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Theatre Production Project Grants for Established Artists

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Deadlines

  • 1 March   (for productions taking place after 1 July) 
  • 15 September (for productions taking place after 1 January the following year)
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Program Description

The objective of the Theatre Production Project Grant Program for established artists is to provide assistance to professional, non-profit theatre organizations and ad hoc groups of professional theatre artists for the development and/or production of theatre. “Ad hoc group” refers to a group of artists formed for the specific purpose of creating a unique work.

Grants are intended as a contribution towards the specific costs of:

  • a period of development geared towards future production (projects should include at least one public presentation, such as a public reading or workshop)

or

  • theatre production (which may also include development).
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Eligibility

Canadian professional non-profit theatre organizations and ad hoc groups of professional theatre artists are eligible.

The Canada Council for the Arts defines professional artist as someone who:

  • has specialized training in the field (not necessarily in academic institutions)
  • is recognized as such by peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition), and
  • has a history of public presentation or publication.

It is mandatory for the applicant to submit resumes that state the relevant professional experience of the principal artists involved in the company or ad hoc group.

Applicants have the responsibility to submit all necessary information which will permit their eligibility to be clearly established.  The Canada Council for the Arts will base its decisions on the information provided in the application.

Applicants must be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Incorporated, not for profit theatre organizations currently receiving operating assistance from the Theatre Section of the Canada Council for the Arts are not eligible to apply to this program.

Co-productions or co-presentations are eligible. Only one application per project is accepted.  Applicants must include a co-production agreement signed by their co-producing partner, or a letter of intent to co-present signed by their co-presenting partner.

The Theatre Section reserves the right to transfer applications to Theatre Production Project Grants for New and Emerging Artists, if circumstances warrant.

Companies or groups of artists may not submit a new application to the Canada Council until outstanding final reports are received under separate cover and approved by an officer. 

Restrictions and Other Important Information

  • Applicants who have been unsuccessful in a previous competition may not re-submit the same project to a subsequent competition without first speaking with a Theatre Section Officer to discuss changes to the project.  The Theatre Section reserves the right to accept or refuse the second request.
  • A theatre company or group of artists may submit only one Theatre Production Project Grant application per deadline.
  • Applications from ad hoc groups must include a one page statement from each of the principal artists detailing their artistic participation in the project.
  • Projects must start after the application deadline date; the Canada Council will not provide retroactive funding.
  • Applicants should be aware that meeting the eligibility criteria allows them to apply to the program.  It does not, however, guarantee that they will receive a grant.
  • Grant recommendations are made by a peer assessment committee, based on the overall merit of the project in a national comparative context and on the funds available.
  • This Canada Council program is accessible to Aboriginal artists or arts organizations and artists or arts organizations from diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.
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Grant Amount

Grants awarded range from $5,000 to $12,000 for development activity, and from $5,000 to $20,000 for productions (which may also include development). Because of the high number of applications received and the limited resources available, grants awarded are usually smaller than the amounts requested.

Retroactive funding is not available.

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Application Form

Theatre Production Project Grants for Established Artists (pdf, 206 KB)
This form can only be printed and cannot be filled out on-line.

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Further Information

Nancy Guertin, Bruce Sinclair or Robert Allen  (Program Officers)
(Linda Nickolson, Assistant)
Theatre Section
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa ON  K1P 5V8

Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, ext. 4485 (Linda Nickolson, Assistant)

TTY : 1-866-585-5559

Fax: 613-566-4410

February 2009