Music

This funding provides up to $15,000 to support the development of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists by providing funding for a specific music project.

Who can apply

Individual eligibility criteria

The AFA celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible programs for all, free of barriers and discrimination. We recognize the unique contributions all artists make towards our community, and encourage applicants representing diverse communities, including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, women, people with disabilities, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

To be eligible for individual project funding, you must be a resident of Alberta. This means you:

are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person with an open work or study permit from inside Canada
have had your primary residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying
ordinarily live in Alberta for a least six months of each year with the exception of attending a formal program of study

You must be in good standing with the AFA with no open or outstanding projects or reporting to apply. Previous grant recipients must ensure all final reporting has been approved by the AFA before new applications are accepted.

Applicants, including ensembles or collectives, must not be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation.

Ensembles, collectives, and collaborations

Ensembles, collectives, and collaborations are eligible to apply to this program and must list all principal artists involved in the project activities as part of their application. All members of an ensemble, collective, or collaboration must meet the individual eligibility criteria.

Principal artists cannot apply and/or receive funding for multiple projects at the same time, whether as an individual or a member of various ensembles, collectives, or collaborations.

What does this funding support?

Please note AFA funding is not assured for any project.

Types of projects

Through this opportunity, you may apply for project funding to support artistic activities in:

art production
marketing
research
training and career development

Art Production includes the development, creation and production of any music work. Projects should be confined to a distinct phase of a work, such as:

composition projects (including commissioned work)
demo recording projects not intended for sale, including full production and basic press kit expenses
commercial recording projects intended for sale, including support for pre-production and song development (basic recording)

Alberta individual artists that have been contracted by commissioners to create a specific work (such as a composition) are eligible to apply for project support through this funding opportunity.

A commercial recording officially begins with pre-production of the album in a recording studio and is completed when the final manufactured recording is submitted to the AFA. If a recording is only intended for digital release, you must clearly state this in your application.

For any recording project, the AFA gives preference to projects recorded in an Alberta-based recording facility.

Marketing includes a program of activity for a specific period that promotes, advertises, or disseminates work created by Alberta music artists, and/or develops audiences for the artist's work.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

marketing and promotion of a commercial release
costs associated with performances at special events by invitation
promotional tours

Research includes a program of activity for a specific period of time that supports or results in the development of a music project.

Training and career development includes a course or program of study to develop an artist's training in music or arts administrator’s training in music administration.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

workshops
master classes
retreats
mentorship programs
professional courses of study in performance, recording arts, or composition

Eligible expenses

You can receive up to $15,000 to support your project. You may apply for up to 100% of eligible expenses that are directly related to carrying out your proposed project.

These expenses may include, but are not limited to the following:

For art production projects:

session musician fees
commission fees
production
royalties

For marketing projects:

promotion and publicity

For training and career development projects:

tuition or training fees

For all project categories:

transportation and accommodation
administration and contract fees
basic living/subsistence expenses (housing, local transport, food, childcare, dependent care) up to $3,000/month
other expenses and supplies considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary

Ineligible expenses

Additional expenses and activities that are ineligible for AFA project funding include:

expenses for capital purchases, such as buildings or property, or for capital development, and studio construction or renovations
recreational training projects
artistic activities or projects undertaken in order to fulfill credit or thesis requirements
artist, producer, and engineer fees for principal ensemble members
recording studio rental fees for studios owned by principal ensemble members
manufacturing expenses (CD pressing and artwork)
contracts for ongoing activities or artists pursuing projects similar in scope to usual activities with commissioner
expenses already incurred prior to the application submission, including grant writer fees

How to apply

We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system. We must receive your online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so that we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls.

applicants may submit only one application to the AFA each deadline across all disciplines
the AFA does not accept incomplete applications
applications must be received prior to the commencement of the project
projects involving more than one artist must be submitted by one individual on behalf of the ensemble or group

We do not accept separate applications for the same project.

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Email us at registrationafa@gov.ab.ca to get your login information at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please include:

your legal name
the funding opportunity to which you are applying
your email address

Your user name and password will be sent to the email address provided.

What to include in your application

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

GATE Front Office online formlets:

Applicant Information: Legal name and confirmation of your status (minor/Albertan)
- if you are under the age of 18 years at the time of application, a parent or legal guardian must e-sign the Individual Applicant Agreement as the designate for the funding, and be responsible for:
  - the completeness and accuracy of the application in full
  - receipt and use of funding
  - reporting on the use of funds
  - serving as contact person for any inquiries relating to the funding
Contact Information for primary applicant
- ensembles must designate one contact person for all requirements of the grant as the primary applicant
- this designated individual must e-sign the Individual Applicant Agreement
Applicant Contact Information: Street and mailing address for the primary applicant
General Information: Confirmation of the application category (art production, marketing, research, or training/career development) and applicant status (individual/ensemble)
Project Description: A brief project title (20 words) and project start and end dates
Principal Artists: A listing of the principal artists involved in the project, their position or role, and confirmation of Alberta Residence
- if you are a single applicant, list yourself as artist
Individual Applicant Agreement: A declaration of agreement with the statement of conditions e-signed by the primary applicant or designate
Project Expenses: A listing of project expenditures in Canadian dollars
Project Revenue: A listing of non-AFA revenues in Canadian dollars
- the difference between expenditures and revenues will comprise the grant request to the AFA with the funding not exceeding $15,000

Attachments:

The GATE Front Office attachment section indicates that not all attachments are required for submission. This is because they are only required for certain types of projects (e.g. marketing plan for a marketing project). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all attachments noted in the guidelines are submitted with their application according to project type.

Please submit the following mandatory attachments for all project types. Wherever possible, written support material should be uploaded in PDF format and limited to 4 MB in size:

Artist resume of no more than four pages
- applicants should submit music-related activities, which may include: past training, most recent performances and performance highlights, compositions, discography, and/or ensemble experience
- list activities in reverse chronological order, with most recent activity listed first
- resumes of all principle artists involved in the project
Detailed project description, including an outline of the objectives, planned activities, timelines, and expected results and impact on the applicantʼs artistic development
- in keeping with oral traditions, Indigenous project descriptions are welcome as oral submissions no longer than 3 minutes in length
- for more information on how to submit oral project descriptions, contact the Arts Development Consultant for this program, prior to the application deadline, at the contact information below.
Two musical selections such as a scratch demo from the proposed project, high-quality demo, past commercial recording, recordings of previous compositions or scores, or two other representative past works
- each audio file must be no longer than 5 minutes in length, , in mp3 or aac format, and no larger than 8 MB in size per file
- please see Format section below for detailed submission instructions, including how to submit video files if appropriate to your project

Include the following attachments according to your application category, or when applicable to your proposed project:

Music scores of previous compositions
Lyric sheets from past works
Commission contract and/or signed agreement with the commissioner, outlining a plan for the exhibition, presentation, display publication, screening or performance of the commissioned work(s) (mandatory for commission projects)
Proof of acceptance for applicants who have been accepted into a specific course of study, with a detailed description, schedule, and budget for course of study (mandatory for training projects)
Alternate training choices for applicants who have not already been accepted into a course a course of study, with a detailed description, schedule, and budget for the preferred choice and two alternate programs
Official invitations, confirmations, or itineraries
Marketing plan with detailed touring, marketing, and/or promotional details and strategies
Manufacturing budget outlining the applicant's ability to fund manufacturing expenses (CD pressing and artwork) when applicable
Letter of reference when applicable
Resumes for other principal artists when applicable
Additional support materials that may assist in the assessment process

Format

audio files and music selections must be limited to 5 minutes in length for each file
- audio files must be in MP3 or AAC format
- audio files must be no larger than 8 MB in size
  - Applicants are welcome to use any editing software of their choice to prepare their audio files; recording software such as Pro Tools, Reaper, Gargageband, or Audacity are often free and can be used to edit audio files into the required format and length as described above
although video files cannot be included as attachments in Front Office, if relevant to your proposal, you may submit one video file of up to 5 minutes in length via email to musicAFA@gov.ab.ca
- video files must be in avi, mov, mpeg, mp4, or WMV format
- video files must be no larger than 400 MB in size
- files must be submitted as an email attachment or as a link to an accessible file that can be directly downloaded
- files must be submitted prior to the application deadline; support materials received after the deadline will not be reviewed or considered
- download Video Support Material Technical Requirements for more information on preparing video support material.
alternatively, you may mail a hard copy CD or USB to 10708 – 105 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0A1
please include your first initial, last name and project number on the CD or USB
support material must be submitted or postmarked no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date

How will my application be assessed?

This funding is administered at the discretion of the AFA board on a project-by-project basis.

Staff convene an expert panel to consider all eligible grant applications submitted to each grant deadline. The expert panel assesses the merit of each application both on its own terms and in relation to all other applications received for a given deadline.

Assessment of a project is based on the following general criteria:

the impact of the project on both the applicant and the artistic genre in Alberta
the artistic, educational or promotional merit of the project
the appropriateness of the project budget showing commitment from all partners as applicable
the ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project

Assessment also takes into account the applicant's:

artistic and technical ability to carry out the proposed project
level of training, experience, and expertise
performance and achievements to date
personal objectives

All expert panel recommendations are reviewed by the AFA board and all decisions are final. Funding is not assured for any project.

Learn more about expert panels and how the AFA adjudicates funding requests for all programs.

When will I hear?

Grant recommendations are made to the AFA board of directors. Successful recipients will be notified upon board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.

We gather general comments about the applications and share them on the Adjudication page. The expert panel does not record specific comments about individual applications.

Conditions

Funding is intended for the purposes described in your application. By accepting funding, you agree to undertake the project as proposed in your original project description.

If you do not receive the full grant amount requested, you are still required to complete the project as proposed if you accept the grant:

you must return the grant funds if the project cannot be completed as proposed

If you require a change to your project including outcomes, location or an extension to your final report due date:

you must submit a request in writing for approval by the AFA
the request must be submitted prior to the change being made and/or before your project completion date
the AFA may consider a single extension per funding opportunity

Funding recipients are responsible for informing the AFA of how funds were spent and outcomes of the project:

you must return funds if reporting requirements are not met
you must return unused portions of funding to the AFA

Any funding recipient who does not provide a report prior to the date noted in the successful notification document, or does not fulfill any conditions associated with a grant or whose report is not approved will be made delinquent and ineligible for further funding from the AFA for a period of three years from the time the delinquency is resolved.

New applications will not be accepted until your previous project is completed and the final report is received and approved by the AFA.

Previous funding recipients must have met reporting requirements in order to be eligible to receive subsequent funding from the AFA.

The AFA, or our authorized representative, may examine a funding recipient's financial and other records to ensure that the funding is being, or was, used for its intended purpose.

We require a complete and satisfactory final report submitted to GATE Front Office that demonstrates that funding was spend on the activities described in the application.

Funding acknowledgement

Whenever possible, you must acknowledge the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to the project, including electronic, print, or visual material.

Download versions of the AFA logo and guidelines for usage.

Reporting

In your final report, you must complete the following GATE Front Office formlets:

Individual Project Evaluation with a completed project outcomes questionnaire
Project Expenses with a complete and accurate financial accounting for final project expenses in comparison to the original budget submission
Project Revenues with a complete and accurate financial accounting for all revenues received for the project

Include the following mandatory attachments as part of your final report:

Sample of work produced, performed, or created
- submit one audio file representative of your completed project
- files must be no longer than 5 minutes in length, in MP3 or AAC format, and no larger than 8 MB in size
- please see Format section (above in How to apply) for detailed submission instructions, including how to submit video files when appropriate to your project reporting
if your project was for marketing, include proof of touring costs (i.e. receipts or itinerary) or sample of promotional material in lieu of audio sample
if your project was for training or career development, include your tuition receipt in lieu of audio sample
if your project was for composition, including commission, a copy of the completed score recognizing AFA support through the inclusion of the AFA logo in lieu of audio sample

When applicable, include:

Samples of promotional materials related to the project, such as social media or website screenshots, posters, and/or programs showing funding credit to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts where appropriate
Samples of reviews, interviews, publications, or other media in which the project was mentioned
Other support material, if applicable, such a travel itinerary, confirmation of attendance at an event, invoices for studio time, other production costs, etc.

Helpful resources

Artists can now apply to the AFA for up to $18,000 to support their activities through the Individual Project Funding Opportunities. Learn more.

Visit the Help and Resources section of our website to:

download the new Front Office User Guide
read application tips for individual artists that will help you write a stronger grant application

Working on your project budget? Download budget examples for Music individual project funding to help guide you.

You may wish to add video support materials to your application. Make sure your materials meet AFA technical requirements:

download Video Support Material Technical Requirements for more information on preparing video support material

Project grant recommendations are made by Expert Panels. Their comments can be useful tips to help you improve your application.

Review general comments from the Expert Panel from the previous application deadline.

Deadline information

September 2, 2025

March 3, 2025

Community Performing Arts Organizations Operating Funding

Read more about Community Performing Arts Organizations Operating Funding

Grant subtitle

Funding for not-for-profit community orgs that self-create and produce performing art productions.

Select staff contact

Arts Development Consultant - Sector Support

Apply Now: Link to GATE

Recipient type

Art discipline

Preview image

Facebook title

Community Performing Arts Organizations Operating Funding

Facebook description

Funding for not-for-profit community orgs that self-create and produce performing art productions.

Twitter title

Community Performing Arts Organizations Operating Funding

Twitter description

Funding for not-for-profit community orgs that self-create and produce performing art productions.

Expiry

Wed, 10/02/2024 - 12:00

Owner

Arts Services Consultant - Communications

Overview

This grant provides annual funding to eligible not-for-profit community organizations that self-create and self-produce performing art productions.

Who can apply

To be eligible for Community Performing Arts Organizations operating funding, you must:

be engaged in creating and producing in the performing arts as your organization’s principal mandate as stated in its incorporation document

Your organization must:

be a not-for-profit organization
be registered and in good standing under the appropriate legislation and have been in operation in Alberta for at least two years
have at least 50% of the organization’s board members living in Alberta
demonstrate the ability to operate using good governance principles, effective administration practices,and a commitment to fiscal responsibility while maintaining its mandate
operate as a stand-alone arts organization at arms-length from municipalities, commercial enterprises, or organizations and institutions receiving annual operating funds from the Government of Alberta or its affiliates

Ineligible applicants

Organizations that are engaged primarily in competition-based activity are not eligible for AFA funding.

First-time applicants

If this is your organization’s first application for AFA Community Performing Arts Organizations operating funding, you must contact the AFA at least three months before the deadline for a preliminary eligibility assessment.

As a first-time applicant, your organization must provide approved financial statements that demonstrate the organization has positive net assets for the two annual fiscal periods immediately prior to application.

What does this funding support?

This funding is designed to support your organization’s operations, which are specific to your organization’s mandate, strategic and/or business plan and activities as described in your application and/or reporting.

AFA operating funding typically supports expenses such as:

administration
programming
salaries and fees
maintenance of equipment and fixed assets
promotion
other expenses as required to fulfill your organization’s mandate

How to apply

We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system.

We must receive your online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so that the AFA receives notification of your submission before the deadline falls.

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Requests must be received at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please complete the GATE Front Office Registration form and email it as an attachment to registrationAFA@gov.ab.ca.

GATE Front Office usernames and passwords will be sent to the email addresses provide on the registration form.

What to include in your application

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

GATE Front Office online forms

Contact Information which includes street and mailing address, primary and secondary contact names, phone numbers and email adresses
Organization Information, which includes the organization's legal name, Alberta Registration number and incorporation date and fiscal year-end
Applicant Agreement which includes the name and position of your legal signing authority
Current Board List which includes names, titles, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and start dates for all current members
Community Derived Revenue (CDR), using the data from the most recent, approved financial statements, which includes total expenses, revenue and government grants
Diligence Questionnaire, which asks questions about your programming, financial management and stewardship

Attachments

Attachments must be developed prior to application, using either original documents specific to your organization or preformatted AFA templates, and uploaded to your online GATE Front Office submission.

You’ll be required to complete and upload the following attachments:

a list of planned activities for the coming year:
- Planned Activities Listing (PDF)
- Planned Activities Listing (Word)
your most recent annual financial statements including Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows
most recent annual return from Alberta Corporate Registry
void cheque or direct deposit form, if desired (not mandatory)

How will my application be assessed?

Funding awarded through this opportunity is calculated based on Community Derived Revenue (CDR). CDR is defined as an organization’s total annual revenue minus all federal, provincial and municipal government grants. Your organization’s CDR is then divided by the sum of the CDRs for all eligible Community Performing Arts Organizations, and then multiplied by this funding opportunity’s budget to determine your funding allocation.

Funding for Community Performing Arts Organizations is established by the AFA Board of Directors based on the annual AFA Budget allocated by the Government of Alberta. Department staff evaluate applications according to eligibility criteria and prepare recommendations to the board.

The AFA Board of Directors reviews all funding recommendations, and all decisions are final.

When will I hear?

Grant recommendations are made to the AFA board of directors. Successful recipients will be notified upon board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.

Conditions

Your organization is only eligible to receive support from one AFA operating funding opportunity in any given year. Funding is intended for the activities planned for your organization’s next fiscal year based on information provided in your funding application.

Ineligible expenses for AFA operating funding include, but are not limited to:

alcohol
amortization
GST expenses
fundraising expenses
bad debt and other paper losses
capital expenses

The AFA or our authorized representative may examine your financial and other records to ensure funding was used for its intended purpose:

funding recipients must return unused portions of their grant to the AFA
we may require your organization to return funds if reporting requirements are not met
if you do not meet reporting requirements, your organization may be ineligible for further funding from the AFA for a period of three years from the time the delinquency is resolved

The AFA Fair Notice Policy applies to this funding opportunity:

we may cancel, suspend, reduce or demand repayment of your grant in circumstances where we are concerned with the viability of your organization

Funding acknowledgement

Your organization must credit the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to your organization’s activities, including electronic, print or visual material.

if your organization fails to satisfy AFA recognition requirements, it may be subject to a 10% funding reduction in subsequent payments
subsequent infractions may result in ineligibility to apply for AFA funding opportunities

Download versions of the AFA logo and guidelines for usage.

Reporting

You are required to complete and submit a satisfactory final report in GATE Front Office that demonstrates that funding awarded for the previous fiscal year was spent on the activities described in the application.

Your final report is due October 1.

We must receive your online report through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 pm Mountain Time, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until 11:59 pm on the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls.

Your organization’s final report must include:

GATE Front Office online forms

Statistical Report, aligned with your organization’s most recent approved financial statements

Attachments

list of completed art activities aligned with your organization’s most recent approved financial statements
copies of promotional and publicity materials from the previous year, showing compliance with AFA recognition requirements (scanned into one PDF and uploaded)
your organization’s most recent approved financial statements with Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenue and Expenditures and Statement of Cash Flows
- up to $25,000 requires a financial statement approved and signed by three board members, including the treasurer
- $25,001 to $50,000 requires a Notice to Reader financial statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
- $50,001 to $100,000 requires a Review Engagement statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
- more than $100,000 requires an Audited financial statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant.

Helpful resources

Visit the Help and Resources section of our website to:

download the new Front Office User Guide
find additional resources for organizations

You may wish to download the following resources to include as attachments with your application or final report.

Should your organization wish to receive payment through direct deposit, please use the Direct Deposit form:

Direct deposit form

Deadline information

October 1, 2025

Organization Activation Projects Funding

Read more about Organization Activation Projects Funding

Grant subtitle

Funding to assist Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility arts projects for organizations

Select staff contact

Arts Development Consultant - Dance

Recipient type

Art discipline

Visual arts & new media

Preview image

Facebook title

Organization Activation Projects Funding

Facebook description

Funding to assist Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility arts projects for organizations

Twitter title

Organization Activation Projects Funding

Twitter description

Funding to assist Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility arts projects for organizations

Expiry

Mon, 09/09/2024 - 12:00

Owner

Arts Services Consultant - Communications

Overview

The deadline for this funding opportunity has passed. This opportunity provides funding of up to $30,000 for emerging artist engagement projects in rural communities, including First Nations reserves and Metis Settlements, to cultivate the next generation of artists and address intergenerational gaps in professional development. Projects must occur outside of Alberta’s major urban centres.

Who can apply

The AFA celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible programs for all, free of barriers and discrimination. We recognize the unique contributions all artists make towards our community, and encourage applicants representing diverse communities including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, women, people with disabilities, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must be one of the following:

Not-for-profit organization, registered and operating in Alberta for at least one year, and in good standing under the appropriate legislation
First Nation or Métis Settlement in Alberta
Foundation established and regulated under Alberta’s Regional Health Authorities Act
University, college, or institute as recognized under Alberta’s Post-Secondary Learning Act

Eligible organizations must also:

Have at least 50% of the organization’s board members living in Alberta.
Deliver public arts and cultural programming in one or more of the following areas:
- Self-created and self-produced work for public presentation in any arts discipline
- Artist support, development, and training
- Artistic presentation and public participation in any arts discipline that is open and available to the general public
- Indigenous arts, culturally diverse arts programming, and arts programming that supports traditionally underserved communities
Demonstrate adherence to good governance principles, efficient administration practices and commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Demonstrate financial stability, in the judgment of the AFA, for at least one year prior to application.

Partnership projects

Two or more organizations that satisfy the eligibility criteria may apply to collaborate on a project. Multiple applications from separate organizations for aspects of the same project will not be accepted. Projects involving multiple partners must be consolidated and submitted by one lead organization.

Applicants are encouraged to consider projects between different partners (e.g. urban and rural, established arts organizations with new or emerging organizations, arts organizations with health, social services, immigrant settlement services, or Indigenous communities.)

Partnership projects must demonstrate that:

Control and responsibilities in the partnership are shared equally amongst all partners
Knowledge and practices will be shared and exchanged for the benefit of all project partners
The partnership results in activity that is beyond the normal programming of partnering organizations
The project could not be otherwise completed without the existence of the partnership

Ineligible applicants

Ineligible applicants are:

Municipalities
Commercial enterprises or for-profit organizations/companies
Schools
Organizations that are not arm’s length from municipalities, commercial enterprises, or schools
Organizations that engage primarily in competition-based activity
Organizations that do not meet the eligibility criteria in the section above
Organizations with overdue or incomplete accounting/reporting with the AFA or the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women

What does this funding support?

New initiatives that engage emerging artists in rural Alberta communities and foster the next generation of artists by addressing gaps in professional development and promote:

developing relationships and increasing knowledge sharing between emerging artists (typically ages 16-35) and established artists and mentors
increasing accessibility to programs and opportunities for rural emerging artists residing in Alberta communities outside of major urban regions
supporting artistic disciplines, and/or customary Indigenous arts and cultural practices
supporting Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) of artists, communities, and audiences

Examples include, but are not limited to, projects that:

provide mentorship and pair experienced artists or arts professionals with emerging artists to provide professional development, guidance, support, and skill-building opportunities in their artistic pursuits
provide arts-related skill development to emerging artists though workshops, classes, or residencies in various artistic disciplines
support established mentors or facilitators to assist emerging artists to conceive, plan, and execute their own arts projects such as exhibitions, performances, festivals, or community arts initiatives
equip artists with the skills and abilities to market themselves in a region that may not likely have enough infrastructure to support development in their field
connect emerging artists with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and/or other artists to share customary and/or contemporary artistic practices through community gatherings
build capacity for emerging artists to sustain their practice beyond the scope of the project itself, such as the development of marketing skills and strategies to promote work widely

Ineligible projects

activities eligible for funding, or already funded by other AFA project grant programs
programming that is already part of an organization's ongoing normal operations or artistic programming, i.e., proposed activities must be new initiatives
activities undertaken before an application is submitted to this project grant stream; projects must not start before the application is received by the AFA
post-secondary institution projects for curriculum-based or academic purposes
programs for core delivery of education, health and wellness, and social services
activities in the areas of applied arts (culinary, architecture, interior design, graphic arts, commercial photography, gaming, fashion design, tattooing, etc.), commercial variety acts (face painting, balloon entertainers, fireworks/pyrotechnics, hypnotism, etc.)
competitive performances or activities
cultural industry activities (for example, book and magazine publishing, sound recording activities, broadcasting/podcasting)
activities presented as part of primarily social events, including, but not limited to, fundraisers, rodeos, stampedes, grandstand performances, trade fairs, parades, meals, conventions, community dances, and student union cabarets

Eligible expenses

The maximum grant available will not exceed $30,000. Applicants may apply for up to 100% of eligible expenses that are verifiable and directly related to carrying out the proposed project.

Eligible project expenses include any combination of the following:

costs associated with the above listed activities over and above normal operations
external consultation, contract costs, commissioning fees, and artist/mentor fees associated with project execution
Elder, Knowledge Keeper, and/or cultural advisor honoraria and gifts as appropriate
project related materials and supplies (i.e., art materials, hospitality excluding alcohol)
venue and equipment rental costs
event or activity marketing and promotion costs
project-related travel and accommodation for artists, mentors, or participants
other expenses considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary

Ineligible expenses

Expenses and activities that are ineligible for funding include, but are not limited to:

permanent or existing staff positions, including prorated salaries and/or time of existing staff allocated to the project expenses
capital expenditures for the purchase of buildings or property or for capital development such as construction or renovations
capital expenditures for purchase of office furniture and/or equipment such as computers, technology, lighting, audio, etc., that can otherwise be rented and/or has a use beyond the life of the project
mortgage payments, amortization, and/or loan payments, bad debt, other paper losses, or debt reduction
expenditures already funded through other Government of Alberta grant programs

How to apply

The deadline for this funding opportunity has passed.

The AFA only accepts applications through the Front Office portal of the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) online application system. The AFA must receive online applications no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process the submission so the AFA receives notification before the deadline closes.

The AFA does not accept:

applications received after 11:59 p.m. on the deadline
incomplete applications
applications for projects or activities that commenced prior to submission
more than one application from an organization per deadline, either solely or as a partnership
multiple applications from separate organizations for aspects of the same project; projects involving multiple partners must consolidated and submitted by one primary organization

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Requests must be received at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please complete the GATE Front Office Registration form and email it as an attachment to registrationAFA@gov.ab.ca, quoting the funding opportunity or grant program to which you are applying.

GATE Front Office usernames and passwords will be sent to the email addresses provide on the registration form.

What to include in the application

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

After reading the program guidelines, for additional help review the Grant Writing Guide - Sample Format - Organizations Activation Projects

GATE Front Office online forms

Contact List: Includes the primary and secondary contacts for your application and signing authority for your organization
Applicant Contact Information: Includes street and mailing address
Organization Information: Includes the organization’s legal name and Alberta Registration number and incorporation date (when applicable), and fiscal year-end
Project Description: Includes a brief project description (20 words maximum) and project start and completion dates
Organization Applicant Agreement: Includes the name and position of your legal signing authority
Current Board List: Includes names, titles, mailing address, contact information, and start dates for all current board members; for First Nations or Metis Settlements includes governing council
Project Expenses: Categorized by expense type with brief descriptions and cost breakdowns in Canadian dollars
Project Revenues: List of all non-AFA revenues contributing to your project, including own-source, and status of funds, in Canadian dollars
- the difference between expenditures and revenues will comprise the grant request to the AFA and cannot exceed $30,000

Attachments

The GATE Front Office attachment section indicates that not all attachments are required for submission as they may only be required for certain types of projects (e.g. marketing plan for a marketing project). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all relevant attachments to their project proposal are submitted with the application.

The applicant will be required to complete and upload the following attachments:

detailed description of the project, including an outline of the objectives, planned activities, and timelines
- an explicit explanation of the benefits resulting from this funding is strongly encouraged as part of your detailed description.
- ensure that the project description thoroughly addresses all assessment criteria outlined below (“How will my application be assessed” section)
organization’s most recent annual financial statements with balance sheet, statement of revenues and expenditures, and statement of cash flows
- for partnership projects, the lead applicant must collate financial statements from all participating organizations
- these must be uploaded as one file into the attachments
proof of filing with AB Corporate Registry
when applicable:
- itineraries and travel confirmations
- marketing plan
- partnership agreement, contract, or memorandum of understanding indicating the responsibilities of each partner
- additional support items that may assist in the assessment process including, but not limited to, promotional literature, programs, or newsletters

Should you wish to submit audio-visual support material, please contact the Arts Development Consultant responsible for this program for detailed instructions.

How will my application be assessed?

Staff convene an expert panel to consider all eligible grant applications submitted. The expert panel assesses the merit of each application both on its own terms and in relation to all other applications received for a given deadline.

Assessment of a project is based on the following general criteria:

Needs Assessment: demonstrated needs assessment that identifies the gaps or barriers in support and professional development for emerging artists within the region or community where the programming takes place
Project Merit: merit and clarity of strategies the organization will use to train, develop, and mentor emerging artists to foster self-sufficiency within the community
Project Impact: long-term impact of the project on both emerging artists and the organization’s future capacity and growth
Applicant Ability: ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project, including programming and achievements to date
Project Budget: appropriateness of the project budget, including evidence of in-kind and/or financial contributions from the applicant, when applicable

All expert panel recommendations are reviewed by the AFA and all decisions are final.

Funding is not assured for any project

When will I hear?

Applicants will be notified in writing of the result of their application within four months of the application deadline.

Conditions

Funding is intended for the purposes described in the application. By accepting funding, the organization agrees to undertake the project as proposed in the original project description.

If the organization does not receive the full grant amount requested, it is still required to complete the project as proposed if the organizations accepts the grant.

the organization must return grant funds if the project cannot be completed as proposed

If the organization requires a change to the project including outcomes or an extension to the final report due date:

it must submit a request in writing for approval by the AFA
the request must be submitted to the consultant responsible for this program PRIOR to the change being made and/or before the project completion date
the AFA will consider a single extension per project

Funding recipients are responsible for informing the AFA of how funds were spent and outcomes of the project. The AFA requires a complete and satisfactory final report submitted through GATE Front Office that demonstrates funding was spent on the activities described in the application. The organization must:

return funds if reporting requirements are not met
return unused portions of funding to the AFA

Any funding recipient who does not provide a report by the date noted in the successful notification document, does not fulfill any conditions associated with the grant, or whose report is not approved will be made delinquent and may be ineligible for further funding from the AFA for a period of three years from the time the delinquency is resolved.The AFA will retain all materials submitted with grant applications.

The AFA or its authorized representative may examine a grant recipient's financial and other records to ensure that the grant has been used for its intended purpose.

Funding acknowledgement

Organizations must acknowledge the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to the project, including electronic, print or visual material.

Download versions of the AFA logo and guidelines for usage on our website.

Failure to satisfy the AFA recognition requirements may result in the cancellation of the grant and the requirement to return all of the funding.

Reporting

A final report is due on the date noted in the successful notification document, typically 60 days from the project completion date set by the applicant. The final report must be submitted through GATE Front Office and demonstrate funding was spent on the activities described in the application.

The final report must include:

Project Expenses: A complete and accurate financial accounting for the project based on the original budget submission
Project Revenue: A complete and accurate financial accounting of all non-AFA revenues contributed to the project

Reporting attachments

The organization will be required to complete and upload the following attachments:

description of the results of the project, with an evaluation of its success in relation to the original objectives and outreach as stated in the application
copies of promotional and publicity material demonstrating AFA funding recognition
support materials such as reviews, publications, invitations and/or catalogues in which projects are mentioned, when applicable

Helpful resources

Visit the Help and Resources section of our website to download the GATE Front Office User Guide.

Review the Grant Writing Guide - Sample Format - Organizations Activation Projects

Find more information on how the AFA adjudicates project grants

Learn more about the AFA and EDIA

Deadline information

December 2, 2024

Arts Presenting Project Funding

Read more about Arts Presenting Project Funding

Grant subtitle

Funding supporting the public presentation of professional artists by reimbursing a portion of fees.

Select staff contact

Arts Development Consultant

Apply Now: Link to GATE

Recipient type

Art discipline

Visual arts & new media

Preview image

Facebook title

Arts Presenting Project Funding

Facebook description

Funding supporting the public presentation of professional artists by reimbursing a portion of fees.

Twitter title

Arts Presenting Project Funding

Twitter description

Funding supporting the public presentation of professional artists by reimbursing a portion of fees.

Expiry

Tue, 12/03/2024 - 12:00

Owner

Arts Services Consultant - Communications

Overview

This funding supports the public presentation of professional artists by reimbursing a portion of professional artists' fees for the preceding year.

Who can apply

To be eligible for this funding, applicants must be one of the following:

registered not-for-profit organizations
churches
library boards
Indian Bands as defined by the Indian Act R.S.C. 1985, C.I-5
Métis Settlements recognized under the Métis Settlements Act R.S.A. 2000, C.M14
organizations registered under the Agriculture Societies Act
organizations recognized under the Post-Secondary Institutions Act (by Faculty or Department)

Organizations must also:

be registered and in good standing in Alberta under the appropriate legislation for at least one year prior to the deadline
be in good standing with the AFA with no outstanding reporting requirements
have been in operation for at least one full year prior to the deadline
have at least 50 percent of the organization's board members, or ruling council, living in the community or region where the presentations are given
demonstrate adherence to good governance principles, effective administration practices and commitment to fiscal responsibility
demonstrate financial stability, in the judgment of the AFA, for at least one year
operate as a stand-alone organization at arm’s length from municipalities, commercial enterprises or schools
be the primary organizer and producer of the event by directly paying professional artists and/or artist-affiliated organizations (for example: artist managers or booking agents) for professional artist fees
have a policy of presenting at least three different touring professional artists during the twelve-month period from November 15 to November 14, immediately prior to the grant deadline
- organizations based in rural areas with a population of less than 3,000 may apply even if fewer than three artists are presented

Partnerships between not-for-profit organizations based in the same region must apply through one primary organization. Organizations with branches or separate offices in the same municipality may submit only one application.

Post-secondary institutions may submit one application per department or faculty.

Ineligible applicants

The following organizations are ineligible for this funding:

municipalities
commercial enterprises
schools
groups that are not arm’s length from municipalities, commercial enterprises, or schools
organizations that are eligible for operating funding under another AFA grant stream
organizations that engage primarily in competition-based activity

Event partners and sponsors may not apply on behalf of the event producer, commercial organizations or other for-profit entities.

What does this funding support?

Eligible events

Events that are eligible for this funding are:

events that present professional touring artists who regularly tour outside their place of residence in the following arts disciplines:
- performing arts includes music, dance, theatre, circus arts and spoken word
- visual and new media arts includes drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, clay, glass, wood, metal, fibre and new media
- film and video arts
- literary arts includes fiction, literary non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting and playwriting
events where arts presentations, performances, readings, or exhibitions are the primary reason for the event
events that are available to the public through season tickets, or casual sales or free admission
events that at least three different touring professional artists between November 15 and November 14, immediately prior to the grant deadline
original live streaming events, occurring after March 12, 2020, presented through online channels or resources

Eligible artists

Grants awarded through this grant stream are based on eligible fees paid to professional artists (excluding GST). Professional artists are defined as artists that:

are compensated at an industry standard for their art (example: union or nationally recognized rate)
fulfill at least 2 of the following:
- are recognized by the public and by their peers for their art, and have received industry recognition
- are actively marketing their work to professional booking agents, venues and galleries
- present, perform and/or exhibit their art for compensation on a regular basis
- have specialized training in their field
- have membership to a nationally or provincially recognized industry or other professional organization (e.g. ACTRA, AFM, Canadian Actors Equity Association, CARFAC, IMAA, WGC, Writers Union of Canada, etc.)
- has received royalties or residual payments on their copyrighted works

Eligible expenses

Only fees paid directly by the applicant to the artist are eligible for consideration under this grant stream. Eligible expenses include:

presentation fees
performance fees
public reading fees
artist and curator fees for exhibition
screening fees
lectures and panel discussions by the creator, director, producer, or representative of film and video works (film festivals only)
transportation and accommodation for the above activities

An organization may claim artist fees for up to three presentations by the same artist or artistic act presented during the eligible grant period.

Ineligible projects

Ineligible events and activities include:

activities already funded through other Government of Alberta programs
curriculum based activities
pre-recorded events for distribution through online channels or resources
repeat presentation of previous live streamed events
activities related to conferences or workshops
competitive performances
entertainment or arts activity presented as part of primarily social events, including but not limited to:
- fundraisers
- rodeos
- stampedes
- grandstand performances
- trade fairs
- parades
- meals
- conventions
- community dances
- student union cabarets
activities by board members, full-time faculty, sessionals, or staff at post-secondary institutions

Ineligible expenses

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, the following fees are ineligible for project support:

for staff, board members, resident acts or house bands
for those practicing applied arts, including but not limited to:
- culinary arts
- architecture
- interior design
- graphic arts
- commercial photography
- gaming
- fashion design
for commercial variety acts, including but not limited to:
- face painting
- balloon entertainers
- fireworks/pyrotechnics
- hypnotism

How to apply

We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system.

We must receive your online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so that we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls. Applications received after 11:59 p.m. of the deadline date will be considered at the next deadline.

applicants may submit only one application to the AFA each deadline
the AFA does not accept incomplete applications
projects involving more than one organization must be submitted by the primary applicant organization; separate organization applications will not be accepted for the same project

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Requests must be received at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please complete the GATE Front Office Registration form and email it as an attachment to registrationAFA@gov.ab.ca.

GATE Front Office usernames and passwords will be sent to the email addresses provide on the registration form.

What to include in your application

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

GATE Front Office online forms

applicant contact information, including street and mailing address
contact list, including primary and secondary contact persons and signing authority designate for the application
the organization’s registration details, including organization’s registered name, Alberta Registration number and incorporation date
an applicant agreement with e-signature of signing authority designate for the organization
a completed Statistical Report
a listing of all current board members include the names, positions, addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses
total number of events, artists, artist fees paid from Arts Presenting worksheet

Attachments

You’ll be required to complete and upload the following attachments:

Arts Presenting calculation worksheet
copies of all promotional materials related to the event, such as posters and programs, demonstrating compliance with AFA funding acknowledgement conditions (see "Conditions" below)
- do not submit press clippings or videos
the organization's most recent annual financial statement with Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows
a confirmation of filing of the organization's most recent annual return from Alberta Corporate Registry
for presentations that include public screening of film and video media, please attach written evidence of compliance with film classification regulations as outlined in the Film and Video Classification Act
- please review information and register with Alberta Film Classification on Alberta.ca
- if you have questions, please email Alberta Film Classification or call them at 780-427-2006, toll-free by first dialing 310-0000 within Alberta

Applicants may be asked for additional information.

Format

all video and audio files must be Windows compatible
wherever possible, support material should be uploaded as an attachment into GATE Front Office (up to 4 MB)
if your support material is too large to upload, please mail a hard copy to 10708 – 105 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0A1
- please include your first name, last name and project number
- support material sent by mail must be postmarked no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date

How will my application be assessed?

Arts Presenting funding and funding maximums are established annually by the AFA board of Directors. The annual AFA budget is based upon funds allocated in the annual Government of Alberta budget.

This grant is calculated by formula.

up to 65% of fees paid to Alberta artists. Ensemble members may not be separated out and residency is determined by majority of ensemble members
up to 50% of fees paid to Canadian artists from the rest of Canada
up to 50% of fees paid to International artists to a maximum of 1/3 of the eligible Canadian/Alberta subsidy. International children's artists are exempt from the restriction. Children's artists are those who primarily play to audiences where over 50% of the audience is under the age of 16 years

Staff evaluate applications according to the program grant stream criteria and prepare recommendations to the AFA board.

Available funds are equitably distributed to all eligible applicants according to a formula.

Funding is not assured for any project. All decisions are final.

When will I hear?

Grant recommendations are made to the AFA board of directors. Successful recipients will be notified upon board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.

Conditions

The AFA will retain all materials submitted with funding applications. The AFA or our authorized representative may examine a funding recipient's financial and other records to ensure that all claimed expenses were undertaken as outlined in the funding application.

The AFA may cancel, suspend, reduce or demand repayment of funding in circumstances where the AFA is concerned with the viability of an organization as per the AFA Fair Notice policy.

The AFA does not provide advances for any grant.

Funding acknowledgement

Whenever possible, you must acknowledge the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to the project, including electronic, print or visual material.

Download versions of the AFA logo and guidelines for usage.

A minimum reduction of 10% will be applied to the subsequent grant of any organization that does not satisfy the AFA recognition requirements.

Reporting

Reporting is not required for Arts Presenting project funding.

Helpful resources

Visit the Help and Resources section of our website to:

download the new Front Office User Guide
find additional resources for organizations

You may wish to download the following resources to include as attachments with your application:

Arts Presenting calculation worksheet

Please note that the Arts Presenting Artist fees and financial statement confirmation form is no longer required to complete your grant application.

Should your organization wish to receive payment through direct deposit, please use the Direct Deposit form:

Direct deposit form

Deadline information

December 1, 2025

Artist Manager Program Funding

Read more about Artist Manager Program Funding

Grant subtitle

This funding supports a professional development program delivered by Canada’s Music Incubator.

Select staff contact

Arts Development Consultant - Music

Apply Now: Link to GATE

Apply Now

Recipient type

Individual

Art discipline

Music

Preview image

Facebook title

Artist Manager Program Funding

Facebook description

This funding supports a professional development program delivered by Canada’s Music Incubator.

Twitter title

Artist Manager Program Funding

Twitter description

This funding supports a professional development program delivered by Canada’s Music Incubator.

Expiry

Wed, 09/04/2024 - 12:00

Owner

Arts Services Consultant - Communications

Overview

This funding supports the development of individual Alberta artist-managers and/or self-managed artists by providing up to $5,000 for one four-week professional development program, delivered by Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) in Toronto.

This funding opportunity is a subsection of our Music Individual Project funding opportunity.

Who can apply

To be eligible for individual project funding, you must be a resident of Alberta. This means you:

are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person with an open work or study permit from inside Canada
have had your primary residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying
ordinarily live in Alberta for a least six months of each year with the exception of attending a formal program of study

You must be in good standing with the AFA with no open or outstanding projects or reporting requirements to apply. Previous grant recipients must ensure all final reporting has been approved by the AFA before new applications are accepted.

Applicants must not be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation.

Applicants cannot apply and/or receive funding for multiple projects at the same time, whether as an individual or a member of an ensemble, collective, or collaboration. Applicants can only receive this grant once during their career.

What does this funding support?

Through this opportunity, you may apply for project funding to support professional development at Canada Music Incubator’s (CMI) Artist Management program.

Please note, AFA funding is not assured for any project.

Eligible expenses

You can receive up to $5,000, to cover expenses related to Canada's Music Incubator (CMI)’s Artist Manager Program. You may apply for up to 100% of eligible expenses that are directly related to carrying out your professional development.

These expenses may include, but are not limited to:

registration costs
round-trip transportation to/from Alberta and Toronto, ON
local transportation and accommodation
food, sundries and per diems
other expenses and supplies considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary

Ineligible projects

This funding does not include expenses for capital purchases, such as computers/laptops, computer software, etc. In addition, this funding does not support self-directed artist management professional development.

How to apply

We only accept applications through Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system. We must receive your online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so that we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls.

applicants may submit only one application to the AFA each deadline across all disciplines
the AFA does not accept incomplete applications
applications must be received prior to the commencement of the project.

We do not accept separate applications for the same project.

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office user name and password. Email us at registrationafa@gov.ab.ca to get your login information at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please include:

your legal name
the funding opportunity to which you are applying
your email address

Your user name and password will be sent to the email address provided.

What to include in your application

Applicants are required to contact CMI for program screening prior to applying for funding and must include a letter of acceptance with their application.

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE user guide.

GATE Front Office online formlets

Applicant Information: Legal name and confirmation of the applicant status (minor/Albertan)
Contact Information of applicant
Applicant Contact Information: Street and mailing address for the applicant
General Information: Confirmation of the application category (training/career development) and applicant status (individual)
Project Description: A brief project title (CMI Artist Manager Training) and project start and end dates
Principal Artists: List yourself as an Artist Manager
Individual Applicant Agreement: A declaration of agreement with the statement of conditions e-signed by the applicant
Project Expenses: A listing of project expenditures in Canadian dollars
Project Revenue: A listing of non-AFA revenues in Canadian dollars, if applicable

Attachments

The GATE Front Office attachment section indicates that not all attachments are required for submission. This is because they are only required for certain types of projects (e.g., marketing plan for a marketing project). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all attachments noted in the guidelines are submitted with their application according to project type.

Please submit the following mandatory attachments for all project types. Wherever possible, written support material should be uploaded in PDF format and limited to 4 MB in size:

Artist resume of no more than four pages
Detailed project description, including an outline of the objectives, planned activities, timelines, and expected results and impact on the applicant’s career development.
- in keeping with oral traditions, Indigenous project descriptions are welcome as oral submissions no longer than 3 minutes in length
- for more information on how to submit oral project descriptions, contact the Arts Development Consultant for this program, prior to the application deadline, at the contact information below
Two music selections: upload a blank document into the respective application attachments in order to complete your application.
Proof of acceptance: include your acceptance letter or acceptance email from CMI

How will my application be assessed?

This funding is administered at the discretion of the AFA board on a project-by-project basis.

Assessment of a project is based on the following general criteria:

the impact of the project on both the applicant and the provincial music sector in Alberta
how the project enhances both the capacity of the applicant and the provincial music sector
the appropriateness of the project budget
the ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project

Assessment also takes into account the applicant's:

achievements to date
personal objectives

All expert panel recommendations are reviewed by the AFA board and all decisions are final. Funding is not assured for any project.

Learn more about expert panels and how the AFA adjudicates funding requests for all programs.

When will I hear?

Grant recommendations are made to the AFA board of directors. Successful recipients will be notified upon board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.

The expert panel does not record specific comments about individual applications.

Conditions

Funding is intended for the purposes described in your application. By accepting funding, you agree to undertake the project as proposed in your original project description.

If you do not receive the full grant amount requested, you are still required to complete the project as proposed if you accept the grant:

you must return the grant funds if the project cannot be completed as proposed

If you require a change to your project including outcomes, location or an extension to your final report due date:

you must submit a request in writing for approval by the AFA
the request must be submitted prior to the change being made and/or before your final report is due
the AFA may consider a single extension per funding opportunity

Funding recipients are responsible for informing the AFA of how funds were spent and outcomes of the project:

you must return funds if reporting requirements are not met
you must return unused portions of funding to the AFA

New applications will not be accepted until your previous project is completed and the final report is received and approved by the AFA.

Previous funding recipients must have met reporting requirements in order to be eligible to receive subsequent funding from the AFA.

The AFA, or our authorized representative, may examine a funding recipient's financial and other records to ensure that the funding is being, or was, used for its intended purpose.

We require a complete and satisfactory final report submitted to GATE Front Office that demonstrates that funding was spend on the activities described in the application.

Funding acknowledgement

Whenever possible, you must acknowledge the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to the project, including electronic, print, or visual material.

Download versions of the AFA logo and guidelines for usage.

Reporting

In your final report, you must complete the following GATE Front Office formlets:

Individual Project Evaluation with a completed project outcomes questionnaire
Project Expenses with a complete and accurate financial accounting for the final project on the original budget submission
a travel itinerary or confirmation of attendance

Helpful resources

Visit the Help and Resources section of our website to:

download the new Front Office User Guide
read application tips for individual artists that will help you write a stronger grant application

Deadline information

September 2, 2025

Summer School Project Funding

Read more about Summer School Project Funding

Grant subtitle

This funding supports organizations in delivering residence-based art summer schools.

Select staff contact

Arts Development Consultant - Literary Arts/Film & Video

Apply Now: Link to GATE

Recipient type

Art discipline

Visual arts & new media

Preview image

Facebook title

Summer School Project Funding

Facebook description

This funding supports organizations in delivering residence-based art summer schools.

Twitter title

Summer School Project Funding

Twitter description

This funding supports organizations in delivering residence-based art summer schools.

Expiry

Tue, 07/16/2024 - 12:00

Owner

Arts Services Consultant - Communications

Overview

This funding supports organizations in delivering residence-based art summer schools that offer:

an arts intensive training experience in any discipline through technical skills workshops with professional artists and instructors
opportunities for young people from across the province to engage in the creative process

Who can apply

To be eligible for this funding, applicants must be:

registered not-for-profit organizations
registered and in good standing in Alberta under the appropriate legislation, for at least one year prior to the deadline
have been in operation for at least one full year prior to the deadline
have at least 50% of the organization’s board members, or ruling council, living in Alberta
demonstrate adherence to good governance principles, efficient administration practices and commitment to fiscal responsibility
demonstrate financial stability, in the judgment of the AFA, for at least one year
operate as a stand-alone organization at arm’s length from municipalities, commercial enterprises or schools
have the authority to provide residence-based programming for minors
have previous experience organizing, designing and operating residence-based art programming

Previous grant recipients must have met reporting requirements in order to be eligible to receive funding.

Two or more organizations that satisfy the eligibility criteria may apply to collaborate to operate a summer arts school program. A partnership project must be submitted through one primary organization. The primary organization must designate the main contact for all requirements of the grant.

Partnership projects must demonstrate that:

control and responsibilities in the partnership are shared equally amongst all partners
knowledge and practices will be shared and exchanged for the benefit of all project partners
the partnership results in activity that is beyond the normal programming of partnering organizations
the project could not be otherwise completed without the existence of the partnership

Ineligible organizations

Ineligible organizations are:

municipalities
commercial enterprises
schools
groups that are not arm’s length from municipalities, commercial enterprises or schools
organizations that engage primarily in competition-based activity

What does this funding support?

Eligible summer school projects must:

consist of residence-based art-intensive camp programs of no less than five (5) consecutive days in length where students are provided with supervision, meals and overnight accommodation
take place between July 1 and August 31
deliver arts programming to students ages 11-19 years
provide students access to Alberta's professional artists and instructors
provide a daily regime of workshops and other hands-on activities for students to learn arts skill techniques and actively engage in creative process learning
provide adequate participant supervision and safety requirements
deliver age-appropriate curriculum and course content
encourage participants to discover and express their creative potential
provide workshops and other activity in an appropriate inclusive environment
encourage province-wide participation

Eligible expenses

Applicants may apply for up to 40% of eligible expenses that are directly related to carrying out the proposed project, such as:

administration
programming
instructor and artist fees
promotional costs
accommodation and classroom arrangements
equipment rental costs and related extracurricular activities
supervisory staff
course and content development
food and lodging
materials and supplies
other expenses considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary

Ineligible expenses

Expenses and activities that are ineligible for AFA funding include:

activities eligible for funding or already funded by AFA
activity undertaken before an application is submitted to this project grant stream. Projects must not start before the application is received by the AFA
projects or programs offered by affiliated organizations that are eligible for funding under other AFA programs
expenses related to eligible projects or programs that are covered by the institution (e.g. facility costs, permanent staff salaries, overhead costs) Summer schools operated by organizations whose permanent staff contribute significantly to the administration, promotion and operation of the school can declare up to 15% of permanent staff salaries, and must include a description of the applicable work undertaken by permanent staff
activities by applied arts (culinary, architecture, graphic arts, commercial photography, gaming), variety acts (face painting, balloon entertainers, fireworks/pyrotechnics, hypnotism), competitive performances and activities at social events

Ineligible expenses also include, but are not limited to:

alcohol
amortization
GST expenses
fundraising expenses
purchases such as buildings or property, or capital development such as construction or renovations

How to apply

We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system.

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Requests must be received at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please complete the GATE Front Office Registration form and email it as an attachment to registrationAFA@gov.ab.ca.

GATE Front Office usernames and passwords will be sent to the email addresses provide on the registration form.

What to include in your application

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

First, complete the GATE Front Office Applicant Profile section with all required information.

GATE Front Office online forms

contact list: A listing of primary and secondary contact persons and signing authority designate for the application
applicant contact information: Street and mailing address
organization information: the organization’s registration details, including Alberta Registration number, Canadian Charitable Registration number (if applicable) and incorporation date
organization applicant agreement: An Applicant Agreement with e-signature of signing authority designate for the organization
summer school participation report: Number of Participants per Age Range and geographic area for the organization’s most recent residence-based art program
current board List: A list of all current members of the board of Directors, including names, titles, complete mailing addresses, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses
project expenses: Complete the online form providing a detailed budget in Canadian dollars, indicating all projected summer school expenditures
project budget: The difference between expenditures and revenues will comprise the grant request to the AFA and cannot exceed 40% of the proposed budget.
project revenue: Complete the online form providing a detailed, budget in Canadian dollars, indicating all projected non-AFA revenues.

Attachments

You’ll be required to complete and upload the following attachments in PDF format:

resumes of curriculum designers, instructors, and other principal organizers (no more than four pages each) outlining their professional arts background, including training and any previous experience with delivering arts training to youth, or job descriptions if positions have yet to be filled
a detailed description of the arts summer school program to be offered, including:
- list of workshops and description of arts skills training and engagement in the creative process
- detailed daily program schedule
- materials and supplies (if applicable)
- number of students
- program structure, fees and registration
- contracting instructors, technical and participant supervisory staff
- extra-curricular activities, if applicable
- food and lodging arrangements
- other logistical and administrative functions required for an arts summer school operation
copies of promotional material and public communications materials related to the summer school
a description of the organization’s history of providing arts training programs
the organization’s most recent approved annual financial statement of revenue and expenditure
a confirmation of filing of the most recent return from Alberta Corporate Registry
a copy of the organization’s Sexual and Workplace Harassment Policy for summer school staff and participants, with confirmation that this policy has been formally adopted within the past year
a marketing plan detailing province wide promotion of the program
for partnership projects, a copy of the contract or letter of agreement that indicates the responsibilities of each partner, and the knowledge, resources and experience that each will contribute
additional support materials that may assist in the assessment process. These may include but are not limited to, promotional literature, programs, or newsletters
- all video and audio files must be Windows compatible, MP3 and MP4 files are preferred
- wherever possible, support material should be uploaded as an attachment into GATE Front Office (up to 4 MB)
- if your support material is too large to upload, please mail a hard copy CD or USB to 10708 – 105 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0A1. Please include your first name, last name and project number on the CD or USB

Applicants may be asked for additional information.

Applicants may submit only one application to this grant stream per arts discipline.

Partnerships

Applications for partnership projects must be submitted through one primary organization. The primary organization must designate the main contact for all requirements of the grant. Each organization involved in a partnership project must submit financial statements and confirmation of their corporate registries return.

How will my application be assessed?

The annual AFA budget is based upon funds allocated in the annual Government of Alberta budget and funding for this grant stream is established by the AFA board of Directors.

Assessment of a project is based on the following general criteria

merit of curriculum
merit of marketing plan
impact of the program on participants
applicant’s history of providing training programs
artistic and technical level of instructors
instructors level of experience teaching arts to youth
appropriateness of summer school budget
the ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project

The expert panel will be encouraged ensure support is provided to projects in a variety of arts disciplines. All decisions are final. Funding is not assured for any project.

Learn more about expert panels and how the AFA adjudicates funding requests for all programs.

When will I hear?

Grant recommendations are made to the AFA board of directors. Successful recipients will be notified upon board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.

Conditions

Funding is intended for the purposes described in your application. By accepting funding, you agree to undertake the project as proposed in your original project description.

If you do not receive the full grant amount requested, you are still required to complete the project as proposed if you accept the grant:

you must return the grant funds if the project cannot be completed as proposed

If you require a change to your project including outcomes, location or an extension to your final report due date:

you must submit a request in writing for approval by the AFA
the request must be submitted prior to the change being made and/or before your final report is due
the AFA may consider a single extension per funding opportunity

Funding recipients are responsible for informing the AFA of how funds were spent and outcomes of the project:

you must return funds if reporting requirements are not met
you must return unused portions of funding to the AFA

In addition to reporting requirements, applicants may be required to provide interim activity reports, financial reports or statements and other information deemed necessary by the AFA or its representatives. The AFA, or its authorized representative, may examine the applicant's financial and other records to ensure that the grant is being, or was used for its intended purpose.

the AFA will retain all materials submitted with grant applications
the AFA does not provide advances for any grant

Funding acknowledgement

Whenever possible, you must acknowledge the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to the project, including electronic, print or visual material.

Download versions of the AFA logo and guidelines for usage.

A minimum reduction of 10% will be applied to any subsequent grant of any organization that does not satisfy the AFA acknowledgement requirements.

Reporting

You are required to complete and submit a satisfactory final report in GATE Front Office upon completion of the project by November 1 following the summer school.

The final report must include:

summer school participation report: online form that outlines the total number of participants and the number of participants categorized by age and geographic region
outcomes report: a description of the results of the summer school, with an evaluation of its success in relation to the original objectives as stated in the application
financial report: showing project expenditures and income including AFA summer school grant funds
copies of promotional materials in which AFA support is acknowledged

Helpful resources

Visit the Help and Resources section of our website to:

download the new Front Office User Guide
find additional resources for organizations

Should your organization wish to receive payment through direct deposit, please use the Direct Deposit form:

Direct deposit form

Deadline information

July 15, 2025

Professional Performing Arts Organizations Operating Funding

Read more about Professional Performing Arts Organizations Operating Funding

Grant subtitle

Three-year funding to professional organizations that create and produce performing art productions.

Select staff contact

Arts Development Consultant - Music

Apply Now: Link to GATE

Recipient type

Art discipline

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Facebook title

Professional Performing Arts Organizations Operating Funding

Facebook description

Three-year funding to professional organizations that create and produce performing art productions.

Twitter title

Professional Performing Arts Organizations Operating Funding

Twitter description

Three-year funding to professional organizations that create and produce performing art productions.

Expiry

Mon, 11/03/2025 - 12:00

Owner

Arts Services Consultant - Communications

Overview

This grant provides funding in three-year cycles to eligible professional organizations that self-create and self-produce performing art productions.

Who can apply

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible for Professional Performing Arts Organizations operating funding, you must:

have public performing arts programming as your organization’s principal mandate as stated in its incorporation documents
engage in on-going development, implementation and promotion of performing arts programming as its core primary activity in an annual program or full season of professional self-created and self-produced work for public presentation
employ at least one full-time equivalent administrative and/or artistic staff member for the minimum duration of your programming season

Your organization must:

be a not-for-profit organization
be registered and in good standing under the appropriate legislation and have been in operation in Alberta for at least three years
have at least 50% of the organization’s board members living in Alberta
pay a ‘fee for service’ at minimum industry standard rates (such as a union or nationally recognized rate) to at least 75% of the artists involved in the organization’s performance program for all performances
demonstrate the ability to operate using good governance principles, effective administration practices, and a commitment to fiscal responsibility while maintaining an artistic mandate
operate as a stand-alone arts organization at arms-length from municipalities, commercial enterprises, or organizations and institutions receiving annual operating funds from the Government of Alberta or its affiliates
comply with all Canadian Arts Database (CADAC) financial and statistical data requirements
have a board-approved cash reserve policy

Ineligible Applicants

Organizations that engage primarily in competition-based activity are not eligible for AFA funding.

Organizations can only receive operating fudning from one AFA grant program.

First-Time Applicants

Eligible first-time applicants are accepted only at the beginning of each three-year cycle.

If this is your organization’s first application for Professional Performing Arts Organizations operating funding, you must contact us at least three months before the deadline for a preliminary eligibility assessment to ensure your organization meets the eligibility criteria.

As a first-time applicant, your organization must have met all eligibility requirements for the three annual fiscal periods prior to application. You must also provide board-approved financial statements that demonstrate the organization has positive net assets and has been operating with no annual deficit for each of these three fiscal periods.

What does this funding support?

AFA operating funding typically supports expenses such as

administration
programming
salaries and fees
maintenance of equipment and fixed assets
promotion
other expenses as required to fulfill your organization’s mandate

Organizations which have an average annual CDR under $1 million, and have been in an AFA funding stream for a minimum of three years, may apply to the Creative Year option under this funding. This option allows organizations to receive non-reduced funding in a year without a performing season. Discipline-specific project expert panels assess the proposals for this option. To prepare for this option, organizations must contact the AFA at least one year prior to the proposed Creative Year.

How to apply

We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system.

GATE Front Office username

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Requests must be received at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please complete the GATE Front Office Registration form and email it as an attachment to registrationAFA@gov.ab.ca.

GATE Front Office usernames and passwords will be sent to the email addresses provide on the registration form.

What to include in your application

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

GATE Front Office online forms:

an Application Contact List which designates one contact as your organization’s primary contact and Signing Authority for this application
your organization’s street address and mailing address
your organization’s registration details, including legal name, Alberta Registration number and incorporation date
CADAC number for your organization’s last three years of financial and statistical data
an Organization Applicant Agreement, which must be agreed to by your organization’s Signing Authority
a current board list which includes names and titles, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and start dates for all current members
a completed Community Derived Revenue Calculation form, using the data from the corresponding lines from CADAC
a completed Diligence Questionnaire

Attachments:

You’ll be required to complete and upload the following attachments:

a current, board-approved business or strategic plan
a listing of planned activities for the coming year
your most recent annual financial statements including Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows
a confirmation of your organization's most recent annual return from Alberta Corporate Registry
a current list of your organization's core staff and their positions
a copy of your organization's Cash Reserve Policy

Cash Reserve Policy requirements

Your organization’s submitted Cash Reserve Policy must:

be approved by your organization’s board of Directors
establish a base Cash Reserve amount as a percentage of your organization’s annual operating expenditure and provide a rationale for that base amount
outline that the Cash Reserve be clearly identified on your organization’s annual financial statement
define the Cash Reserve as an unencumbered, restricted cash account that can only be accessed upon a resolution of your organization's board of Directors, approved by a majority vote
outline that the Cash Reserve funds may only be used to temporarily finance unforeseen operating deficits
outline that funds removed from the Cash Reserve must be replenished within three fiscal years from the end of the fiscal year in which the Cash Reserve funds were utilized
outline that the base Cash Reserve amount, once approved by the AFA, may not be reduced without prior approval by the AFA

We strongly encourage all organizations to strive for a cash reserve of no less than 10% of your organization’s average annual operating expenditures. However, we recognize that individual organizations have unique operating requirements. In considering the savings target for the Cash Reserve, your organization’s board of Directors is expected to consider its own operating requirements and determine an appropriate target which may be more or less than 10% of average annual operating expenditures.

Eligible organizations in this funding opportunity are encouraged to consult department staff as they develop the Cash Reserve Policy and associated plan for implementation.

How will my application be assessed?

Funding amounts are calculated in two stages:

1. First, your organization’s three-year average CDR is adjusted to the following percentage tiers:

11% of such CDR for organizations with a three-year average CDR equal to or greater than $1 million;
15% of such CDR for organizations with a three-year average CDR of less than $1 million and equal to or more than $100,000
20% of such CDR for organizations with a three-year average CDR of less than $100,000.

2. Your organization’s adjusted CDR is then divided by the sum of the adjusted CDR for all eligible Professional Performing Arts Organizations, and then multiplied by this funding opportunity’s budget to determine your funding grant allocation.

Note: If your organization has been approved for a Creative Year Option, your organization’s average CDR will consist of the most recent three years, excluding the Creative Year.

Funding for Professional Performing Arts Organizations is established by the AFA Board of Directors based upon the annual AFA Budget allocated by the Government of Alberta. Department staff evaluate applications according to eligibility criteria and prepare recommendations to the board. The AFA Board of Directors reviews all funding recommendations, and all decisions are final.

When will I hear?

Grant recommendations are made to the AFA board of directors. Successful recipients will be notified upon board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.

Conditions

Ineligible expenses for operating funding include, but are not limited to:

alcohol
amortization
GST expenses
fundraising expenses
bad debt and other paper losses
capital expenses

The AFA or our authorized representative may examine your financial and other records to ensure funding was used for its intended purpose:

funding recipients must return unused portions of their grant to the AFA
we may require your organization to return funds if reporting requirements are not met
if you do not meet reporting requirements, your organization may be ineligible for further funding from the AFA for a period of three years from the time the delinquency is resolved

The AFA Fair Notice Policy applies to this funding opportunity:

we may cancel, suspend, reduce or demand repayment of your grant in circumstances where we are concerned with the viability of your organization

Funding Acknowledgement

Your organization must credit the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to your organization’s activities, including electronic, print or visual material.

if your organization fails to satisfy AFA recognition requirements, it may be subject to a 10% funding reduction in subsequent payments
subsequent infractions may result in ineligibility to apply for AFA funding opportunities

Download versions of the AFA logo and guidelines for usage.

Reporting

You are required to complete and submit satisfactory interim and final reports in GATE Front Office that demonstrates that funding awarded for the previous fiscal year was spent on the activities described in the application. If your organization does not intend to continue to seek AFA operating funding, you are still required to submit a final report.

Your organization’s interim and final reports are due November 1 each year of the three-year grant cycle. We must receive your online report through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until 11:59 p.m. on the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls.

Interim Report

GATE Front Office online forms

CADAC number for your organization’s financial and statistical data that aligns with your organization’s most recent approved financial statements
operations and programming statistical information for the year aligning with your organization’s most recent approved financial statements

Attachments

your organization’s most recent annual financial statements including Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows
- up to $25,000 requires a financial statement approved and signed by three board members, including the treasurer
- $25,001 to $50,000 requires a Notice to Reader financial statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountan
- $50,001 to $100,000 requires a Review Engagement statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
- More than $100,000 requires an Audited financial statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
a copy of your organization’s confirmation of filing your most recent return from Alberta Corporate Registry
copies of related promotional and publicity materials for the previous year, showing compliance with recognition requirements
a material change report

Final Report

Your organization’s final report, due by the three-year cycle application deadline of November 1, must include:

operations and programming statistical information for the year aligning with your organization’s most recent approved financial statements
listing of completed art activities report aligning with your organization’s most recent approved financial statements
sample of promotional and publicity materials for the previous year, showing compliance with AFA recognition requirements
your organization’s most recent approved financial statements with Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenue and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows – information must be updated in CADAC
- up to $25,000 requires a financial statement approved and signed by three board members, including the treasurer
- $25,001 to $50,000 requires a Notice to Reader financial statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
- $50,001 to $100,000 requires a Review Engagement statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
- More than $100,000 requires an Audited financial statement provided by an independent, professionally designated accountant
a material change report

Helpful resources

Visit the Help and Resources section of our website to:

download the new Front Office User Guide
find additional resources for organizations

Download additional resources

Deadline information

November 3, 2025

Arts Development Consultant - Music

Jason

Flammia

Phone

780-415-0297

jason.flammia@gov.ab.ca

Read more about Arts Development Consultant - Music

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Music

Individual eligibility criteria

Ensembles, collectives, and collaborations

Types of projects

Eligible expenses

For art production projects:

For marketing projects:

For training and career development projects:

For all project categories:

Ineligible expenses

GATE Front Office username registration

What to include in your application

GATE Front Office online formlets:

Attachments:

Format

Funding acknowledgement

Ineligible applicants

First-time applicants

GATE Front Office username registration

What to include in your application

GATE Front Office online forms

Attachments

Funding acknowledgement

GATE Front Office online forms

Attachments

Partnership projects

Ineligible applicants

Ineligible projects

Eligible expenses

Ineligible expenses

GATE Front Office username registration

What to include in the application

GATE Front Office online forms

Attachments

Funding acknowledgement

Reporting attachments

Helpful resources

Ineligible applicants

Eligible events

Eligible artists

Eligible expenses

Ineligible projects

Ineligible expenses

GATE Front Office username registration

What to include in your application

GATE Front Office online forms

Attachments

Format

Funding acknowledgement

Eligible expenses

Ineligible projects

GATE Front Office username registration

What to include in your application

GATE Front Office online formlets

Attachments

Funding acknowledgement

Ineligible organizations

Eligible expenses

Ineligible expenses

GATE Front Office username registration

What to include in your application

GATE Front Office online forms

Attachments

Partnerships

Funding acknowledgement

Eligible Applicants

Ineligible Applicants

First-Time Applicants

GATE Front Office username

What to include in your application

GATE Front Office online forms:

Attachments:

Cash Reserve Policy requirements

Funding Acknowledgement

Interim Report

Final Report

Download additional resources

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