Guidelines: Project Grant Program — Individuals and Collectives 2025
March 19, 2025: Full guidelines published
March 26, 2025: Applications open
April 8, 2025: Information session (see details below)
May 14, 2025: Application deadline (no applications accepted after 4:30pm MT)
June – Early September 2025: Evaluation of grants
Mid-September 2025: Notification of results
Late-September – October 2025: Funds distributed
Applications must be submitted by 4:30pm MT on the deadline date. We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. Please see the Deadline Extension Policy for information about extensions.
Need help applying?
If you experience accessibility, cultural or language barriers, we can help you with:
- Understanding our programs and who is eligible
- Creating and submitting grant applications
- Providing project updates
- Submitting a final report
We understand that our programs and processes create barriers to access for many artists and organizations who want to apply. We will work one-on-one with applicants and develop accommodations through conversation and check-ins. Our team can assist you over the phone, in-person or online. Help is available for applicants even if they choose not to apply for the program.
To learn more about the kinds of services you can request, please review the Applicant Support & Accessibility Policy.
If you have questions about this program, please contact Community Investment Program Specialists:
Taylor Poitras taylor.poitras@calgaryartsdevelopment.com 403.264.5330 ext. 215
Richelle Bear Hat richelle.bearhat@calgaryartsdevelopment.com 403.264.5330 ext. 125
Staff will do their best to answer questions up until the application deadline.
Staff are also able to provide feedback on your drafted application if you reach out before May 1, 2025. After this date staff cannot guarantee that your application can be reviewed, based on the volume of requests. Please keep in mind that requesting staff feedback is optional and does not guarantee success within a program; however, it may help ensure your application is generally clear, eligible and complete.
Please refer to each section below for important program details. You will find links to all our policies and other relevant information at the end of this document. We also recommend reviewing the Community Investment Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) before applying.
The Project Grant for Individuals and Collectives provides one-time project funding to Calgary-based individual artists, artist collectives and cultural workers, working in any artistic discipline.
Projects can include research, creation, development, production, presentation or dissemination of artistic work, or the experimentation or development of new or adapted approaches to practice.
Projects may begin before the application deadline of May 14, 2025, but they cannot be fully completed before the application deadline. Projects funded through this program must be complete by December 31, 2026.
Individual artists may apply for up to $20,000 and artist collectives may apply for up to $25,000.
Total funding available for this program is $3.1 million.
We acknowledge that the land we gather on, Mohkinsstsis, is the ancestral territory of the Siksikaitsitapi — the Blackfoot people — comprising the Siksika, Kainai and Piikani Nations, as well as Treaty 7 signatories, the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the Îyârhe Nakoda Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations. Today this land is home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Districts 5 and 6 as well as many First Nations and Inuit from across Turtle Island.
Calgary Arts Development is committed to the process of eliminating institutional racism, ableism and barriers in our programs, policies and practices by centering the creativity and leadership of those communities most impacted by structural inequities. Read our full Commitment to Equity statement on our website.
This program is open to Calgary-based (1) individual artists, (2) artist collectives, (3) cultural workers, and (4) collaborations with artists (i.e. individuals working in the arts and culture sector who are not artists themselves but are undertaking a project that primarily involves and supports artists).
Please review the definitions below for each category before applying:
- Individual Artists:
- We consider an individual artist to be an artist who is actively pursuing a professional career in the arts, and who has invested in the development of their artistic skills, voice and goals.
- Artists may have formal or informal, community-based training. We value all ways of knowing, learning and developing an artistic practice.
- Artists have shared, or are actively striving to share, their work publicly and be compensated for their work.
- Artists have a relationship with their artistic communities and peers.
- Artists do not need to be working professionally in the arts full time.
- Artist Collectives:
- We consider an artist collective to be two or more individual artists who have a shared artistic practice that is distinct from their own individual artistic practices (for example, a band, a visual art duo, a theatre collective, co-writers, etc.). Artist collectives may work together on an ongoing basis or partner together on a temporary basis for a particular project or goal.
- Collectives need to define their collective practice, vision, goals and process to demonstrate that all collective members have equal and shared ownership and accountability for the success and completion of the proposed project.
- A majority of collective members must be Calgary-based artists (i.e. 50 per cent or more).
- Cultural Workers:
- For the purposes of our programs, ‘cultural workers’ refers to individuals who make their living in the arts and culture sector and contribute to the success of an artist or organization’s artistic work in a creative or technical capacity, but who are not necessarily leading the artistic vision of the work being created. This might include production team members such as a costume designer or cutter, sound designer/operator, set designer, lighting designer/operator, etc.
- In this program, we will consider applications from cultural workers for their own professional development and learning, or for independent projects where they are the lead artist for the creative process. The project should be focused on their own artistic practice, vision and goals.
- Collaborations with Artists:
- We will consider applications from individuals working in the arts and culture sector who do not meet the definition of an individual artist or artist collective if they can demonstrate the below, and at the discretion of Calgary Arts Development staff:
- Artists are core collaborators or participants in the planning, development and implementation of the project.
- The project and budget provide financial and non-financial support to artists.
- The applicant has demonstrated history of working with artists and the arts sector.
- We will consider applications from individuals working in the arts and culture sector who do not meet the definition of an individual artist or artist collective if they can demonstrate the below, and at the discretion of Calgary Arts Development staff:
NOTE: This program cannot accept applications from arts administrators, agents or managers, production companies, registered for-profit corporations or businesses, or registered not-for-profit organizations.
Artistic disciplines
We welcome applications from those working in all artistic disciplines and their various cultural forms. This includes, but is not limited to: arts service, arts education, art for social change, circus arts, community and social practice, craft arts, curation, dance, d/Deaf arts, digital arts, disability and/or Mad arts, film, inclusive arts, Indigenous arts, interdisciplinary practice, literary arts, media arts, multidisciplinary practice, music and sound, opera, orchestra, performance, public art, theatre, visual arts, etc.
Calgary-based Artists
Calgary Arts Development supports applicants that are Calgary-based. This means you primarily live and work in Calgary (i.e. for at least six months of the year except attending a formal program of study).
You should be able to demonstrate that the majority of your work is accessible to the citizens of Calgary and that you have a meaningful and ongoing relationship with the city and its artistic communities.
If you are not currently based in Calgary, please contact program staff to discuss your eligibility before applying.
Newcomer Artists — Permanent Residency or Citizenship Not Necessary
You do not need to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to receive a grant from us, but you do need to be able to report on this grant to the Canada Revenue Agency. This means you must have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number or Individual Tax Number to receive this grant.
If you are a newcomer, immigrant or refugee artist and have questions or concerns, please contact the program staff listed at the bottom of the page under “Contact Information.”
Please review the following eligibility requirements before applying and reach out if you have any questions or need clarification:
- Applicants may not have more than two open grants with Calgary Arts Development, including grants for which a deadline extension has been approved. For more information, please review the Open Grant Policy.
- You may not apply to this program if you have any final reports past their due date for prior grants.
- Applicants may submit only one application per program deadline.
- Individual artists may be involved in more than one application, either as a participant in another artist’s application, or as a member of an artist collective.
- Individual artists must apply using their individual account and artist collectives must apply using their collective account.
- A project may only be submitted by one applicant per program deadline. This means that multiple members of a group cannot submit for the same project to the same program deadline.
- We cannot fund the same phase of a project more than once (regardless of calendar year) so please ensure you are planning larger projects ahead of time and clearly outlining the phase of work you are applying for. As long as they are distinct phases of a project, you may apply for a future Calgary Arts Development grant to support the next distinct phase of the work.
- Please note, that if you are awarded funding from another funding source (such as Alberta Foundation for the Arts or Canada Council for the Arts) that fully covers your proposed project expenses, you will not be able to also accept funds from Calgary Arts Development for those same project expenses, and you will not be allowed to modify your original proposed Calgary Arts Development budget by increasing your estimated costs or adding additional expenses to expand the scope or scale of your project.
Applicants may apply to this program for one project, or one distinct phase of a project. Projects should have a clear start and end date, with a specific set of activities, processes and goals.
Please ensure you are clear about what phase of the work you are applying for, especially for larger or longer-term projects that may have multiple stages or phases. If you have questions about your project phases, please contact a program specialist.
Projects may begin before the application deadline of May 14, 2025, but they cannot be fully completed before the application deadline. Projects funded through this program must be complete by December 31, 2026.
Individual artists may apply for up to $20,000 and artist collectives may apply for up to $25,000.
Eligible Activities
Projects may include any of the following activities, and these activities can take place online or in person — locally, nationally or internationally:
- Research: research projects to inform your artistic work, processes, approaches, etc.
- Creation or production of work: the creation and development of new work, adaptations of previous work, experimentation, etc.
- Professional development and learning: participating in courses, classes, workshops, residencies, trainings, mentorships, apprenticeships, networking and industry events, conferences, etc.
- Presenting or sharing work with the public: sharing, distributing or selling your work through exhibitions, instillations, events, presentations, performances, touring, releases, publishing, etc.
- Marketing and promotion: activities related to publicity and outreach, the branding, promotion and marketing of your work and artistic practice, networking and industry events, etc.
If you have questions about other potential project activities, please contact our program specialist(s) to discuss before applying.
Ineligible Activities:
- Activities that do not comply with or respect cultural protocols
- Activities that use or present Indigenous cultural material, traditional knowledge or stories without express permission from the community and/or clear connection to the originating community
- Activities or individuals that willfully or in bad faith promote intolerance, hatred or hate speech to incite violence or harm
- Activities that are illegal or contravene provincial or federal law, or municipal bylaws
- Contests and competitions
- Fundraising activities (e.g., undertaken to raise funds on behalf of a political party or charity).
- Activities related to campaigning for a specific political candidate or party in an election
- The purchase of or financial contribution toward land or buildings
Eligible expenses
Please ensure that your project is eligible for this program, then refer to the list below for guidance on eligible expenses. Any expense requested must be directly related to the completion and success of your proposed project.
- Accessibility expenses (e.g. interpretation, translation, support workers, aid devices or tools such as screen readers) You may only request the purchase of accessibility equipment and software and/or request a support worker if it is directly related to the completion and success of your proposed project. You must be specific about the accessibility equipment you wish to purchase, the support worker’s role, why it’s needed and what it costs.
- Artist fees
- Professional fees (e.g., fees paid to individuals offering professional services such as web design, publicity or marketing, financial, accounting or legal services)
- Technical fees (e.g., web service fees, licensing fees, subscription fees for the duration of your proposed activity, up to 1 year maximum)
- Elder and Knowledge Keeper fees
- Honorariums (a gifted payment made to a person who provided their services in a voluntary capacity)
- Materials & Supplies
- Course fees (for individual courses that do not count toward the pursuit of a credit, diploma or degree-granting program)
- Documentation (e.g., photography, videography)
- Marketing, promotion, publicity or outreach (e.g. ad purchases, printing promotional materials, hiring a marketing company)
- Travel expenses (e.g., such as airfare, gas mileage or ride services to attend a conference, residency, course, etc.)
- Per diem (a daily rate for meals and incidentals while not at your primary residence)
- Accommodation (e.g. hotels or short-term rentals while not at your primary residence)
- Subsistence expenses (living expenses for your primary residence which may include rent, utilities, food, internet, childcare, etc.) NOTE: You may only request subsistence if it is necessary to fully access, participate in or undertake your proposed project.
- Rental of space (e.g. rehearsal, venue or studio space for the duration of the project)
- Rental of equipment
- Purchase of equipment (including hardware and permanent software) NOTE: You may only request the purchase of equipment if it is directly related to the completion and success of your proposed project. You must be specific about the equipment you wish to purchase, why it’s needed and what it costs.
NOTE: Eligible expenses for this program (such as artist fees or subsistence) may not be considered deductible project expenses by the Canada Revenue Agency. Please consult the CRA guidelines as needed when creating your budget.
Ineligible Expenses
Funds from this program are not intended to support the following:
- Lost wages or salaries
- Debt or loan repayment
- Tuition or other costs related to the pursuit of post-secondary degree or diploma educational programs, or artistic work related to those educational programs
- Purchase of or financial contribution towards land or buildings
- Purchase of any equipment not directly related to an eligible activity
- Any other expenses not directly related to the project
- Expenses fully supported by another funding source
Please note that the eligible and ineligible expenses listed are given as examples and are not exclusive. If you are unsure about expenses, please reach out to discuss before applying.
We stream applications to help manage volume and group applications that are more similar than not together in assessment. We also use program streams to help design the makeup of the assessment committees.
In this program, we ask applicants to select one of two program streams to be assessed within:
- Stream 1: Applicants who are applying for a project that primarily involves disciplines and practices such as dance, theatre, music, opera, orchestra, circus, performance, etc. should apply to Stream 1.
- Stream 2: Applicants who are applying for a project that primarily involves disciplines and practices such as literary, visual arts, craft arts, curation, public art, digital arts, media arts, film, etc. should apply to Stream 2.
Assessment committees are multi-disciplinary and will be made up primarily of artists who work within the disciplines outlined within each program stream. This helps to ensure that there are multiple perspectives on the committee that are familiar with and have knowledge about the different processes, approaches, ways of working and ways of presenting, sharing or performing work that are common across different kinds of disciplines.
If your project includes primary disciplines across both streams and you aren’t sure which to select, please reach out to a program specialist to discuss before applying.
For example, if you are a spoken word artist who feels their practice is equal parts performance (Stream 1) and literary arts (Stream 2), we can discuss what the project you are applying for primarily involves and which perspectives might be most valuable in assessment given the focus of your project phase, i.e. If you were applying to support a research and writing phase, you might select Stream 1 to ensure you have literary perspectives, whereas if you were applying to do a series of spoken word performances to a live audience, you may select Stream 2 to ensure there are performance perspectives on the committee.
The $3.1 million dollar pool of funding available will be divided between the two program streams based on the number of applicants that apply to each stream, and the dollar amount requested within each stream.
Program Considerations
The following program considerations are what your application will be scored and evaluated on:
- Artistic Impact
- The applicant shows a clear and in-depth understanding of their artistic practice, artistic goals and what success will mean for them.
- Community Connection
- The applicant shows a clear and in-depth understanding of the relationships and communities connected to this project, their community-related goals and what success will mean for them. This can include future relationships and community connections, as well as those occurring during the project itself.
NOTE: For the purpose of our programs, we define community as those who view, participate, collaborate, engage or benefit from your work. Depending on your project, this may include audiences, participants, students, artists, collaborators or partners, institutions or venues, mentors or teachers, neighborhoods or specific communities aligned around shared identities or goals.
- Planning
- The applicant has included enough information to clearly show what they want to do and how they will do it. There is an in-depth understanding of what it will take to carry out the project and meet their goals. This is shown by a clear, realistic and well-supported application (for example, the applicant has enough relevant experience and/or necessary support in place, a feasible timeline and budget, suitable partners/collaborators/mentors, etc.).
Scoring Process
Committee members will review applications and rate the level to which they agree or disagree with each of the program considerations listed in the section above, based on the information provided in the application. The four ratings are: Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree.
Each program consideration will be weighted equally. The score assigned to each rating will be consistent (for example, ‘Strongly Agree’ will always equal the same number of points).
Applications to the program will be reviewed by independent assessment committees made up of artist peers and community members. The membership of the peer assessment committees will be chosen through public nominations and staff expertise.
Anyone can ask to participate on a Calgary Arts Development assessment committee by completing the assessor nomination form or by emailing grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Assessment committees are chosen to represent the broad diversity of Calgary and its artistic communities, including artistic discipline, gender, sexuality, age, religion, beliefs, nation, physical and neurological identities, and more.
Assessment committees are responsible for reviewing and scoring the applications assigned to their committee online, and meeting to discuss applications together and make recommendations. Calgary Arts Development staff will review these recommendations and finalize the funding list. Partial funding may be allocated.
In the final 10 per cent of funding, if there are applications that are tied, but not enough funds in the grant budget to support all tied applications, priority may be given based on the following considerations:
- Projects from equity priority groups (details below).
- Projects from applicants that have not received a Calgary Arts Development grant before, or within the past two (2) years.
For more detailed information about the assessment process, please review the Assessor Terms of Reference.
Calgary Arts Development reserves the right to adjust assessment processes and the program timeline due to application volume. Applicants will be notified if significant changes occur.
Equity Priority Groups
In the final 10 per cent of funding, if there are applications that are tied, but not enough funds in the grant budget to support all tied applications, projects proposed by artists belonging to an equity priority group (or in the case of a collective, where the majority are artists from equity priority groups) will be prioritized.
The equity priority groups identified for this program are Indigenous, Black, persons of colour, D/deaf persons, persons with disabilities, persons living with mental illness and 2SLGBTQIAP+ individuals. For details, please refer to the equity priority group descriptions.
In the grant application, applicants can fill out a voluntary self-identification form. All questions are optional. These responses are not visible to assessors. Access to this information is limited to the grant program staff and research team at Calgary Arts Development.
Applicants that self-identify as belonging to one or more of these equity priority groups are automatically considered for this tie-breaking equity measure.
Voluntary self-identification information may also be used in aggregate to:
- Generate statistics to measure how well Calgary Arts Development’s programs are reaching members of equity groups.
- Ensure there is diverse representation in the membership of peer assessment committees and grant review panels.
- Gather information to help Calgary Arts Development design, review, evaluate and improve its programs.
- Plan outreach activities.
- Report to Calgary Arts Development’s board and committees.
Please see the Disclosure of Grant Information Policy for information about how Calgary Arts Development collects and uses information submitted through grant applications.
We accept applications through an online grant platform. If you don’t already have an account with us, you will need to create an account and set up your user profile before you can apply.
The application form for this program will become available on the online grant platform on March 26, 2025. You will find it under ‘Open Opportunities’ when you login.
Please note: Artist collectives must apply for grants through a collective account that is separate from their own individual artist account. These must be distinct accounts that use a unique email address when registering.
Please contact grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com for help with any questions or technical issues.
You can learn more about the program guidelines and application process at our online information session, and/or by bringing your questions to our program specialists at one of weekly virtual ‘open office spaces.’
Online Information Session
We are hosting an online information session for the 2025 Project Grant Program — Individuals and Collectives. This session is open to any artist interested in applying to this program.
Program Specialist Taylor Poitras will provide information about the program guidelines and application process and host a brief Q+A session after the presentation.
For Zoom security reasons, we ask that folks register before attending. The Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Registering for this session confirms that you agree to our group agreements for this event. Be sure to read the document before signing up.
When: Tuesday, April 8 from 5:30 – 7:30pm. Register here.
*ASL interpretation will be available at this session.
If you are an artist with specific access needs or require other translation or interpretation services, please let us know and we will arrange to make sure you have the support and information you need to fairly access the application process. This could include booking a one-on-one session with us.
To learn more about the kinds of services and support we offer, please review the Applicant Support & Accessibility Policy.
We will record the presentation portion of the info session and post it on our website afterwards. This may take up to two weeks. The video will be available to everyone — you do not have to register for the event to get access to the video.
Questions? Email taylor.poitras@calgaryartsdevelopment.com before registering.
Virtual Open Office Spaces
Throughout April and May, we are hosting weekly virtual ‘open office spaces’ online over Zoom for the 2025 Project Grant Program – Individuals and Collectives. These sessions are open to any artist interested in applying to this program.
Artists are welcome to login and join at any time during these Zoom sessions to ask our program specialists questions about the Project Grant, and to listen to other artists’ questions. Folks can stay for as long as or as short as they like. There is no formal presentation — just 60 mins of artist Q+A!
For Zoom security reasons, we ask that folks register before attending. The Zoom link will be provided upon registration. Registering for a session confirms that you agree to our group agreements for this event. Be sure to read the document before signing up.
When:
Friday, April 4, 2025, from 2 – 3pm. Register here.
Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 9:30 – 10:30am. Register here.
Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 5 – 6pm. Register here.
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 10 – 11am. Register here.
Friday, May 2, 2025, from 12:30pm-1:30pm. Register here.
Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 5 – 6pm. Register here.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 11:30am – 12:30pm. Register here.
*ASL interpretation is not currently booked for these drop-in sessions.
If you are an artist with specific access needs or require translation or interpretation services, please let us know and we will arrange to make sure you have all the support and information you need to fairly access the application process. This may require booking a one-on-one session with us instead.
These sessions will not be recorded.
Questions? Email taylor.poitras@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or richelle.bearhat@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Complete Your Profile
In the online grant platform, you will need to ensure your ‘individual artist’ or ‘artist collective’ profile is filled out and up to date before you submit your grant application.
Your profile includes important information, such as:
- Contact Information; Years of Practice; Artistic Discipline(s); Artistic Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV); and an Artistic Practice Statement (100 – 300 words)
Some of your profile information will be automatically transferred to your grant application.
Complete Your Application
To begin your grant application, login to the online grant platform and select ‘Open Opportunities.’ There you will see any grant programs that are currently open. Once available, select this program and begin a draft application. As you work on your application, remember to save your progress regularly. Once your application is complete, please ‘submit’ before the stated application deadline. You should receive an email confirming your submission. If not, please call or email us to confirm.
The application form will ask for the following information:
- Voluntary Self-Identification Form (optional)
- Project Name
- Brief Description (25 words or less)
- Funding Request (up to $20,000 for individuals, up to $25,000 for collectives)
- Project Start and End Date
- Primary Discipline
- Select the artistic discipline that is most relevant to this application
- Program Stream
- Select the stream that best describes the primary discipline(s) that your project includes.
- Stream 1: Applicants who are applying for a project that primarily involves disciplines and practices such as dance, theatre, music, opera, orchestra, circus, performance, etc. should apply to Stream 1.
- Stream 2: Applicants who are applying for a project that primarily involves disciplines and practices such as literary, visual arts, craft arts, curation, public art, digital arts, media arts, film, etc. should apply to Stream 2.
- Select the stream that best describes the primary discipline(s) that your project includes.
- Project Description (500 words max)
- Describe your project including what will occur, when it will take place, and where it will take place.
- Artistic Impact (500 words max)
- Describe your artistic goals for this project and what success will mean for you.
- This could include goals you have for the artistic work itself, learning or development goals related to your artistic practice and growth, or potential impacts that the project may have on your artistic discipline(s).
- Describe your artistic goals for this project and what success will mean for you.
- Community Connection (500 words max)
- Describe the people or communities that are connected to this project and why you’ve chosen them. What are your community-related goals for this project and what will success mean for you?
- For the purpose of our programs, we define community as those who view, participate, collaborate, engage or benefit from your work. Depending on your project, this may include audiences, participants, students, artists, collaborators or partners, institutions or venues, mentors or teachers, neighborhoods or specific communities aligned around shared identities or goals.
- If you are the only person/s involved in the project at this stage, please speak to potential future connections or goals, and who you generally make your work for and why.
- Describe the people or communities that are connected to this project and why you’ve chosen them. What are your community-related goals for this project and what will success mean for you?
- Project Budget
- Fill out the budget form with all relevant project expenses and revenues.
- Use the notes section of the budget form to describe each expense in detail and show your calculations. Please be specific wherever possible and break down your expenses for clarity.
- Budget Support
- Upload budget-related material or documentation to help support your budget items and estimates. For example, researched costs, quotes, standard fee schedules, correspondence that confirms rates, past examples of revenue, etc.
- Project Timeline
- Include a timeline or project plan that clearly outlines how you will accomplish this project. Your timeline should include dates and other relevant details for any important activities, tasks, events, milestones or process periods.
- Support Material (upload pdfs or audio/visual files)
- Upload any additional material that will support and strengthen your application, and help assessors understand more about your artistic practice, project or planning.
- Examples of what you might include (if relevant to your project):
- Samples of your artistic work, mock-ups/drafts/works in progress, letters of support, bios or resumes of artists, collaborators or mentors, confirmations, research material, planning documents, excerpts of your work or a synopsis, course/residency descriptions, etc.
- Feel free to combine multiple PDFs into one upload area.
NOTE: Assessors will only be asked to review up to 10 minutes of support material for each application. They are reviewing many applications, so please be succinct and ensure that what you are providing is clear and directly relevant to your project.
Notification of Grant Results
Applicants will be automatically notified of their results by the online grant platform to the email address indicated in your profile. Please add the email address donotreply@smartsimplemailer.ca to your contact list to minimize delays in receiving notifications from us.
If you have not received an email notification by September 18, 2025, please check your junk/spam folder before reaching out to grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Successful applicants will receive an automated notification through the online grant platform with instructions on how to accept their grant and receive funding.
Successful applicants will be required to provide the following information via a Detailed Information Collection Form: legal name, current mailing address, and a direct deposit form with your banking information. We use electronic fund transfers to make grant payments. This Detailed Information Collection Form will be made available in the online grant platform under “My Action Items” when you login.
Once that form has been submitted and approved by a staff member, successful applicants will be sent an investment agreement via DocuSign and must sign and return the agreement within 30 days to receive funding.
Calgary Arts Development will provide a T4A tax form to successful grantees for the full grant amount received during a calendar year. This includes the primary applicant receiving grant payment on behalf of an artist collective. Please note that you must have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number or Individual Tax Number to receive this grant.
If you have any questions about tax requirements for artist grants, it is a good idea to discuss these with a tax professional or consult Canada Revenue Agency guidelines. There is additional tax information in our Investment Program FAQ.
Final Reporting
Successful grantees will be required to complete a brief final report to share an update on their completed activities, any learnings and how the grant benefited their practice, along with an updated budget with actuals.
Final reports are due within 60 days of the stated ‘project end date’ in your application. If you need to request an extension, please reach out to discuss this with program staff before your current reporting deadline.
Final reports are assigned in the online grant platform and can be found under “My Action Items” when you login.
Successful applicants may also be invited to participate in optional surveys, research and peer-to-peer learning.
Next Steps for Unsuccessful Applications
Applicants who are not successful in their application may reapply for the same project to other Calgary Arts Development grant programs, if the project still meets eligibility requirements.
Due to the increased volume of applications that we have been receiving to this program, staff will not be offering individualized feedback to applicants after the assessment process and program results are shared. Staff are in the process of considering alternative feedback options for applicants in the future, as we know how valuable it can be for learning and reapplying.
We welcome any feedback you may have on the application process at any time.
If you would like to know more about other opportunities in the arts ecosystem, including other arts funders, you are welcome to reach out to any of our program specialists, or Calgary Arts Development’s Community Liaison, Sayonara Cunha, at sayonara.cunha@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Contact Information
If you have questions about this program, please contact Community Investment Program Specialists:
Taylor Poitras taylor.poitras@calgaryartsdevelopment.com 403.264.5330 ext. 215
Richelle Bear Hat richelle.bearhat@calgaryartsdevelopment.com 403.264.5330 ext. 125
Staff will do their best to answer questions up until the application deadline.