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Music Multi-Year Operating - Mid-Report

Application deadline: March 11, 2024

For questions about this program, contact Rudrapriya Rathore, Program Manager, Literary Arts & Music Operating: rudrapriya@torontoartscouncil.org

Toronto Arts Council provides funding support to outstanding artists and arts organizations that contribute to the cultural life of the City of Toronto. TAC is committed to artistic excellence, innovation, and accessibility, and supports a wide spectrum of artistic endeavor and a range of activity that makes the City of Toronto one of the leading cultural centres in Canada. Through its support, TAC cultivates a richer engagement between artists and audiences and reflects the City of Toronto through the diversity of artists, arts communities and audiences that it serves.

What does this program support?

The Music Program provides Multi-Year Operating support to professional1 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. The program aims to encourage long-term vision and planning and to provide stability for music organizations. Funding through this program supports both operations and programming. The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council. In 2023, this program is open to Orchestras, Ensembles, Presenters/ Producers & Festivals. 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.

Who can apply?

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

  • be non-profit.
  • be located in the City of Toronto and have a significant portion of its activities occurring within the City.
  • have been in operation for at least four years.
  • have received Annual Operating funding through TAC’s Music program for at least the two past years.
  • have a demonstrated record of regular, ongoing programming.
  • have professional artistic leadership.
  • have a viable administrative structure.
  • be governed by a Board of Directors or other body responsible for the organization.
  • have stable artistic, organizational and board leadership with plans in place for any transition.
  • have sound financial management and balanced budgets over time.
  • submit verification of financial results of the last completed fiscal year:
    • for requests over $30,000, audited financial statements are required;
    • for requests of $30,000 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 $30,000 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);
  • receive significant support on an annual basis from other levels of government and/or the public and/or the private sector.

Program-Specific Eligibility Requirements

In addition to the General Eligibility Requirements listed above, in order to apply for Multi-Year Operating support:

Choral Organizations must:

  • produce a minimum of three 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 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 three self-presented concerts in each season (self-presented means that the orchestra takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling).

Presenter/Producers & Festivals 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).

First-time Applicants

First-time applicants to the Multi-Year Operating program (i.e. organizations that did not receive multi-year funding last year) must speak to Music Operating Program Manager Rudrapriya Rathore prior to completing an application form to confirm that they are eligible to apply.

Can I Apply to Other TAC Grants?

Organizations may receive only one grant per calendar year through the Music program and may not apply to other TAC discipline programs. However, TAC offers other types of granting opportunities through its Strategic Initiatives envelope, and operating grant recipients may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please consult TAC’s website for other granting opportunities. Operating grant recipients may receive a maximum of one additional grant per calendar year and must submit a final report on that project before applying to another program in the Strategic Initiatives envelope.

[1] TAC recognizes that due to systemic barriers within the broader arts community (e.g. limited mainstream presentation opportunities for artists from equity-seeking communities) that some flexibility may be required in interpreting eligibility criteria to take into account equivalent professional experience and contexts. Potential applicants from equity-seeking communities are encouraged to discuss their eligibility with the program manager in advance of submitting an application.

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