Music Recording Projects Program (Canada)

Deadline: 17-May-23

The Ontario Arts Council is offering grants to the recording of music by Ontario-based musicians including composers, songwriters and beat producers.

Purpose

• The program has two categories:
  • Demo/EP recordings:
    • EP recording of a series of songs that may be released individually or as a short album, less than 25 minutes, intended for public release
    • Demo recordings for the purpose of demonstrating newly developed work for labels, funders, presenters, promoters, festivals, etc. These recordings may or may not also be intended for public release
  • Full-length album: a single work or collection of compositions, 25 minutes minimum, recorded for public release in physical format or an online platform. The album is only considered complete after it has been publicly released.
• Note: Projects are only considered complete once the recording is publicly available (except for demos not intended for release).

Priorities

The program’s priorities are to support:

• music created by Ontario composers/songwriters as well as works by other Canadians. If your project features non-Ontario composers, a compelling case should be made for how the project will add to what is currently available to the public (for example, currently unrecorded, rare music, or a foremost performer of the music of a specific composer)
• projects that enhance the range of recorded music available to the public (locally, nationally and internationally)
• projects that are ready or nearly ready to begin recording

Funding Information

• Demo/EP recordings: maximum $4,000
• Full-length album: maximum $10,000
• Important: Due to the number of applications received and the limited funds available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants include Ontario-based:
  • individual professional artists and arts professionals
  • ad hoc groups and collectives
  • organizations
• In some project programs, municipalities, colleges, universities, school boards, First Nations and schools administered by a First Nations or Indigenous Education Authority are eligible.
• An individual must:
  • be a professional artist or arts professional
  • be 18 years of age or older
  • be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, or have an application pending for permanent resident status and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this.
  • be a resident of Ontario
• To establish residency in Ontario, you must have lived in Ontario for at least 12 consecutive months before submitting an application. This applies to new Ontario residents and former Ontario residents returning after frequent or long-term absences.
• An ad hoc group or collective must:
  • have at least 50 per cent of its members residing in Ontario (or both members in the case of two-person collectives)
  • not be a corporation
  • be able to deposit a grant cheque in the name of the ad hoc group or collective
• Note: Ad hoc groups are formed for a one-time project, while collectives have ongoing activity.
• An incorporated not-for-profit organization must:
  • be incorporated in Ontario or federally
  • have a head office in Ontario
  • be governed by a volunteer board of directors or an advisory board
• A for-profit organization must:
  • be an Ontario-based, Canadian-owned book or magazine publisher eligible for funding in OAC’s publishing programs
  • be incorporated in Ontario or federally
  • have a head office in Ontario
• A college or university must:
  • be Ontario-based
  • present or produce professional Ontario artists, arts professionals, arts groups, arts collectives or arts organizations
  • be registered through the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities
  • have a staff member responsible for arts programming
• A municipality, school board, First Nation, or school administered by a First Nation or an Indigenous administered authority must:
  • be Ontario-based
  • engage professional Ontario artists, or present, produce or publish the work of professional Ontario artists, arts groups, arts collectives or arts organizations
  • have a staff member responsible for arts programming

Ineligible

• recording studios
• record companies, record labels, managers, agents and lawyers
• municipalities, colleges, and universities
• schools
• religious institutions

For more information, visit Ontario Arts Council.