September 3, 2024 deadline
General Expert Panel comments
Comments made by the panel during the assessment of applications are outlined below. Please note that these comments provide a summary of the panel's assessment and do not necessarily relate to every application submitted to this deadline. The panel does not provide individual comments.
Project description
- The panel appreciated the variety of solid applications and were excited by, and gave priority to, proposals that they felt would have a strong impact on the audience, the artist, or the theatre ecology in Alberta.
- The panel read through many proposals and appreciated those where the applicants took the time to lay out their project description in sections and in a concise and precise manner. They especially appreciated when the description was succinct (3-5 pages max.), with a clear main objective.
- When projects involved script redevelopment, the panel appreciated when applicants identified which elements of the project they wanted to focus on enhancing. What questions did the applicants want to explore in this new phase and how would they frame that exploration?
- The panel looked for proposals that clearly articulated the relevance of their work in today’s context. They wanted to understand why the project’s subject matter was particularly compelling or necessary at this moment in time.
- The panel appreciated when project descriptions clearly identified the concrete steps that will make up a project’s creation process, as opposed to only summarizing the narrative’s plot. What does this project look like from a production management standpoint? A dramaturgical standpoint?
- For applicants in the research phase of their project, panelists gave priority to those who were able to articulate the methods through which that research would take place, as opposed to solely communicating the topic of their research. (e.g., Why are you exploring this research? What questions will you be asking? How will you conduct your research? What will your sources be, and how will you find them?)
- For projects where public engagement (i.e., projects aiming to collect public feedback) was paramount to the project’s success, it was important for applicants to describe what this engagement would look like, and how they would go about promoting the project to ensure they would have these audiences.
- For those applying for funding to support training opportunities, priority was given to applicants who were able to articulate the outcomes/impacts they anticipated that program would have on their artistic development. The panel appreciated when applicants detailed what they would do with these new skills, once training was finished.
- For applicants applying for training opportunities by attending a university or institution, panelists appreciated when applications detailed why that university or institution was selected, and how it would impact their development in ways that others may not.
- The panel appreciated when applicants detailed what community care would look like through the creation process. For projects with sensitive subject matter, what practices, strategies, and resources would be made available to the creative team and audiences to ensure safe engagement with the project content.
Budget
- The panel appreciated when applicants included quotes, receipts and/or invoices to help justify their expense costs.
- For projects with multiple revenue sources, it was helpful when applicants identified which expense items would be covered by the AFA, and which would be supported by other revenue sources.
- The panel appreciated when applicants used the comments section of the budget sheet to explain how they defined their own units for each expense line item (e.g., “Actors Fee (4 actors at $1,500 each)” — 4 Units — $1,500 = $6,000 Total).
- For projects that relied on future box office sales as a primary source of revenue, the panel appreciated when applicants described how they calculated that revenue (e.g., percentage representing box office cuts, a percentage of total possible sales, or a number of tickets that would need to be sold to yield that amount).
- It was important that any large budget items were accompanied by a detailed explanation as to why it was so high in the application. What exactly is being purchased for this amount, and why do you estimate that it will cost this much?
Support material
- The panel appreciated when applicants attached resumes for all collaborators on their project. They especially appreciated when the resumes showed evidence of experience in the roles that these collaborators would be filling within the project.
- Letters of support or identified mentors/team members were helpful as they gave the panel confidence in the artists’ abilities to complete their projects.
- The panel appreciated when applicants submitted an excerpt as a writing sample, as opposed to a full script.
- For projects that involved collaborations with other organizations or public entities (e.g., venues, theatre companies, schools, etc.), it was helpful when letters of support from those organizations were attached to show that there was an established relationship and vested interest in the project.
- It was appreciated when artists provided PDFs of their attachments versus using Microsoft Word, as then formatting is not lost.
- The panel appreciated when applicants attached video or audio clips to provide a more complete impression of the project.