dissemination and/or other activities that support the development of theatre in Toronto. These grants contribute to the direct costs associated with a theatre project, including artistic fees, production and technical costs, marketing and publicity costs, administrative costs, etc. The City of Toronto provides the funding for this program through its Community Partnership and Investment Program.

The Theatre Program is strongly committed to the development and performance of works by Canadian writers.

General Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives which operate on a not-for-profit basis. A collective is defined as a group of two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project or on an ongoing basis.

Organizations/collectives must be located within the City of Toronto and the activity for which the funding is requested must occur within the City of Toronto.

Organizations/collectives may receive only one grant per calendar year through TAC.

The payment of artist fees is a requirement in this program.

• February 1 for projects commencing after June 1
• August 1 for projects commencing after November 1

ANNUAL OPERATING grants for theatre organizations

Objectives

The Theatre Program provides Annual Operating support to professional non-profit theatre organizations (both incorporated and unincorporated) engaged in the creation, production and presentation of theatre, and other activities that contribute to the development of theatre, theatre artists, and theatre audiences in Toronto. 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.

Priorities

In addition to the objectives stated above, the Theatre Program is strongly committed to the development and performance of works by Canadian writers.

General Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Annual Operating funding, an applicant must:

Organizations must conduct their theatre 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.

2008 application deadline: March 3

New applicants to the Theatre Annual Operating program are advised to contact Theatre Officer Margo Charlton prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 201, margo@torontoartscouncil.org

Multi-Year Operating (2007 recipients) – Mid-Cycle Report

Theatre organizations that received Multi-Year Operating funding in 2007 are required to submit a Mid-Cycle Report by March 3, 2008. Your 2008 grant will not be released unless you have submitted a mid-cycle report.

Please contact Grants Officer Margo Charlton at 416-392-6802 ext. 201. margo@torontoartscouncil.org

• Applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents (Landed Immigrants) or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this.
• Applicants must be current residents of the City of Toronto and must have lived in the City for at least one year prior to the application deadline.
• Writing projects in languages other than English or French are accepted if the writing sample is accompanied by an accurate English translation.
• Applicants may receive a grant through Toronto Arts Council’s Playwrights or Writers program only once every two years.

• Film, video or television scripts
• Publishing
• Translation.
• Production costs associated with mounting a stage production or broadcasting a radio play.

Application Package - Grants to Playwrights

2008 Grants to Playwrights Application (ADOBE PDF)

Visual and Media Arts

PROJECT Grants for visual and media arts organizations and collectives

Visual and Media Arts Projects provides funding to professional, non-profit Toronto visual and media arts organizations and collectives for one-time or time-limited projects involving the exhibition or distribution of contemporary visual or media arts and/or other activities that support the development of the visual arts/media arts in Toronto. Funding through this program contributes to the direct costs associated with an organization/collective’s visual arts or media arts project, including artistic fees, installation or technical costs, marketing and publicity costs, interpretation and documentation costs, administrative costs, etc.

The City of Toronto provides the funding for this program through its Community Partnership and Investment Program.

General Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives which operate on a not-for-profit basis. A collective is defined as a group of three or more artists or two or more curators working together under a group name, either on a single project or on an ongoing basis.

Organizations/collectives must be located within the City of Toronto and the activity for which the funding is requested must occur within the City of Toronto.

The payment of artist fees is a requirement in this program.

Organizations/collectives may receive only one grant per calendar year through TAC.

This program does not fund student exhibitions or screenings, the creation or production of individual visual or media artworks, publication projects, awards or award ceremonies, or curatorial/programming research.

Applicants applying for exhibition and/or screening projects (including festivals) must present the work of visual and/or media artists in a curatorial or critical context and must have a well-focused audience development plan. Organizations/collectives applying to exhibit the work of their own members must likewise have a clearly defined curatorial or critical framework informing the selection and exhibition of work.

At the time of application, organizations/ collectives applying for exhibition and/or screening projects (including festivals) must have already selected the artists or artworks they wish to present or, at minimum, have developed clear critical or curatorial objectives and be able to provide a list of artists and/or artworks under consideration.

2008 application deadlines:

New applicants to the Visual and Media Arts Projects program are advised to contact Visual/Media Arts Officer William Huffman prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 208, william@torontoartscouncil.org

ANNUAL OPERATING grants for visual and media organizations

Objectives

The Visual and Media Arts Program provides Annual Operating support to professional, non-profit, visual and media arts organizations engaged in the exhibition and distribution of contemporary visual and media artworks, support of the production of visual and media artworks and other activities that contribute to the development of visual and media arts, artists and audiences in Toronto. The City of Toronto provides the funding for this program through its Community Partnership and Investment Program.

Visual and Media arts groups supported through this program include: artist-run and public galleries, distribution organizations, arts service organizations, production cooperatives, festivals, exhibition groups and artists’ or curatorial collectives.

General Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Annual Operating funding, an applicant must:

Organizations must conduct their Visual and Media 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.

2008 application deadline: March 3

New applicants to the Visual and Media Arts Annual Operating program are advised to contact Visual/Media Arts Officer William Huffman prior to completing an application form in order to confirm eligibility. 416-392-6802 ext. 208, bill@torontoartscouncil.org