This program is now closed for applications. Read the results announcement, including a list of successful project.

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, 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. “The arts” come from the hard work of individual artists.

This new Electric City Culture Council (EC3) program is strategically designed to provide financial support to local artists so they can bring their imagination, dreams and visions to life and share them with audiences. This is a Pilot Project designed and delivered by EC3 and funded by a generous contribution from the City of Peterborough, with additional funds from EC3.

Program Summary

The Program has two components:

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

Program Descriptions

Component One: Mini Development Grants for Individual Professional Artists

This grant provides up to $1,500 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
• Adapting existing works or developing new approaches to creating and producing their work, or distribution/presentation of their work including, but not limited to, the use of new technologies or digital opportunities

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

The program welcomes applications from professional artists working in any form, or discipline, in cross-disciplinary, multidisciplinary, or interdisciplinary practice.

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.

Component Two: Project Production and Presentation Grants for Individual Artists

This grant provides up to $3,500 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. Projects may include works in any artistic discipline or combination of disciplines, in any form, for any location within the city or county, including new or established indoor venues, outdoor spaces, mobile activities, broadcast, banners, billboards, publications, and/or for virtual projects including: social media, live streaming, websites, etc.

• This is a program of grants to individual artists; however, artists may work as part of collectives, ad hoc groups, or with established arts organizations, as long as the individual artist retains creative control over the project.
• Project proposals 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, or continuous project proposals are all eligible.
• Artists’ 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.

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Canadian citizens, permanent residents or persons 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
• Student projects are not eligible for this program
• Have completed and submitted all outstanding reports from previous EC3 grants

*EC3 defines a professional artist or arts professional as someone who has developed skills through training or practice, is recognized 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.

Equity and Inclusion

The Electric City Culture Council is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 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 are encouraged to come forward at any stage of the application process to request accommodations, 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, selection, and assessment committees equitable and inclusive by ensuring broad representation from the communities outlined above.

If you are a first-time applicant and need assistance with the process, please contact the EC3 Program Coordinator Gabe Pollock at ec3.research@gmail.com.

Vulnerable Communities

If your project involves working with a vulnerable community (e.g. minors, those 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 Workshop

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 21, 2022 at 7:00pm via Zoom. Register here for the workshop.

Deadline

The deadline for applications in Component One and Component Two is July 7, 2022 at 11:59pm.

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 EC3 Program Coordinator Gabe Pollock at ec3.research@gmail.com for more information.

Assessment of Applications

A Peer Assessment Committee will review applications/proposals and make recommendations to EC3 for funding.

Assessment Criteria

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

• Quality and clarity of artist’s statement
• Artistic merit of the program of activities and value for the artist’s practice
• Feasibility of the proposed plan of activities (funding request and demonstrated ability 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 program of activities
• Project feasibility (budget and demonstrated ability to carry out the project)

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 by August 2, 2022.

Successful Applicants

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

Application Instructions

• If you would like to apply to the Program of Grants for Individual Artists Component One or Component Two and receive funding, please read all the information above very carefully before completing the application form
• 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 form to ensure you have included all the required information.

Applications will only be accepted via the fillable PDF, sent by email to ec3.research@gmail.com with the subject line “Application: GFIA.”

Timeline / Deadlines

• June 14, 2022: Call for Proposals
• June 21, 2022: Application Workshop
• July 7, 2022: Call for Proposals Deadline (at 11:59 pm)
• August 2, 2022: Results Announced

Download a copy of the full Program Guidelines and Application Forms (PDF).