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Theatre Production Project Grants: Emerging Artists' Development/Production

Deadlines

  • 1 March 2007 (for projects taking place after 1 September 2007) 
  • 15 September 2007 (for projects taking place after 1 April 2008)
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Program Description

Theatre Production Project Grants for emerging artists provide assistance to professional, non-profit theatre organizations and ad hoc groups of professional theatre artists. “Ad hoc group” refers to a group of artists formed for the specific purpose of creating a unique work. Such groups are in the early stages of their practice and are seeking to create, and possibly present, an independent work.

Grants are intended as a contribution towards the costs of:

  • a period of development geared towards future production (projects should include at least one public presentation, such as a public reading or workshop);
  • production which can include development.
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Eligibility

Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

Theatre companies or groups of theatre artists are eligible if they demonstrate a commitment to professional artistic practice.

The Canada Council for the Arts defines professionals as those who:

  • have specialized training in the field (not necessarily in academic institutions);
  • are recognized as such by their peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition);
  • are committed to devoting more time to artistic activity if financially feasible.

Co-productions are eligible, but applicants must include a co-production agreement or letter of intent to co-produce.

Applicants may receive no more than three Emerging Artists’ Development/Production grants.

If an incorporated theatre organization has already produced a professional production, it is the applicant’s responsibility to check with the Theatre Section to determine whether the Canada Council has an assessment of the organization’s past work on file.

Applicants who have been unsuccessful in a previous competition may not re-submit the same project to a subsequent competition without first speaking with a Theatre Section Officer.

All Canada Council programs are accessible to Aboriginal artists or arts organizations and artists or arts organizations from diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.

Applicants should be aware that meeting the eligibility criteria allows them to apply to the program. It does not, however, guarantee that they will receive a grant. Grant recommendations are made by a peer assessment committee, based on the overall merit of the project in a national comparative context and on the funds available.

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Grant Amount

Grants awarded usually range from $5,000 to $12,000 for workshops, and from $5,000 to $20,000 for productions. Because of the high number of applications received and the limited resources available, grants awarded are usually smaller than the amounts requested.

Retroactive funding is not available.

NOTE: Grants awarded for the competition that closes 15 September 2006 will be distributed after 1 April 20067 on receipt of the applicant’s revised budget and confirmation of activities.

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Assessment of Applications

Applications are reviewed for eligibility, according to the published criteria, by the Theatre Section, with outside consultation if needed.

Eligible applications are evaluated, in a national comparative context, by a peer assessment committee. The committee is a representative body of theatre professionals, with various kinds of expertise. Members are selected to ensure balanced representation of gender, experience, regional and cultural diversity, Aboriginal Peoples and genres.

The committee bases its review of applications on commissioned assessments of any of the applicants’ work that the Canada Council previously funded, if assessments are available, as well as on the artistic and administrative criteria described in the application guidelines accompanying the form. It is the responsibility of the applicant to request the Theatre Section, in writing, for an assessment of the applicants’ work. The request must be made at least 30 days before the work’s production.

Applicants will be notified of the competition results, by letter, approximately four months after the deadline date. Results are not released over the telephone or by email.

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Application Form

Theatre Production Project Grants: Emerging Artists’ Creation/Development (pdf, 206 KB)
This form can only be printed and cannot be filled out on-line.

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Further Information

This program summary provides an overview of the Theatre Production Project Grants: Emerging Artists' Development/Production program. For further details, contact the Theatre Section.

Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4483 or 4480

TTY (TDD) machine, for hearing-impaired callers: (613) 565-5194

Fax: (613) 566-4410

Theatre Section
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa ON  K1P 5V8

February 2006