Travel Grants to Professional Musicians (Individuals)
Deadline
You may submit your application at any time, but the completed application form and all required support material must be postmarked a minimum of six weeks before the planned departure date. Be sure to allow sufficient time to complete the application form and to organize your support material.
Program Description
This program offers Canadian music professionals (individuals) an opportunity to travel on occasions important to their artistic development. Music professionals include instrumentalists, singers, composers, librettists, arrangers, performers, conductors, singers/songwriters, artistic directors and opera stage directors.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
To apply to this program, you must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. If you are a permanent resident, you must provide evidence of your legal status.
The Canada Council for the Arts defines a professional artist as someone who:
- has specialized training in the field (not necessarily in academic institutions)
- is recognized as such by his or her peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition)
- is committed to devoting more time to artistic activity, if his or her financial situation makes that possible
- has a history of public presentation.
You may apply for only one Travel Grant each fiscal year (1 April to 31 March).
All Canada Council for the Arts programs are accessible to Aboriginal artists or arts organizations and artists or arts organizations of diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.
Eligible Activities
Grant support is available only if you are travelling to a destination more than 600 kilometres outside your home region.
All applicants are eligible for travel support for the following:
- to attend stand-alone workshops or master classes that are professionally organized and have been advertised regionally, nationally or internationally;
- to participate in recognized national or international competitions, at the invitation of the organizers;
- to participate in recognized national or international orchestral/opera/choir or ensemble training opportunities, at the invitation of the organizers;
- to deliver a paper on Canadian music at an important national or international meeting, at the invitation of the organizers;
- to participate in a professional development residency that involves sharing expertise between the host and applicant. The host organization must be professional and must pay a fee (or a contribution, such as a per diem and accommodation) to the music professional. Applicants must submit a letter of agreement (signed by both parties) outlining a detailed work plan. For short-term residencies (from three days to three weeks), composers are advised to first contact the SOCAN Foundation at www.socanfoundation.ca to avoid any duplication.
Composers (including librettists) may also apply to attend world premieres, significant and important premieres, or professional public readings/workshops of their own work. They must be invited by the organizers.
Artistic directors or stage directors are also eligible for travel support to participate in artistic mentorship opportunities. These applicants must demonstrate a recognized track record of at least three years’ professional experience. For administrative mentorship, see the information about the Flying Squad: An Organizational Development Program in Music.
Ineligible Activities
Grants cannot be used to travel for the following reasons:
- to give performances or to rehearse
- for touring (see instead the information about the Music Touring Grants program, on the Canada Council’s website)
- for auditions (for some support, see the information about the Career Development Program)
- to give workshops or master classes, or to teach
- to present a paper at an academic institution such as a university, college or conservatory
- for projects related to music therapy or pedagogy
- for projects related to arts/business administration
- for post-graduate or private study projects (see instead the Grants to Professional Musicians (Individuals) program description on the Canada Council’s website at www.canadacouncil.ca/music)
- for promotional activities, including showcases (some support may also be offered by the Audience and Market Development Travel Assistance program, which is also described on the Canada Council’s website)
- to attend fundraising events, galas or awards ceremonies
- to participate in recording sessions
- to attend festivals, conferences or symposiums, including related workshops, master classes and panels
- to serve as members of juries at national or international competitions.
Grant Amount
You may apply for one of the following fixed amounts: $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500, $2,000 or $2,500, but the amounts of $2,000 and $2,500 are available only if you are travelling to or from northern Canada or to international destinations that are not in the United States or Europe. Grants contribute toward your travel costs, based on excursion fares.
Eligible Expenses
You can use this grant to pay for airplane, train or bus tickets. You can also include taxi or shuttle bus fares to and from airports, train stations or bus stations. The Canada Council will consider requests for half-fare costs for harp, cello and bass transportation.
Costs for travelling to more than one destination may be included, if all destinations are part of the same return trip.
Ineligible Expenses
You cannot use these grants to pay for meals, per diem expenses, accommodation or other similar expenses.
Retroactive funding is not available.
Application Form
Or
Further Information
André Jutras
Music Section Officer
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa ON K1P 5V8
Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, ext. 5071
TTY (TDD) machine, for hearing-impaired callers: 613-565-5194
Fax: 613-566-4410
September 2006