Concert Production and Rehearsal Program for Non-Classical Music and Chamber Classical Music

Deadline

15 May

Program Description

This program has two components: Project Funding and Annual Funding.

This program’s particular emphasis is on encouraging the performance of music played or composed by Canadian artists and creating opportunities for the presentation of Canadian music.

Project Funding

This component provides support to small, Canadian professional ensembles/bands/groups that wish to self-produce or co-produce one or more concerts in their local area, or that wish to rehearse for a special event or to incorporate new Canadian compositions into their performing repertoire.

Annual Funding

The purpose of the Annual Funding component is to support the overall local activities of small, Canadian professional ensembles/bands/groups that have demonstrated ongoing yearly stability, planning and artistic excellence.

Note that the Canada Council for the Arts defines a professional artist as someone who has specialized training in the field (not necessarily in academic institutions), who is recognized as such by his or her peers (professional artists working in the same artistic tradition), and who has a history of public presentation.

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.

A) Project Funding

Eligibility

Professional music ensembles/bands/groups of two to 22 musicians are eligible if they meet one of the following criteria:

• they have been working together long enough to create a unique and cohesive musical voice, usually a minimum of one year, and
• their structure involves a variable-numbered pool of musicians working together on a regular basis, as stated in their artistic mandate.

All members of a group must be Canadian citizens or have permanent-resident status, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This program component does not require that groups be incorporated, non-profit organizations.

Eligible Music

All forms of non-classical and chamber classical music will be considered.

The program does not support ensembles/bands/groups that can benefit from industry-driven commercial sources.

Groups specializing in classical contemporary/new music and musique actuelle must apply to the New Music Program, which is also administered by the Music Section. However, musique actuelle groups that identify their work primarily with non-classical music traditions may be directed to apply to this program rather than the New Music Program. Please contact the Program Officer as indicated at the end of this page for clarification.

Small chamber music orchestras must consult with the Music Section Program Officer to determine whether they are eligible to apply to this program or the Professional Orchestra Program.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects include:

• self-produced or co-produced concerts in the group’s local area (for co-produced concerts, the applicant must be the ensemble)
• rehearsals to incorporate new works into the repertoire of the group, where the new works are composed by members of the group or by other Canadian composers, and
• extra rehearsals in preparation for a special event.

The following projects are not eligible:

• more than one application from a musician, a band leader or artistic director
• applications from artists’ agents, managers, management companies, record labels or distribution companies
• projects involving a classical solo instrumentalist or singer with accompaniment
• self-produced or co-produced concerts outside the group’s local area
• rehearsals in preparation for a recording (please consult the Music Section’s Grants for Specialized Music Sound Recording program information)
• projects that have been completed already and projects whose expenses have been incurred before the application closing date
• free or fundraising concerts or events
• free CD release concerts
• projects submitted by festivals or presenters
• co-production projects presented within the context of a festival (please consult the Music Festivals Programming Project Grants program information)
• projects submitted by organizations currently receiving Canada Council annual or multi-year funding, and
• projects submitted by groups that meet the eligibility criteria of the following Canada Council programs: Professional Orchestra, Opera/Music Theatre, Professional Choir, and New Music Program.

Grant Amount

Applicants may apply for only one of the three options decribed immediately below.

1. Up to $10,000 is available for artists’ production, rehearsal, promotional and administrative costs related to one or more concert productions. If applicants intend to present the same concert for more than one evening, they may only request the production costs for the premiere evening performance.
2. Up to $10,000 is available for independent rehearsal projects.
3. Up to $25,000 is available for artists’ production, rehearsal, promotional and administrative costs related to three or more concert productions.

The following guidelines apply to all the above options:

• each concert production must focus on the presentation of completely different repertoire – you must provide detailed information on the proposed repertoire, and
• considering the limited funds, only applicants with an exceptional artistic and administrative track record may be awarded the maximum amount of $10,000 or $25,000.

Assessment of Applications

The Canada Council looks for originality and creativity in the forms of music practised by the artists, as well as artistic excellence. Applications are evaluated by a peer assessment committee composed of two to three experts representing the different forms of music. Committee members are also selected to provide balanced representation of gender, both official languages, Aboriginal peoples and regional and cultural diversity. Joining them is a "facilitator" (from outside the Canada Council) who assists with the competition process and creates a synthesis of the various peer assessment committee members' recommendations.

Applicants will be notified of the results of the competition, in writing, within four months of the competition closing date. Results are not released over the telephone or by email.

Application Form

Concert Production and Rehearsal Program for Non-Classical and Chamber Classical Music: Project Funding (pdf, 313 KB)
This form can only be printed and cannot be filled out on-line.

B) Annual Funding

Eligibility

Applicants are eligible to apply to this component if they:

• have, for the last two years, received two consecutive project grants from this program
• have presented a minimum of two full seasons of local performances, including at least three different programs, ensuring consistency and continuity in their annual series of concerts/events,
  or
  have created, developed and/or presented a variety of productions (concerts, workshops, young audience initiatives, for example) as part of their annual operation for a minimum of two years
• truly act as programmers, presenters and producers of their series of concerts/events
  (i.e. responsibility for the operational framework of the presentations rests mainly with the applicant, even in the case of co-production arrangements)
• have an administrative infrastructure in keeping with the nature of their artistic production
• do not carry an accumulated deficit that threatens the viability of their organization
• receive significant support from other sources.

All members of a group must be Canadian citizens or have permanent residents status, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This program component requires that groups be incorporated, non-profit organizations.

Please note that groups cannot request annual support from more than one Canada Council program. Groups applying to the Annual Funding component may not apply to the Project Funding component of this program (including submission under the umbrella of a presenter’s application). Groups applying to this program are not eligible to apply to the Professional Orchestra Program or New Music Program in the same Canada Council for the Arts fiscal year.

Eligible Music

All forms of classical and non-classical music may be considered.

The program does not support ensembles/groups/bands that can benefit from industry driven commercial sources.

Groups specializing in classical contemporary/new music and musique actuelle must apply to the New Music Program, also administered by the Music Section. However, musique actuelle groups that identify their work primarily with non-classical music traditions may be directed to apply to this program rather than the New Music Program. Please contact the designated Program Officer for clarification.

Small chamber music orchestras must consult with the Program Officer to determine whether they are eligible to apply to either this program or the Professional Orchestra Program of the Music Section.

Grant Amount

Up to $25,000 is available. The peer assessment committee recommends funding priorities and establishes the final value of the Canada Council’s contribution to the applicant’s proposed activities, in relation to the program’s assessment criteria and the availability of funds. Considering the limited funds, only applicants with an exceptional artistic and administrative track record may be awarded the maximum amount of $25,000.

Assessment of Applications

The Canada Council looks for originality and creativity in the forms of music practised by the artists, as well as artistic excellence. Applications are evaluated by a peer assessment committee composed of two to three experts representing the different forms of music. Committee members are also selected to provide balanced representation of gender, both official languages, Aboriginal peoples and regional and cultural diversity. Joining them is a "facilitator" (from outside the Canada Council) who assists with the competition process and creates a synthesis of the various peer assessment committee members' recommendations.

The peer assessment committee bases its review of all eligible applications to this component of the program on the assessment criteria described in the application guidelines accompanying the form. These criteria are defined in a national comparative context and within the context of each group's artistic mandate, geographic and artistic environment, and available resources.

Applicants will be notified of the results of the competition, in writing, within four months of the competition closing date. Results are not released over the telephone or by email.

Application Form

Annual Funding (pdf, 100 KB)
This form can only be printed and cannot be filled out on-line.

Further Information

For further details or to obtain an application form, contact  Pierre-Louis Pinel, Music Section Officer.

Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, ext. 5073

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

Fax: 613-566-4409

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

March 2006

Application form and guidelines

	Project Funding (pdf, 910 KB)
	Annual Funding (pdf, 867 KB)