Aboriginal Peoples Music Program
The Canada Council for the Arts is committed to equity and inclusion, and welcomes applications from diverse Aboriginal, cultural and regional communities, including people with disabilities.
Deadline
1 March (for Project Grants)
There are no deadlines for Single-Event Performance Travel Grants, but requests have to be submitted before the departure date. Applicants who wish to have the results before their departure should apply at least two months in advance.
If the deadline date falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. Your completed application and all support material must be postmarked on or before the deadline date.
Program Description
This program provides funding for projects that have specific goals that relate to one or more of the objectives listed above.
Projects can take a variety of forms, depending on the stated needs or goals of the applicant. Activities funded through this program develop professional skills of Aboriginal music artists, strengthen organizations dedicated to Aboriginal music, and support other activities that restore, preserve, invigorate and raise the profile of Aboriginal music and musicians.
This program has two components:
Eligibility
Note that meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee that you will receive a grant.
Applicant eligibility
To apply to the Canada Council for the Arts, you must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You do not need to be living in Canada when you apply.
This program accepts applications from:
Professional Canadian Aboriginal musicians: The Canada Council defines Aboriginal people as First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. A professional musician, is defined as someone who:
- has specialized training in their field (not necessarily in an academic institution)
- has a history of public presentation
- is recognized as a professional artist by his or her peers
- is committed to devoting more time to artistic activity, if he or she can afford to
Music groups or ensembles: They must be made up of professional artists, and should have a professional performance history of at least two years.
Music or arts organizations or ad hoc groups dedicated to Aboriginal music: Organizations must be led by Aboriginal people and have a music or arts focus, or have a significant history of activity in the arts, particularly music. Ad hoc groups that have come together for the purpose of a project focusing on Aboriginal music are also eligible.
Eligible projects
Project Grants support:
- activities for the professional career and artistic development of Aboriginal musicians and music groups, bands or ensembles, such as workshops or one-on-one mentorships that increase an artist’s ability to manage and direct his or her career, develop marketing skills or improve performance skills;
- activities that contribute to the health and vitality of Aboriginal music organizations, such as strategic planning and other short-term projects that increase the organization’s capacity to meet its mandate, or workshops and courses that ensure that key staff and volunteers have the necessary administrative and management skills.
- activities that ensure the presence of Aboriginal music in communities, such as workshops to transfer music knowledge, or individual or community-based research projects that increase learning, appreciation and understanding of Aboriginal music.
Single-Event Performance Travel Grants support travel by Aboriginal musicians and music groups to give a performance at an important engagement that will have a significant impact on the artist’s career or raise the profile of the artist or music group, or where key industry personnel are in attendance. This event must be at least 800 kilometres away from the artist’s place of residence, and can take place within Canada or internationally. The artist must receive a professional fee for performing.
This program is broad in nature. Therefore, activities that have not been specifically mentioned may be eligible. Potential applicants should contact the Program Officer if they have questions about the eligibility of their project.
Grant Amount
The maximum amount of grants offered for project grants is $20,000. To be eligible for support, the expenses must relate directly to the project proposed.
These grants cannot be used for projects that have already been completed or for expenses that were incurred before the program deadline.
For Single-Event Performance Travel Grant requests, applicants may request a maximum of $2500. If you are travelling to or from northern Canada, you may request a maximum of $3000.
Further Information
Sandy Scofield
Program Officer
Music Section
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa ON K1P 5V8
1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4103
TTY: 1-866-585-5559
Fax: (613) 566-4409
December 2011