Toronto Arts Council
Grants at a Glance
Toronto Arts Council 26 Grand Trunk Crescent, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M5J 3A9 www.torontoartscouncil.org
Toronto Arts Council Grants at a Glance
TORONTO ARTS COUNCIL
What is Toronto Arts Council? Toronto Arts Council is funded by the City of Toronto to support the development, accessibility and excellence of the arts in our city. We offer grants to Toronto-based arts organizations and professional artists. We advocate on behalf of the city’s artists to increase arts awareness, access, participation and appreciation. We support cultural diversity and innovation in arts creation and presentation. We provide outreach to ensure that the entire city is represented in our programs.
About TAC’s Granting Programs TAC supports the disciplines of Community Arts, Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Theatre and Visual/ Media Arts. The two main grants programs at TAC are: Project Grants are one-time grants available to organizations and collectives for specific projects and are not meant to cover operating or ongoing expenses. Grants to Individual Artists provide project-specific support for the creation of works of art. Operating Grants are designed to provide ongoing support to arts organizations for both their operations and programming.
Peer Review TAC grants are awarded through the peer assessment process, meaning that all grants are evaluated by a committee or jury of professional artists and arts administrators within a given discipline. The peerreview process is a valuable tool in ensuring transparency, equity and rigour in grants evaluation. Visit www.torontoartscouncil.org or talk to a Grants Officer in your discipline for more information about grants programs.
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Toronto Arts Council Grants at a Glance
TORONTO ARTS COUNCIL
Are you Eligible to Apply for a Toronto Arts Council Grant? This checklist of General Guidelines will help you determine if you are eligible to apply for a TAC grant. An individual artist must ... Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (landed immigrant) or have an application pending for Permanent Resident Status. Have been a resident of the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the deadline, and live and work in Toronto for at least eight months per year. Be a ‘professional’ artist, which the TAC defines 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 his or her art; seeks payment for his/her work; and has a history of public presentation.
An organization or collective must ... Be located and operating in the City of Toronto. Be an incorporated non-profit organization or a non-profit collective (two or more artists working together under a group name). Have a track record of arts activity. Have a viable administrative and financial plan for meeting the proposed activities. Have received two project grants in order to be eligible for operating funding. Only receive one TAC grant per calendar year.
Only receive one TAC grant per calendar year.
*Note: Each program at Toronto Arts Council has its own discipline-specific guidelines. Visit www. torontoartscouncil.org for complete program guidelines or contact the Grants Officer for your discipline.
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Toronto Arts Council Grants at a Glance
TORONTO ARTS COUNCIL
Frequently Asked Questions: I just moved to Toronto. Can I apply? No, you must live in the city for at least one year prior to the deadline. We do not accept post office box numbers as evidence of residency. I’m currently doing my MFA in Toronto. Can I apply? Yes, professional artists pursuing graduate studies may apply but not for work related to your program of study. Undergraduate students cannot apply. I was an artist in my home country. I’ve been in Toronto for four years and have an application pending for permanent residence as a refugee claimant. Am I eligible to apply? Yes, Toronto Arts Council was the first funding body to accept applications from people seeking Permanent Resident status. You may be requested to provide documentation about your claim. When will I get the results? Applicants will be notified of the results, in writing, approximately three months after the closing date. Results are not released over the telephone. What can I spend the money on? Grants are intended to cover the direct costs of creation, production, operations, subsistence and materials, depending on the program. Read the application carefully to understand what expenses are eligible. Subsistence costs include, rent or mortgage payments, groceries, utility bills, costs associated with transportation, etc. Creation or material costs could include things such as equipment, production costs, research materials, computer maintenance, etc. We do not request receipts. The grant is taxable income.
How does the assessment process work? Depending on the program, TAC grants are assessed by either a jury or committee of independent practicing artists and arts professionals. Jury and committee members are selected to reflect a balance of gender, cultural diversity, and stage of career. After reading all grant applications within each program deadline, each jury and committee meets as a group to discuss, score and award grant applications in a rigorous process facilitated by the Grants Officer. I have two great projects that I’m working on. Can I apply for both? No, you can only apply for one project per deadline. If you are unsure which one might have a better chance phone the Grants Officer to discuss your application. I received a grant a few years ago and am not sure if I sent in a report. Does it matter? I did complete the project. Yes, it matters. As part of the conditions of receiving public money you are requested to send in a final report. You will not be able to apply for another grant until we receive all outstanding final reports. Final reporting is an important tool for TAC to evaluate our programs and advocate for increased funding. I applied last year and wasn’t successful. If I call the Grants Officer what can they tell me? The jury deliberations are confidential and comments made during the proceedings will not be released. However, the grants officer can explain the process and let you know if your grant was complete and clear. Does Toronto Arts Council own my work if I get a grant? No, TAC does not own any part of the work it funds through its grants programs. 5
Toronto Arts Council Grants at a Glance
Ready to Write Your Grant?
Top Ten Grant Writing Tips... 1
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Contact your Grants Officer First-time TAC applicants must speak to a Grants Officer before applying and it is always a good idea to discuss your application with any funder in advance of the submission deadline. Write down all of your questions and think about your project idea in preparation for this discussion.
Give Yourself Adequate Time Successful grant writing is not done at the last minute. You should be researching and formulating ideas for your grant application at least two months prior to the deadline.
Read the Guidelines Always read the program guidelines and application form thoroughly to determine that your proposed work is eligible and a strong fit with the funding program’s deadlines and objectives.
Determine Artistic Vision and Goals Think about your artistic vision and what you want to accomplish with the work. Talk about the project with others and articulate its unique artistic merits and importance.
Write Clearly and Directly 5
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Answer all of the questions as directly as possible and thoroughly outline the steps that will be taken and partners engaged to successfully complete your project. If you are not sure about the meaning of a question, ask your Grants Officer.
Toronto Arts Council Grants at a Glance
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Outline Your Action Plan Clearly outline the steps that will be taken to ensure the successful completion of your project. Think about questions a jury may ask. Ensure that your plan is detailed and in line with your proposed budget and objectives.
Create a Realistic Budget Research the real cost of activities, materials, fees, and equipment. Talk to others who have done similar work. Research potential partners and other funders who may be able to support the costs of the project. Include in-kind or donated services and materials in your budget or budget notes.
Get Feedback It is always a great idea to have an experienced grant writer read a draft of your grant application. Grants Officers may also support you by reading a draft of your proposal and providing feedback. Make sure that you provide adequate time for this process (at least four weeks prior to the deadline).
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Gather Support Materials Do not wait until the last minute to gather your support materials and make them count – this may be the only opportunity a jury has to see your work. Ensure that materials are on the best possible formats and are the strongest examples of your work.
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Follow Instructions and Triple Check Your Grant Do not put so much hard work into a grant application only to miss the deadline! Make sure you check the deadline delivery time and go over your final package three times to ensure that everything is in the correct order and completed. Do not send materials that are not requested in the application.
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Toronto Arts Council Grants at a Glance
When is Your Deadline?
TAC Annual Grants Calendar 2014 Community Arts > Contact: Andrew Suri, andrew@torontoartscouncil.org January
July
February 3
March 3
Project Grants (organizations and collectives)
Annual Operating Grants (community arts organizations)
August 1
September
April
May
June
October
November
December
Project Grants (organizations and collectives)
Dance > Contact: Timea Wharton, timea@torontoartscouncil.org January
February 3
March
April
May
June
September
October
November
December
Annual Operating Grants (dance organizations) February 18 Project Grants (organizations, collectives and individual artists) July
August 1 Project Grants (organizations, collectives and individual artists)
Literary > Contact: William Huffman, william@torontoartscouncil.org January
February
March 3
April
May
Annual Operating Grants (literary organizations)
June 16 Writers Grants (individual writers and playwrights)
Project Grants (organizations and collectives) July
August 1 Project Grants (organizations and collectives)
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September
October
November
December
Toronto Arts Council Grants at a Glance
Music > Contact: Christy DiFelice, christy@torontoartscouncil.org January
February 3
March 3
Project Grants (organizations and collectives in all music genres)
Annual Operating Grants (all other music genres, including opera, orchestras, presenters, festivals)
April
May
June
October
November
December
May
June 16
Multi-Year Operating Grants (orchestras, bands, ensembles, presenters, producers) July
August 1
September 1
Project Grants (organizations and collectives in all music genres)
Music Creation and Audio Recording (individual artists)
Theatre > Contact: Margo Charlton, margo@torontoartscouncil.org January
July
February 3
March 3
Project Grants (organizations and collectives)
Annual Operating Grants (theatre organizations)
August 1
September
April
Writers and Playwrights Grants (individual writers and playwrights) October
November
December
Project Grants (organizations and collectives)
Visual / Media Arts > Contact: William Huffman, william@torontoartscouncil.org January
February
March 3
April
May
June
October 1
November 3
December
Visual Artist Grants (individual artists)
Media Artist Grants (individual artists)
Annual Operating Grants (visual/media arts organizations) Multi-Year Operating Grants (artist run centres, media arts festivals) Project Grants (organizations and collectives) July
August 1 Project Grants (organizations and collectives)
September
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Toronto Arts Council Staff
Toronto Arts Council Board of Directors Toronto Arts Council John McKellar CHAIR, TAC
Karen Tisch
Grants at a Glance
Claire Hopkinson Susan Wright
Director And CEO
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
PRESIDENT, TAC
Cindy Wan
Beth Reynolds
SECRETARY
Harold Chmara
Treasurer
Curtis Barlow
Director
Councillor Michelle Berardinetti Dallas Bergen
Margo Charlton Director
Associate Director; Visual & Media
Arts Officer; Literary Officer RESEARCH MANAGER AND THEATRE OFFICER
Christy DiFelice
MUSIC OFFICER
Director
Nova Bhattacharya
Director
Janet Carding
Director
Aileen Carroll
Director
Councillor Gary Crawford
DIRECTOR
Matt Galloway
Director
Danis Goulet
Director
Josh Grossman Ruth Howard
Director Director
Seema Jethalal
Director
Moynan King
Director
Linda Lewis
Director
Natalie Lue
Director
Councillor Josh Matlow Devon Ostrom John Parker
Norma Garcia Dewi Minden
GRANTS ASSISTANT
GRANTS ASSISTANT
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER
Michelle Parson Andrew Suri Kerry Swanson
OFFICE MANAGER
COMMUNITY ARTS OFFICER
OUTREACH AND EVALUATION OFFICER
Armen Karapetyan Peter Kingstone
Finance Officer
VISUAL ARTS & MEDIA OFFICER
Timea Wharton
DANCE OFFICER
Director
Director Director
Andrew Pyper
Director
Colleen Smith
Director
Priscila Uppal
Director
John Van Burek
Rachel Feldbloom
Director
Susan Crocker
Director
Councillor Adam Vaughan Jessica Wyman
William Huffman
DIRECTOR OF GRANTS
Director
Director
PHOTOS Cover Yvonne Ing, tiger princess dance projects -photo Dean Buscher Inside front cover SKETCH, Open Studio printmaking workshop - photo Sonya Reynolds Inside back cover Claudia Moore, MOonhORsE Dance Theatre – photo Tamara Romanchuk Outside back cover Images Festival at St. Anne’s Anglican Church
A Special Thank You We would like to acknowledge and thank our Board of Directors, Staff, Committees, Community Partners, and Toronto City Council for their work in supporting Toronto’s thriving arts and cultural sectors. In 2013, Toronto City Council approved a $4 million increase to Toronto Arts Council’s grants program. TAC encourages artists, arts workers and Board members to thank the Mayor and your local Councillor for their support. Let them know the impact of the funding increase on you, your organization and/or the City. Visit: www.torontoartsfoundation.org/Our-Programs/Advocacy
Toronto Arts Council 26 Grand Trunk Crescent, Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M5J 3A9 www.torontoartscouncil.org