Ontario Arts Council’s Music Organizations Operating Grant Program (Canada)

Deadline: 16-Oct-24

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has launched the Music Organizations Operating Grant Program to support Ontario-based, not-for-profit organizations and for-profit book and magazine publishers that meet the assessment criteria for ongoing support.

Purpose

• The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, opera companies, orchestras, choral organizations and other music-mandated producers and presenters in Ontario. They include:
• opera companies
  • orchestras (also includes semi-professional, nationally designated youth training)
  • choral organizations (also includes semi-professional, community choirs, training organizations)
  • music-mandated producers and presenters (e.g., series, festivals, contemporary music organizations)

Priorities

• activities that engage Ontario and Canadian professional musicians and support the work of Ontario and Canadian composers and songwriters, unless restricted by genre (e.g., early music ensemble)
• activities that support public access to a broad range of music forms and the development of audiences
• activities that, in addition to the above, may contribute to arts education, public participation and community involvement in the arts in Ontario
• activities that advance the development of music in Ontario

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants
  • Ontario-based, not-for-profit corporations, or national not-for-profit corporations with a head office in Ontario
  • Organizations must have:
    • at least $75,000 in total revenue for the last fiscal year, and in projected revenue for the current and requested years (for applicants not currently receiving funding from this program), with the following exception:
      • opera companies must have at least $100,000 in total revenue for the last fiscal year, and in projected revenues for the current and requested years
      • orchestras must have at least $200,000 in total revenues for the last fiscal year, and in projected revenue for the current and requested years
    • at least two years of sustained, regular, ongoing programming, as of the application date. If your organization does not meet this requirement, consider applying for project funding
    • a range of revenue sources
    • an active board of directors/governing body
  • Music organizations must:
    • actively support Canadian music by hiring professional Ontarian and Canadian performers, and by performing the music of professional Canadian composers/songwriters (unless restricted by mandate: e.g., Baroque orchestra)
    • produce and/or present curated music programming that reflects a defined artistic mandate
  • Orchestras must:
    • be professional, semi-professional or a nationally designated orchestral training organization
    • have completed at least two full seasons by the application date, with a minimum of two self-presented concerts with a different repertoire in each season
    • provide evidence of professional artistic leadership (conductors, core players, etc.) in the case of semi-professional orchestras
  • Choral organizations must:
    • provide evidence of professional artistic leadership (conductors, rehearsal pianists section leads, etc.) in the case of choral organizations that include some amateur singers
  • Opera companies must:
    • have production of professional opera as the core mandate
    • produce a minimum of two operas per season in the case of companies that produce standard repertoire
    • undertake workshops each season of operas being developed for future productions in the case companies dedicated to the development and production of new work
  • Music festivals must:
    • have core programming that occurs within a concentrated time period

Ineligibility Criteria

• Ineligible applicants
  • non-arts organizations
  • municipalities, colleges and/or universities
  • presenting facilities
  • organizations or programming that are attached to, or operate directly as part of, religious institutions
  • organizations that do not have music programming as their primary mandate
  • entertainment/variety presenters, trade shows, and conferences
  • music competitions

For more information, visit Ontario Arts Council.