Incubate: A New Pilot Funding Program

Toronto Arts Council (TAC) today announced Incubate, a pilot funding program that will assist Toronto artists in developing the earliest phase of a new work and promoting it to international markets.

“Many more Toronto’s artists deserve to be seen on the world stage,” said Claire Hopkinson, TAC’s Executive Director. “One way to assist is at the very beginning of the process, by providing funding which enables innovative concepts to be developed into fully realized proposals, ready for presentation in an intensely competitive arena.”

Joining TAC in the announcement was Janice Price, CEO of Luminato, Toronto’s Festival of Arts + Creativity. Together Price and Hopkinson announced an inventive new funding partnership to support Incubate. The $100,000 pilot program is being made possible by a contribution of $25,000 from the City of Toronto through Toronto Arts Council, matched by donors contributing through TAC’s sister organization, Toronto Arts Council Foundation (TACF). A generous commitment of $50,000 from Luminato, Toronto’s Festival of Arts + Creativity, has doubled the budget available.

Through this pilot program, TAC will assist music organizations with seed money to facilitate the early planning stages of project proposals being developed for international presentation by festivals and presenters. Applications for activities such as research, international partnership development, commissions and workshops will be accepted in 2008.
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“Luminato reaches out into the Toronto arts community through our presenting and commissioning of new local works, but we would also like to contribute to the future growth of Toronto artists by helping them to bring their ideas to the attention of presenters both here at home and internationally,” said Janice Price. “High-quality proposals created through Incubate have the potential to attract international co-commissioners who can help with the project’s development.”

At a recent focus group session held about the program, composer James Rolfe commented “It's a fantastic opportunity for creators, patrons, and audiences to come together, to go beyond their usual boundaries and become part of the worldwide creative community.”

TAC will manage all aspects of adjudication and awards. Open to applications from music organizations in the 2008 pilot year, it is anticipated that this program will be extended to other artistic disciplines in subsequent years. The 2008 application deadline is November 24. Organizations that have applied for or received a project or operating grant from TAC in 2008 are also eligible to apply to Incubate.

Click here for the application