Deadline: 17-Jun-2026
Creative Saskatchewan is accepting applications for the Tour Support Grant to help eligible Saskatchewan musicians and bands perform for new audiences in Canada and abroad. The grant supports commercially viable tours with at least six secured live public performances in more than one city or town. Applicants may request up to $15,000 or 50% of the total eligible cash budget, whichever is less.
Overview
The Tour Support Grant helps eligible Saskatchewan musicians and bands take their live performances to new audiences.
The grant supports touring opportunities within Saskatchewan, across Canada, and internationally.
It is designed for musicians and bands that have already built a local fan base and are ready to expand their market through live public performances.
Key Focus Areas
The grant focuses on touring, audience development, and music market expansion.
Key focus areas include:
- Commercially viable touring opportunities
- Saskatchewan musicians and bands
- Touring in Canada and abroad
- Live public performances
- Contracted performance fees
- Support for a current or upcoming release
- Audience growth
- Market expansion
- Measurable outcomes
- Travel expenses
- Accommodation expenses
- Per diems
- Marketing expenses
- Booking fees
- Management commissions
- Tour manager fees
- Touring activities directly related to the project
Purpose of the Grant
The purpose of the Tour Support Grant is to help Saskatchewan musicians and bands grow their audiences through live touring.
The grant supports artists who are ready to perform outside their local market and build stronger commercial opportunities.
It helps reduce the financial pressure of touring by supporting eligible costs such as travel, accommodation, marketing, performance-related expenses, and tour management costs.
Grant Amount
Applicants may apply for:
- Up to $15,000, or
- Up to 50% of the total eligible cash budget
The lower of these two amounts will apply.
Applicants may receive a maximum of two Tour Support Grants per year.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants must be from the music sector supported by Creative Saskatchewan.
Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria in:
- Creative Saskatchewan’s General Guidelines
- Tour Support Guidelines for Music
The grant is intended for Saskatchewan musicians and bands that can show a commercially viable touring opportunity.
Eligible Tour Requirements
Eligible tours must meet specific requirements.
The tour must include:
- At least six secured live public performances at the time of application
- Performances with contracted performance fees
- Performances where the general public can buy tickets
- Tour dates in more than one city or town
- Performances in different venues
- Performances of at least 30 minutes each
Shows at the same festival or event count as one tour date or public performance.
Release Requirement
The tour must support a current or upcoming music release.
The release must be:
- A current release released no more than 24 months before the first scheduled performance date, or
- An upcoming release due within six months of the latest performance date
The release must be commercially released and widely available on digital music platforms in the territory of the tour.
What the Grant Can Support
Eligible expenses must be directly related to touring and incurred during the project term.
Eligible expenses may include:
- Performance fees for musicians
- Performance fees for crew
- Booking fees
- Management commissions
- Tour manager fees
- Marketing expenses directly related to the tour
- Per diems
- Accommodation
- Travel expenses for Saskatchewan residents
- Other approved project expenses directly connected to the tour
What the Grant Cannot Support
Some activities and expenses are not eligible.
The grant cannot support:
- Activities funded by SK Arts
- Activities funded by SaskCulture
- Expenses not directly related to the tour
- Ineligible expenses that exceed 50% of the project budget
- Touring activities that do not meet the minimum public performance requirements
- Performances without contracted fees
- Performances where the public cannot purchase tickets
Applications may be deemed ineligible if ineligible expenses exceed 50% of the total project budget.
Assessment Process
Applications that do not qualify for fast-tracked approval will be assessed through an external assessment process.
Strong applications should clearly explain:
- The tour project
- Target audience
- Touring timeline
- Project team
- Market strategy
- Expected outcomes
- Market opportunity
- Budget
- Sales goals
- Audience growth goals
- Market expansion goals
The application should show how the tour will create measurable results for the artist or band.
Acknowledgement Requirements
Successful recipients must acknowledge Creative Saskatchewan’s support.
Recipients must:
- Include Creative Saskatchewan’s logo on promotional materials for the supported tour
- Acknowledge receipt of the grant on professional social media platforms
These requirements help recognize the public support provided through the programme.
Why It Matters
Touring is an important way for musicians and bands to grow their audience, build industry connections, and develop new markets.
For many artists, touring can be expensive because of travel, accommodation, crew costs, marketing, booking fees, and other logistics.
The Tour Support Grant helps reduce these barriers so Saskatchewan musicians can reach more listeners, strengthen their careers, and increase their commercial opportunities in Canada and abroad.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear and complete application that demonstrates tour readiness, market potential, and measurable outcomes.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should first confirm that they meet Creative Saskatchewan’s General Guidelines and the Tour Support Guidelines for Music.
They should also confirm that the tour and release meet all programme requirements.
Step 2: Secure Live Public Performances
The tour must include at least six secured live public performances at the time of application.
Applicants should ensure that each performance:
- Has a contracted performance fee
- Is open to the public
- Allows the public to purchase tickets
- Is at least 30 minutes long
- Takes place in more than one city or town
- Takes place in different venues
Step 3: Connect the Tour to a Release
Applicants should clearly explain how the tour supports a current or upcoming release.
The release must be commercially available on digital music platforms in the tour territory.
Step 4: Prepare a Tour Strategy
The application should explain the purpose of the tour and how it will help the artist or band grow.
The strategy should include:
- Target markets
- Audience profile
- Tour route
- Marketing plan
- Expected attendance
- Sales opportunities
- Media or promotional activity
- Market expansion goals
Step 5: Prepare a Realistic Budget
Applicants should prepare a clear eligible cash budget.
The budget should show:
- Total project cost
- Requested grant amount
- Eligible expenses
- Artist or applicant contribution
- Other confirmed or expected income
- Direct connection between costs and tour activities
Step 6: Show Measurable Outcomes
The application should explain what success will look like.
Measurable outcomes may include:
- Increased ticket sales
- Audience growth
- Merchandise sales
- Streaming growth
- New market entry
- Media exposure
- Industry connections
- Growth in social media engagement
- Expanded fan base in specific cities or regions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Applying with fewer than six secured performances
- Including performances that are not open to the public
- Including shows without contracted performance fees
- Submitting tour dates in only one city or town
- Not connecting the tour to a current or upcoming release
- Including a release that is not widely available on digital platforms
- Submitting an unclear budget
- Including too many ineligible expenses
- Not explaining the audience or market opportunity
- Failing to show measurable outcomes
- Forgetting acknowledgement requirements after receiving funding
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should be market-focused, realistic, and clearly connected to career growth.
Useful tips include:
- Show that the tour is commercially viable.
- Provide evidence of confirmed performances.
- Clearly identify the target audience.
- Explain why each tour market matters.
- Connect the tour to a current or upcoming release.
- Provide a practical marketing plan.
- Make the budget clear and eligible.
- Show measurable goals such as audience growth, sales, or market expansion.
- Explain the role of team members, managers, booking agents, and crew.
- Demonstrate that the tour can help build long-term career momentum.
FAQ
1. What is the Creative Saskatchewan Tour Support Grant?
The Tour Support Grant helps eligible Saskatchewan musicians and bands take their live performances to new audiences in Saskatchewan, Canada, and international markets.
2. How much funding is available?
Applicants may apply for up to $15,000 or 50% of the total eligible cash budget, whichever is less.
3. How many grants can an applicant receive per year?
Applicants are eligible for a maximum of two Tour Support Grants per year.
4. What is the minimum number of performances required?
Eligible tours must include at least six secured live public performances at the time of application.
5. Must performances be paid?
Yes. Performances must be for contracted performance fees.
6. Does the tour need to support a release?
Yes. The tour must support either a current release released no more than 24 months before the first performance date or an upcoming release due within six months of the latest performance date.
7. What expenses are eligible?
Eligible expenses may include musician and crew fees, booking fees, management commissions, tour manager fees, marketing expenses, per diems, accommodation, and travel expenses for Saskatchewan residents.
Conclusion
The Creative Saskatchewan Tour Support Grant provides important support for Saskatchewan musicians and bands ready to grow beyond their local audience.
With funding of up to $15,000 or 50% of eligible cash costs, the grant helps artists undertake commercially viable tours connected to a current or upcoming release. Strong applications should include confirmed performances, a clear tour strategy, realistic budget, measurable outcomes, and a strong plan for audience growth and market expansion.
For more information, visit Creative Saskatchewan.
