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Grants to Ontario Professional Artists for Writing and Producing New Music

Music Creation and Audio Recording Program Grants


Agency
Local

GrantWatch ID#
159275

Funding Source
Toronto Arts Council (TAC)
Array ( )

Geographic Focus
Canada:Ontario: Toronto ;

Important Dates
Deadline: 09/05/23 11:59 PM Save

Grant Description
Grants of up to $10,000 to Ontario professional musicians in eligible regions for music projects. Funding is intended to support the creation and production of new music. Individuals may apply for funding in the areas of recordings and compositions. The purpose of funding is to create original work involving all types of music. Applicants must reside in Toronto.

Toronto Arts Council’s Music Creation & Audio Recording program offers grants to practicing professional artists to assist them in the writing and production of their original music. This program will support new work in any/all genres of music. 

Applicants may apply in one of the three following categories:

Creation 

  • For artists looking for funding to support the writing/composition phase of new work. Grants awarded in this category can assist with paying oneself (and additional contributors, as applicable) artist fees to create and compose original music, and other project costs (e.g., the cost of copying and preparing performing parts, etc.). Recording costs are eligible only if they are directly related to the writing process.

Recording - Demo/EP 

  • For artists looking for support to create a short form recording in a home-based or professional facility, provided that it is not your own. A short-form recording is any recording that is considered substantially shorter in length compared to the standard in your artistic community, and is often for the purpose of demonstrating newly developed work for others in the music community (labels, funders, presenters, promoters and/or festivals) or for limited/online release direct to your audience. Grants for Demo/EP recordings can assist with artistic costs, production costs, mixing, editing, and mastering by professionals other than yourself. Packaging, design, and manufacturing costs (maximum 500 units) are eligible, only if the work is completed in professional facilities. You may also include web design and online media management costs to a maximum $500 if they are associated with the proposed recording project. 

Recording - Full-Length

  • For artists looking to undertake the production of a full-length audio recording in one or more professional facilities that regularly charge a fee to a variety of artists to record and produce work. The applicant must be the originator/composer of the majority of the material for the recording. Grants for full-length audio recording can assist with producer costs and artist costs (yourself and additional contributors). This category also supports costs associated with recording, mixing, editing, mastering, packaging, design, and manufacturing costs (maximum 1,000 units), provided the work is completed in professional facilities. You may also include web design and online media management costs to a maximum $1000 if they are associated with the proposed recording project. A small portion of the work may be completed in home-based facilities, but these costs are not eligible for support in this category. 

TAC Accessibility grant:

Projects involving Deaf artists and artists with disabilities may apply for an additional TAC grant by completing the Accessibility Expenses section of the application and including the requisite information in their budget. A TAC Accessibility grant will provide funds towards accessibility costs for artists incurred during the project. Accessibility costs include but are not limited to: ASL interpretation, audio description, closed captioning, communications assistants, attendant care (including helpers for Elders), support workers and equipment rentals or other supports required to meet artists' accessibility needs).



Recipient

Additional Eligibility Criteria
You must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status and, if requested, be able to provide verification documentation. (Grant recipients must have a Social Insurance Number.)

You must be a current resident of the City of Toronto who has lived in the City for at least one year prior to making this application Note: A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet the residency requirement.

You must be a professional artist who has maintained an independent practice for at least one year. TAC defines a professional artist as someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice; is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic tradition; actively practices their art; seeks payment for their work; and has a history of public presentation.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

TAC recognizes that due to systemic barriers within the broader arts community (e.g. limited mainstream presentation opportunities for artists from equity-seeking communities) that some flexibility may be required in interpreting eligibility criteria to take into account equivalent professional experience and contexts. Potential applicants from equity-seeking communities are encouraged to discuss their eligibility with the program officer in advance of submitting an application.

The Foundation welcomes and encourages applications from all Toronto artists, including but not limited to: Indigenous artists, artists of color, artists who are Deaf, have disabilities or are living with mental illness, artists who self-identify as 2SLGBTQIAP, newcomer and refugee artists, young and emerging artists and artists working outside the downtown core.

Ineligible
Undergraduate students are not eligible to apply. Professional artists who are pursuing
graduate studies may not apply for work related to their degree.

Music videos, professional development and touring/travel expenses, and expenses incurred outside the City of Toronto are not eligible for funding.

Professional Development and Touring/Travel expenses are not eligible for funding.

Recording - Demo/EP:
- You cannot expense studio fees if you are using your own studio.
- Projects seeking funding solely for manufacturing, online media management, and web design costs are not eligible for funding. Grants awarded in this category do not fund costs associated with the writing/composition of new work.

Recording - Full Length:
Projects seeking funding solely for manufacturing, online media management, and web design costs are not eligible for funding. A small portion of the work may be completed in home-based facilities, but these costs are not eligible for support in this category. You cannot pay yourself artist fees. Grants awarded in this category do not fund costs associated with the writing/composition of new work.

TAC does not fund retroactively. Projects that are completed before results are announced are not eligible for funding.

For more information on exclusions, see: https://torontoartscouncil.org/TAC/media/tac/Grants/2023%20Guidelines/2023-Music-Creation-and-Audio-Recording-guidelines.pdf#page=3

Pre-Application Information
Application Deadline: September 5, 2023

Applications must be submitted on TAC Grants Online no later than 11:59 pm on the deadline date.

Notification will be received within three months of the deadline date.

Application Accessibility Support for Deaf Persons or Persons With Disabilities Applicants who are Deaf or have a disability and need support to complete their grant applications can apply for funds to cover the costs of assistance from Application Support Service Providers. Up to $500 is available per eligible applicant in each calendar year. Please contact your Grant Program Manager at least six weeks before the grant program deadline to determine eligibility, request application support funding, and to review the process for payment to be made to your Service Provider. Requests for application support require approval from the Grant Program Manager. Additional information: https://torontoartscouncil.org/grant-programs/application-accessibility-support

Application Information: https://torontoartscouncil.org/grant-programs/discover-tac-grants/online-application

Application Deadlines: https://torontoartscouncil.org/grant-programs/discover-tac-grants/deadlines

Tips and Resources: https://torontoartscouncil.org/grant-programs/tips-and-resources

Estimated Size of Grant
Creation: maximum grant $5,000
Recording - Demo/EP: maximum grant $4,000
Recording - Full-Length: maximum grant $10,000
TAC Accessibility Grant: up to $5,000

Term of Contract
- The Project Start Date must be after you receive the notification of results (November 30).
- All projects must be completed within two years of the date that the Notification Letter was
issued.

Contact Information
Application: http://tac.smartsimple.ca/

Questions? Contact:
Christy DiFelice, Music Program Manager
416-392-6802 extension 202
christy@torontoartscouncil.org

Toronto Arts Council
26 Grand Trunk Crescent, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario, M5J 3A9
Phone: 416-392-6800
Fax: 416-392-6920

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