Grants for Individual Artists 2024
Program Guidelines

Deadline: July 11, 2024, at 11:59 pm

Thanks to all who applied for the 2024 Grants for Individual Artists program. Please see the results announcement.

Overview

We know now, more than ever, how much the arts contribute to the quality of life in our community and the larger world. The arts lift our spirits, tell our stories, connect us, inspire us, and help us to better understand ourselves and this complex planet we live on. The arts entertain us, bring us together, enable us to think in new and different ways, to see the world from various points of view, imagine alternative ways of living and being, and contribute incalculably to our economic, social, mental, and physical well-being, no matter what our ages or backgrounds. Art gives voice to the voiceless, shapes and reshapes history. As a city, we have to remember that “The Arts” come from the hard work of individual artists.

Program Guidelines

This Electric City Culture Council (EC3) program, generously supported by the City of Peterborough, is strategically designed to provide financial support to local professional artists so they can bring their imagination, dreams and visions to life and share them with Peterborough audiences. It provides essential funding for the development, creation, production, and presentation of projects, and assists artists to leverage additional funding from other sources as they advance their practice and their careers.

Goals and Objectives

This program is intended to provide local professional artists working in any discipline, at any stage of their career, with financial support to aid in the creation of art works, to provide recognition of and encouragement for their practice, and to create new opportunities for audiences to experience these works of art. Supporting individual artists at the research, development, creation, production, and presentation stages of their work strengthens the artist’s overall creative capacity and contributes to a vibrant artistic and cultural milieu, enhancing community well-being for all our residents. Direct financial support to individual artists at the municipal level makes it more likely that artists can continue to work in Peterborough. It supports programming at local arts and community organizations, opens up new opportunities for creative initiatives and enhances the sustainability of the arts in our city.

Program Summary

The Program has two components:

• Component One: Mini Development Grants for Individual Professional Artists
• Component Two: Project Production and Presentation Grants for Individual Professional Artists

Applicants may only apply to one Component of the program each year.

Program Descriptions

Component One: Mini Development Grants for Individual Professional Artists

This grant provides up to $1,500 maximum for local professional artists to undertake a program of activities that aid their creative research and development, fuel innovation and imagination, and support the sustainability and/or advancement of their practice, including, but not limited to:

• Development of new projects or ideas, research, experimentation.
• Advancing works in progress.
• Transitioning to new disciplines or mediums.
• Advancing skills and knowledge to build or strengthen their work. (professional development etc.)
• Adapting existing works or developing new approaches to creating and producing their work, or the distribution/presentation of their work, including, but not limited to, the use of new technologies or digital platforms.
• Curatorial projects, teaching projects (e.g. teaching courses or presenting general workshops), and starting new businesses are not eligible for funding.
• The program welcomes applications from professional artists working in any form/medium, or discipline, in cross-disciplinary, multidisciplinary, or interdisciplinary practice, contemporary or traditional art forms. (For work in film/video, film/video development falls under Component One, film/video production falls under Component Two.)
• Artist fees must be paid.
• This program strives to support proposals that reflect and promote the cultural diversity of Peterborough and Canada today and welcomes applications from artists in equity-seeking communities.

While Component One projects may include public presentation of a completed work or works, this is not a requirement of this Component.

Component Two: Project Production and Presentation Grants for Individual Artists

This grant provides up to $3,500 maximum to individual professional artists for the creation, production and presentation of innovative new projects or works in progress in any artistic discipline, taking place virtually or live in Peterborough, in the next two years. The program welcomes applications from professional artists working in any form, or discipline, in cross-disciplinary, multidisciplinary, or interdisciplinary practice, and in contemporary or traditional art forms. (For work in film/video, film/video development falls under Component One, film production falls under Component Two.)

Projects can take place at any location within the city or county, including new or established indoor venues, outdoor spaces, mobile activities, broadcast, banners, billboards, and publications.  For virtual projects, platforms may include social media, live streaming, websites, etc.

• This is a program of grants to individual professional artists; however, artists may work as part of collectives, ad hoc groups, or with established arts organizations, as long as the individual artist applying retains creative control of the project and all participating artists are paid.
• Project applications may include the work(s) of one artist or several. Partnerships and collaborations with other community organizations are welcome and encouraged.
• Live/in-person projects may take place anywhere in the City or County of Peterborough. Pop-ups, one-time, short-run, series, longer runs, exhibitions, or continuous project proposals are all eligible.
• Curatorial projects, teaching projects (e.g. teaching courses or presenting general workshops), and starting new businesses are not eligible for funding.
• Artists’ fees must be paid.
• This program strives to support applications that reflect and promote the cultural diversity of Peterborough and Canada today and welcomes applications from artists in equity-seeking communities.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for either Component One or Component Two of the Grants for Individual Artists Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person upon whom refugee protection has been conferred, and who are legally entitled to work in Ontario.
• Peterborough City or County resident (including Curve Lake and Hiawatha).
• Professional Artist*.
• Age 18 or over.
• Must have completed and submitted all outstanding reports from any previous EC3 grants, and had those reports approved.
• Student projects (i.e. projects undertaken as part of course credit) are not eligible for this program.

*EC3 defines a professional artist or arts professional as someone who has developed skills through training or practice, is recognized as a professional by artists working in the same artistic tradition, has a history of public presentation or publication for at least one year, seeks payment for their work and actively practices their art. Short breaks in artistic work history are acceptable.

Ineligible Expenses

Capital expenses are not eligible for grant funding in either component. Capital expenditures pay for items that will have value after the current projects are completed. Typically, these are relatively expensive items that can be used for several years, such as:

• Computers, printers, and significant technical equipment
• Artistic tools and equipment
• Office equipment and furniture
• Facility and related technical equipment
• Land, buildings, and renovations of leased spaces
• Vehicles

If you have questions about capital or other expense eligibility, please contact GFIA Program Coordinator Gabe Pollock at ec3interimprogramcoordinator@gmail.com before applying.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility

The Electric City Culture Council is committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility in all our programs and encourages applications from self-identified members of marginalized/racialized, equity seeking communities (visible and invisible), including BIPOC artists, Deaf and hard of hearing artists, artists with disabilities, new Canadians, and those artists identifying as 2SLGBTQ+.

EC3 is committed to establishing fair and equitable practices for all of our programs and services in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

Persons with disabilities of any kind are encouraged to come forward at any stage of the application process to request accommodations or support, if needed. Members of our team will consult and can adapt processes wherever possible to provide individuals with disabilities with equal opportunity to apply.

EC3 encourages applications from all those who live in our diverse community and advocates for equal opportunity for all applicants in the application and selection process. EC3 is committed to supporting and promoting diverse artists, artistic practices, and arts communities that represent a wide cross-section of Peterborough and the surrounding area, including artists who identify as Indigenous, Black, or people of colour, as well as artists with disabilities, Deaf and hard of hearing artists, and artists who are members of marginalized religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity groups. EC3 strives to make our juries, assessment committees, and review/selection panels equitable and inclusive by ensuring broad demographic representation, skills, and knowledge from the communities outlined above.

If you are a first-time applicant and need assistance with any aspect of the grant application process, please contact GFIA Program Coordinator Gabe Pollock at ec3interimprogramcoordinator@gmail.com.

Vulnerable Communities

If your project involves working with a vulnerable community (e.g. minors, people living with mental illness, economic disadvantage, etc.), EC3 may require the completion and review of a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) from any project participants who will be interacting directly with members of that community, before grant funds can be released. Proof that the participant has passed a PVSC within the last year will also be acceptable. EC3 will cover the cost of the PVSC upon request.

Application Workshops

If you have any questions about this program or the application process, EC3 will be holding a virtual Grants for Individual Artists Application Workshop on June 13, 2024 at 7:00pm via Zoom. The full video of the workshop and PowerPoint presentation are now available - see the 'Resources' section at the bottom of this page.

Please follow us on social media for information on additional workshops.

For additional grant writing guidance and advice see EC3’s Tips and Tricks for Grant Writing.

Deadline

The deadline for applications in Component One and Component Two is July 11, 2024 at 11:59pm ET. Applications will only be accepted via the Word document application form (at the bottom of this page), saved as a doc/docx, and sent by email to ec3interimprogramcoordinator@gmail.com with the subject line “Application: GFIA Component One/Two.”

If you identify as Deaf and/or as living with a disability/ies and require accommodation or assistance to develop or make an application to this program, please contact GFIA Program Coordinator Gabe Pollock at ec3interimprogramcoordinator@gmail.com for more information.

Assessment of Applications

A jury (peer assessment committee) will review all eligible applications/proposals and make recommendations to EC3 for grant funding. All jury decisions are final.

Assessment Criteria

Applications in Component One will be evaluated and selected based on the following assessment criteria:

• Quality and clarity of artist’s statement/program of activities/project proposal or description.
• Artistic merit of the artist’s statement/program of activities/project proposal or description and support materials.
• Value and impact of the project for the artist’s practice.
• Feasibility of completing the proposed program of activities (within funding request and demonstrated ability of the applicant to carry out the project).

Applications in Component Two will be evaluated and selected based on the following criteria:

• Quality and clarity of artist’s statement and project description.
• Artistic merit of the proposed program of work/activities and support materials.
• Project feasibility (budget and demonstrated ability to carry out the project as described).

Notification

EC3 will email you a notice acknowledging receipt of your submission shortly after the final application deadline. Acknowledgement indicates that your application has been received, not that it is eligible or approved. EC3 will advise you if more information or clarification on your application is required. You will be informed of the results in August 2024.

Successful Applicants

If your application is successful, EC3 will send you confirmation and a Letter of Agreement.

T4 Slips

Successful applicants will later be issued a T4A slip which should be retained for income tax purposes. A positive grant result letter will therefore include a request for your social insurance number. Without your SIN, EC3 cannot provide the grant funds. An arts grant has different tax implications depending on your individual situation. EC3 cannot provide tax advice on an individual basis. Canada Council for the Arts offers this guide to T4As.

Final Reports

All successful applicants in Components One or Two must submit a Final Report upon completion of their project. Most projects will take place within one year of receiving a grant, but successful applicants may have up to two years to complete their project and submit a Final Report. Final Report Forms will be provided along with a Letter of Agreement to successful applicants. You may not apply to the GFIA program unless your Final Report from all previous grants has been submitted and received.

Application Instructions

• Please read all the information above very carefully before completing the application form.
• Download the application form below. Ensure you are using the correct application form for the Component you wish to apply for.
• Use the checklist on the final page of the application forms to ensure you have included all the required information.
• Applications will only be accepted via this Word document form, saved as a doc/docx, and sent by email as an attachment (along with support materials and any other required documents) to ec3interimprogramcoordinator@gmail.com with the subject line “Application: GFIA Component One/Two.”

Timeline / Deadlines

• Friday, May 31, 2024: Call for Applications
• Thursday, June 13, 2024: Virtual Application Workshop (register here)
• Thursday, July 11, 2024: Application Deadline (at 11:59 pm ET)
• August 2024: Results Announced

Application Form

Download the Component One application form OR Component Two application form.

EC3 is grateful for the generous support of all the funders who make our work possible and particularly to the City of Peterborough for their direct support of this program.