Individual Arts Grants: Professional Performing Artists in Canada

Deadline: 31-May-23

The British Columbia Arts Council is inviting applications for Individual Arts Grants: Professional Performing Artists to support initiatives in the development, creation, production, realization, dissemination or live performance of classical, experimental, original, traditional and contemporary performing art forms from all world cultures.

Performing arts includes dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary, or other performing arts practices such as circus arts and comedy.

Categories

• The program supports organizations and collectives and has two categories:
  • Development and Creation supports the initial stages of the creative process including research, creation and project development.
  • Production and Realization supports latter stages of project development, production, remounts, post-production and presentation and those projects intended for presentation.

Funding Information

• Applicants may request subsistence of up to $750/week to a maximum of $15,000.
• There is no maximum request amount, but project assistance grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000. Requests for amounts beyond this range will need to articulate a clear rationale for why the project requires a higher amount. Applicants should discuss such requests with a Program Advisor prior to submitting an application.

Types of Projects

• BC Arts Council project grant programs provide one-time grants for specific projects. Project grants are not meant to cover operating or ongoing expenses.
• Grants are available in this program to support specific projects that support initiatives in the development, creation, production, realization, dissemination and/or live performance of classical, experimental, original, traditional, and contemporary performing art forms from all world cultures. Performing Arts includes dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary or other performing arts practices such as circus arts and comedy.
• Examples may include (but are not limited to):
  • Artistic research, exploration, and experimentation;
  • Composition of all genres of music, including those expressions primarily using digital technologies;
  • Playwriting projects in workshop, preproduction or production phases. Playwrights looking for funds to support initial drafts may be eligible through the Individual Arts Grants for Creative Writers;
  • Various methods of creation, either in-residence or independently;
  • Workshops and other development activities;
  • Public presentations;
  • Commissioning of new work; or
  • Subsistence to artists or arts and cultural practitioners.

Priority Groups

• The BC Arts Council has committed to targeted investment in underserved and equity-deserving organizations and the development of equity support initiatives, including a policy to support designated priority groups. Support for designated priority groups includes funding prioritization, dedicated programs, outreach, and reporting. The BC Arts Council's designated priority groups include applicants and arts and cultural practitioners who are:
  • Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) Peoples;
  • Deaf or experience disability;
  • Black or people of colour; or
  • Located in areas outside greater Vancouver or the capital region.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible, you must:
  • Be a professional independent artist and must:
    • Have worked in their discipline as a professional practitioner for at least two years following completion of basic studies and have a demonstrated body of previous work
    • Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident and have been a resident of British Columbia for at least 12 months immediately prior to the application deadline, and ordinarily reside in B.C. 
    • Have completed and submitted any overdue final reports on previous BC Arts Council grants by the submission deadline for this program.

For more information, visit British Columbia Arts Council.