Grant Investment Program Policies
Amended policies have been updated as of March 1, 2024.
Calgary Arts Development intends its granting process to be open, fair, and transparent. Calgary Arts Development stewards public dollars for the public good on behalf of the citizens of Calgary (known as Mohkinsstsis in Blackfoot). We have a responsibility to ensure the security and value of the investments we make on their behalf.
Please see Investment Program FAQ for answers to common questions, and contact the program specialist as early as you can to ensure they can provide the best support possible. Program specialists can only guarantee feedback up to 10 days before the grant application deadline.
We will work one-on-one with potential applicants who experience barriers to develop accommodations that suit their abilities and situations. Some examples of accommodations are:
- Translation of written materials into other languages.
- Transcription of verbal meetings or audio and video recordings into a written document.
- Verbal video or audio applications. If you would prefer to answer the application questions verbally you can submit an audio or video recording of yourself or our staff can help record your responses using an online platform, such as Zoom.
- Language interpretation for phone or video meetings (Note: this will depend on the availability of external service agencies).
- Grant writing assistance if you need help.
You may be eligible for application assistance to pay someone to help you prepare and submit an application if you need it or for any of the reasons listed below:
- An artist who is Deaf, hard of hearing, has a disability or is living with a mental illness.
- An artist facing language, geographic or cultural barriers.
Contact grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or 403.476.2031 for more information on application assistance or to request support.
In recognition of these barriers, eligible applicants can request assistance to help alleviate some of the costs associated with preparing and submitting an application, final report or receiving and accepting an investment.
Who can Request Assistance?
Individuals (or the primary contact for a collective) who self-identify as:
- An artist who is Deaf, hard of hearing, has a disability or is living with a mental illness.
- An artist facing language, geographic or cultural barriers.
Before requesting assistance, please ensure that you are eligible to apply to that particular program.
What Type of Assistance can I Request?
Eligible applicants can request assistance at any stage of the application process for the following activities:
- Reviewing program guidelines and deciding to apply.
- Preparing and submitting a grant application.
- Receiving and accepting a grant investment (i.e., interpreting notifications, completing and returning an investment agreement, completing direct deposit, etc.).
- Preparing and submitting a final report.
When do I Submit my Request?
- Application: Two to four weeks before you plan to submit but the sooner the better.
- Grant Acceptance: As soon as you know your results.
- Updates/Reports: Four weeks prior to your report due date.
How do I Request Assistance?
To request assistance please contact the community investment team at grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or 403.476.2031.
You will need to provide:
- The name and contact information of someone who can help you.
- This could be a trusted friend or family member, or a professional service provider.
- We may be able to make recommendations, depending on the service being requested.
- The amount you are requesting, including the service provider’s hourly rate.
Please see the maximum contribution amounts below for each program.
Maximum Contribution Amounts
Depending on the type of service or assistance you are requesting, Calgary Arts Development has outlined the maximum amounts that we are currently able to provide towards our 2023 grant investment programs.
General transcription or editing services and organizing of support materials
Applicants who identify barriers within the writing process directly due to a physical or learning disability or due to living with mental illness.
| Program & Type of Assistance | Maximum Contribution |
| Microgrants – Application | $100 |
| Original Peoples Investment Program – Application | $200 |
| Project Grants – Application | $200 |
| Operating/Unrestricted Programs – Application | $350 |
| All Programs – Grant acceptance and final reports | $100 |
Language translation
Applicants writing an application in another language who require translation into English, including American Sign Language.
| Program & Type of Assistance | Maximum Contribution |
| Microgrant – Application | $300 |
| Original Peoples Investment Program – Application | $600 |
| Project Grants – Application | $600 |
| Operating/Unrestricted Programs – Application | $750 |
| All Programs – Grant acceptance and final reports | $300 |
Application development
Applicants who identify having a cognitive or developmental disability and require support to frame their ideas and concepts.
| Program & Type of Assistance | Maximum Contribution |
| Microgrants – Application | $300 |
| Original Peoples Investment Program – Application | $600 |
| Project Grants – Application | $600 |
| Operating/Unrestricted Programs – Application | $750 |
| All Programs – Grant acceptance and final reports | $300 |
How will Requests for Assistance be Evaluated?
After receiving the required information, program staff will review requests and determine eligibility.
If approved, the program specialist will confirm the amount Calgary Arts Development is able to contribute. Your service provider must then send an invoice for the approved amount. Staff will process the invoice and pay the service provider directly through electronic fund transfer.
If you are not eligible or do not wish to request application assistance, below are some other ways you can get help with your application:
- Consult the Investment Program FAQ.
- Call 403.264.5330 or email grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com with general inquiries.
- Contact the program specialist listed in the program guidelines for assistance.
- Ask someone you trust, like a family member, friend or colleague to help you.
All deliberations of assessors, all corporate records, and material submitted by applicants as part of their applications that are not generally available to the public shall be considered confidential. All assessors are required to safeguard such records and information from improper access and to sign and adhere to a confidentiality agreement prior to accessing any confidential information. Further information about privacy and disclosure of grant information can be found in the Privacy Policy and Disclosure of Grant Information Policy.
Calgary Arts Development will release assessor names as part of its annual Accountability Report published the subsequent year. Assessor names will be listed alphabetically, and will not be attributed to any particular program. In the case where assessors are engaged in programs that contain a verbal presentation from applicants, assessors will be introduced to applicants at the time of the presentation, before the program cycle is complete, and additional confidentiality and anonymity policies may be put in place for both applicants and assessors.
If individuals are found to have broken their commitment to this confidentiality policy, Calgary Arts Development reserves the right to remove them from the assessment process or bar them from participation in future committees.
This Conflict of Interest Policy ensures that community members serving as peer assessors do not materially benefit from their own involvement in funding decisions, or unfairly influence the deliberations based on their relationships with applicants.
All assessors are required to sign a statement agreeing to fully disclose any direct or perceived conflict with any applicant to the program.
Committee members who have a potential or perceived conflict of interest will be removed from the assessment process for said applicant. The committee member will leave the room during discussion, and will not score, vote or use personal influence in the decision-making process.
Calgary Arts Development engages community assessors for the experience, knowledge and relationships they have within the arts community. Prior knowledge or relationship with an applicant does not constitute a conflict of interest on its own.
Calgary Arts Development expects a conflict of interest to be declared under any of the conditions outlined below:
- The assessor has applied to the program, either as a primary applicant, as an active participant in the application, or has an ongoing professional affiliation with the applicant as:
- An artist
- A staff member
- A board member
- A contractor
- Or is involved in direct leadership, planning, or implementation activities for the application in any other capacity
- The assessor has a direct personal relationship with the applicant such as:
- Family members
- Spousal or immediate personal partnerships
- The assessor will otherwise financially or materially benefit from the success of the application.
- The assessor feels they will be unable to fairly and productively manage personal bias in the assessment process based upon prior knowledge, privileged information or relationship with the applicant.
Potential conflicts of interest may be considered on a case-by-case basis for reasons not included in this list. If an assessor is unsure of a potential conflict of interest, they should reach out to the program specialist to discuss.
Calgary Arts Development reserves the right to remove assessors from the assessment process for specific applications or entirely if a conflict of interest has not been properly declared, or if a conflict of interest arises through the assessment process.
This Conflict of Interest Policy is accompanied by assessor Terms of Reference, Group Agreements, and a confidentiality agreement for each program, which govern the assessment process and expected conduct of assessment committees.
Contact grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or 403.476.2031 for more information on application assistance or to request support.
If a written request is not received in time, the organization, individual, or collective will be ineligible for that granting period. The request must state the reason(s) the application deadline cannot be met, and the date the application could be submitted.
Please Note: In order to respect peer assessors’ ability to responsibly review applications, we are unable to grant extensions beyond two weeks after the stated program deadline.
Acceptable reasons may include:
- Personal health or family crisis.
- Birth or death of a family member.
- Unforeseen personal priority.
- The deadline overlaps with cultural or religious dates.
Calgary Arts Development publishes the program deadlines at the beginning of each calendar year and endeavours to share program information and deadlines broadly. Staff members are available throughout application processes to provide support, answer questions, and offer feedback. We encourage applicants to reach out at any point to request accommodations (through the Accommodation & Accessibility Policy) or support at any point prior to the deadline.
Unacceptable reasons may include:
- Lack of awareness of the program deadline.
- Poor planning or time management.
- Overlap with grant deadlines for other funders.
Calgary Arts Development staff will review the request for extension. If the reason for the extension is acceptable, a deadline extension will be granted in writing. Extensions will only be granted if it does not affect the planned assessment process and schedule.
We also understand that circumstances cannot always be governed by policy. Requests made after 9am MT on the day of the deadline, or which do not fall under the acceptable reasons may be granted on a case-by-case basis.
Please reach out to grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or your program specialist at any point with questions or to request support.
Information provided in both successful and unsuccessful grant applications may be used to plan, evaluate, and review programs. The information is also used for generating statistics for statistical reporting, studies, issue, and trend analysis. Information shared when reporting in these ways will be anonymized and only shared in aggregate.
No personal information provided in grant applications will be shared publicly without prior applicant consent.
Contact grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com for more information.
This policy has been updated as of March 1, 2024
Calgary Arts Development makes grant investments to support and benefit artists and is committed to reducing barriers where possible.
We recognize that while income taxes are reported on the calendar year, artistic projects may occur over multiple years. Depending on when the grant cycle and fund disbursement falls in the year, expenses may occur in the next tax year, which may mean that artists cannot deduct all their project expenses when they file their income taxes. While it is possible for artists to file an adjustment for these deductions in the following year, we recognize that this may create tax implications and financial challenges in the short-term.
Calgary Arts Development has created a grant payment instalment policy to help alleviate this challenge in some circumstances.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- This policy only applies to individual artists and artists accepting funds on behalf of artist collectives. Arts organizations are not eligible for this policy.
- This policy is only valid if the published timeline for the grant program states that grant payments will be made between October and December.
- Eligible grantees may only request to have their grant paid in instalments if:
- Most of their project is taking place in the upcoming calendar year according to the information submitted in the application.
- Most of the project expenses will be incurred in the upcoming calendar year according to the information submitted in the application.
- There may be other unique circumstances where instalment options for an individual artist may be explored; for example, if an artist is currently receiving AISH or other government supports that limit the amount of income they can make in a certain period. Please contact us to discuss your specific situation if this may apply to you.
Instalment options may include one or more of the following payment options, but they will be outlined in your specific agreement if available and will vary based on the program:
- 50% of the grant amount paid in the current year, 50% of the grant amount paid in January of the upcoming year, and/or
- 100% of the grant amount paid in January of the upcoming year.
Successful individual artists and collective grantees will be issued a T4A tax slip for the entire amount of their grant in each calendar year. We recommend that any artist submitting a grant application to Calgary Arts Development review the CRA guidelines for artist grants and consider the potential tax impact as part of their project planning. Calgary Arts Development does not provide tax advice. We recommend that artists seek the qualified advice of a tax planner or accountant.
More information about artist grants and taxes can be found in our Investment Program FAQs.
Download the Individual Artist Grant Payment Instalment Policy as a PDF
This policy has been updated as of March 1, 2024
As of January 2024, grantees may not have more than two open grants with Calgary Arts Development, including grants for which a deadline extension has been approved.
This policy applies to organizations, collectives and individual artists. This policy does not include having an Operating Grant, or any open projects in Public Art programs.
An ‘open grant’ refers to a grant where the applicant has not yet completed their project and submitted their final report to Calgary Arts Development. If you have two open grants (i.e., two grants with outstanding final reports, or any grants with overdue/late reports) at the time of the program deadline, then you will not be eligible to apply.
This policy ensures that grantees that receive funding from Calgary Arts Development complete their projects promptly as outlined in their applications and project timelines. It also helps to ensure that we can continue to address the volume and diversity of applicants and invest money in the widest community.
A request for an exception to this eligibility requirement must be submitted and approved through discussion with the program specialist for the specific program being applied to.
Please reach out to grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or the program specialist if you have questions or concerns about this policy.
Calgary Arts Development reserves the right to flag, reduce, delay, suspend or withdraw an organization’s grant based on critical or high-risk concerns at any time.
- Calgary Arts Development may raise a flag based on any of the conditions outlined throughout this policy.
- Flags are carried from the previous operating grant cycle, regardless of whether it is an application or a reporting year. For example, organizations that received a flag in 2022 will carry that flag to the 2023 application process.
- Flags which result in a reduction, suspension or withdrawal of a grant must be recommended by a peer committee. In non-assessment years (2024), a special resiliency committee will be convened to make recommendations.
- Calgary Arts Development’s suspension or withdrawal of an organization’s grant requires majority approval by Calgary Arts Development’s board of directors.
- Organizations that are removed or choose not to reapply or submit their reporting in any grant year will be considered a new applicant in subsequent years. They will only be eligible to receive operational funding if the program is open to new applicants.
- Should Calgary Arts Development’s funding from The City of Calgary be reduced, grant reductions may occur outside of this policy.
Operating Grant Flagging Process
Calgary Arts Development reserves the right to apply any of the below flags for critical, high-risk concerns based on the information provided in the application or report, or as we become aware of organizational circumstances or events that may present a risk at any point through the funding cycle.
Calgary Arts Development staff review organizations’ interim reports and may apply a financial flag for any of the below.
- Deficits over 10% for the last two consecutive fiscal years.
- More liabilities than assets on the balance sheet for the last completed fiscal year.
- There is reliable evidence obtained by Calgary Arts Development staff that indicates an organization presents a risk to default on the obligations stated in its Investment Agreement. In Calgary Arts Development’s sole discretion, a third-party audit of the organization may be required to determine if the organization is an acceptable investment risk. The cost of the audit will be deducted from that organization’s subsequent grant (if any).
Assessment committees will be asked to consider the below conditions and identify any critical or high-risk circumstances that may present a risk to the annual investment on behalf of the community. The majority of the committee must agree to the risk assessment in order for a flag to be applied.
- A significant and unexplained reduction to artistic or community impact compared to previous years, including serious issues that may arise related to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- A demonstrated lack of capacity to complete core programming, or achieve key organizational goals.
- A demonstrated lack of capacity in resource management or organizational governance.
- The need for future planning to address the current level of risk or to mitigate previous resiliency flags.
- A significant lack of transparency and information in the application such that the assessors are unable to determine whether the organization merits their investment.
Organizations that receive a flag will be asked to meet with Calgary Arts Development or submit a written update outlining a plan to address their flag conditions before their funding is released. If the flag conditions indicate that the organization presents a risk to default on the obligations stated in its investment agreement, a special assessment committee may be convened to make recommendations as outlined below.
- First Year of Flagging:
- Reduction of grant up to 10%
- Second Year of Consecutive Flagging:
- Reduction of grant up to 25%
- Three or More Years of Consecutive Flagging:
- Reduction of grant up to 50%
- Removal of organization from Operating Grant Program.
If the special assessment committee recommends a reduction to an organization’s grant over 25%, the organization may submit an appeal according to the Appeals Policy. If the special assessment committee recommends the removal of an organization from the Operating Grant Program, this will launch a secondary peer assessment process governed by the Appeals Policy and requires majority approval by Calgary Arts Development’s board of directors.
Appeals Policy
The Appeals Policy outlines the process for organizations to appeal changes to their Operating Grant funding levels.
Calgary Arts Development will hear a case for appeal and follow the appeals process only in the below circumstances:
Eligible Appeal Cases
- Organizations that received an assessor flag through the Fair Notice Policy resulting in a reduction over 25% to their total grant (please see the reduction of grant process below).
- Organizations that were recommended to be removed from the Operating Grant Program through the Fair Notice Policy (please see the removal of grant process below).
Ineligible Appeal Cases
- Changes made to Operating Grant amounts resulting from a decrease in Calgary Arts Development’s total budget from The City of Calgary.
- Changes made to Operating Grant amounts resulting from adjustments to program goals, criteria and eligibility requirements.
Reduction of Grant – Appeals Process
Eligible Reasons for Appeal
Appeals will be heard in cases only where it can be demonstrated that:
- The reduction to the grant amount was over 25%.
- The special assessment committee materially and fundamentally misunderstood the flag conditions and information provided by the organization such that recommendations were made in error.
- Due process as outlined by the Fair Notice Policy was not followed.
Ineligible Reasons for Appeal
The following matters will not be considered grounds for appeal:
- The reduction to the grant amount was under 25%.
- The reduction to the grant amount was as a result of the published program eligibility requirements, application guidelines, and assessment process.
- The appeal must be limited to the content of the original information supplied to the special assessment committee, not facts or circumstances occurring after the date of submission. These include but are not limited to:
- External circumstances or variables that have affected the organization’s ability to achieve their mandate
- Changes in the information since it was provided
- Information not originally included
Appeal Procedures
- Applicants will have 10 working days from the date that special assessment notification letters are emailed to notify Calgary Arts Development in writing of their intent to appeal the assessment committee’s decision.
- The organization will be given the opportunity to respond to the recommendation and comments in writing, stating the basis of their appeal.
- Staff will review the written case for appeal and determine if the organization has made an eligible case.
- If the case is eligible, staff will convene a secondary peer assessment panel comprising members of the previous assessment committee and new members, who will review in full the interim report, response from the organization and case for appeal, and make a final recommendation:
- Uphold the decision to reduce the grant amount
- Recommend an alternate reduction to the grant amount
- Restore the grant amount in full
Removal of Grant — Secondary Peer Assessment
If the special assessment committee recommends complete removal of a grant amount after three years or more of consecutive flagging, the following process will automatically be applied. Organizations do not need to request an appeal.
- The organization will receive a written notice of the recommendation in addition to the compiled feedback and comments from the assessment committee.
- The organization will be given the opportunity to respond to the recommendation and comments in writing, outlining the conditions contributing to the flag and plans to mitigate those conditions.
- If appropriate, the organization may provide evidence demonstrating that the assessment committee fundamentally and materially misunderstood the content of the application such that the recommendation to remove funding was made in error.
- Staff will convene a secondary peer assessment panel comprising members of the previous assessment committee and new members, who will review in full the interim report, application and response from the organization, and make a final recommendation:
- Uphold the decision to remove funding entirely
- Suspend the grant for one year
- Recommend a reduction of the grant
- Restore the organization to their funding level in full
- Calgary Arts Development’s suspension or withdrawal of an organization’s grant requires majority approval by Calgary Arts Development’s board of directors.
- Decisions made through the secondary peer assessment process and approved by Calgary Arts Development’s board of directors cannot be appealed.
Developed using the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act as a guideline, Calgary Arts Development is responsible for all personal information in its custody and under its control including employee and investment information.
To review FOIP legislation in detail, please reference the Government of Alberta Privacy website at servicealberta.ca.
The Operations Manager is designated to ensure Calgary Arts Development remains in compliance with this policy, and all members of staff are required to abide by its guidelines.
Personal Information
Personal information will be obtained only for reasonable purposes and only as much as is reasonable for those purposes.
Personal information will be disclosed or used only for reasonable purposes and those purposes will be shared with the individual prior to disclosure or use. Calgary Arts Development will never reveal personal information to any third party without prior knowledge and consent, unless required to do so by law.
Calgary Arts Development obtains consent for all its mailing lists. Requests for removal can be made at any time.
Individuals or organizations may request to see what information about themselves Calgary Arts Development has gathered. If reasonable, Calgary Arts Development will provide information about the existence, use or disclosure of the information and provide access to that information.
Calgary Arts Development makes every reasonable effort to maintain accurate information and will, on request, correct information that is inaccurate.
Calgary Arts Development makes every reasonable effort to ensure personal information is secure and keeps the information only as long as is reasonable.
Collection, Use, Disclosure of Grant Information
Personal information is received by Calgary Arts Development from people and organizations who apply for grants, members of committees assessing applications, and many others in the course of its activities. Calgary Arts Development will never reveal personal information to any third party without your prior knowledge and consent, unless required to do so by law.
Information provided in both successful and unsuccessful grant applications may be used to plan, evaluate and review programs, and for generating statistics for these activities: statistical reporting, studies, issue and trend analysis. Information shared when reporting in these ways will be anonymized and only shared in aggregate. No personal information provided in grant applications will be shared publicly without prior applicant consent.
If you would like more information regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact info@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
