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Assistance to Practitioners, Critics and Curators of Architecture

Deadline

1 March

Program Description

This program provides grants to architecture professionals and architectural firms to help support special projects that promote contemporary Canadian works of architecture to a broad and diverse public.

The purpose of this program is to promote:

  • a better understanding of the role of architecture in helping to shape a rich physical, social and cultural environment in Canada
  • an appreciation of the artistic values of contemporary Canadian architecture.

This program provides funding to practitioners, critics and curators of architecture, as well as to architectural firms, to produce content for a public presentation of architecture, including built and (or) critical works or design research of architecture, landscape architecture or the urban environment.

Projects must lead to the production of a book, exhibition, film or video, television program, radio program, multimedia program, series of articles or lectures, or other public event.

This program also provides funding to professional competition advisors to enable them to develop material that is related to an architectural competition.

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Eligibility

General Criteria

To apply to this program as an individual, you must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. However, you do not need to be living in Canada to apply.

To apply as an architectural firm, your firm must be at least 75 percent Canadian-owned and have its head office and executive in Canada.

You must also meet the Canada Council’s definition of a professional artist, defined as someone who:

  • has specialized training in the field (not necessarily in academic institutions)
  • is recognized as a professional artist by peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition)
  • has a history of presenting work publicly or being published

To meet the above definition as an architecture professional (practitioner, critic or curator of architecture, architectural firm or competition advisor), you must:

  • have produced a professional body of work
  • have maintained a professional practice for at least three years after you completed your specialized training
  • specialize in architecture, landscape architecture, and (or) urban design

Note that meeting the eligibility criteria allows you or your firm to apply to the program. It does not, however, guarantee that you will receive a grant.

This Canada Council program is accessible to Aboriginal practitioners and firms and those of diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.

Eligible Projects

The proposed public presentation must consist of at least 50 percent contemporary Canadian works of architecture. For this program, this means built works as well as works of critical or design research on architecture, landscape architecture or the urban environment completed after 1945. It includes buildings, landscapes and places.

Projects are expected to be part of a collaborative arrangement between the applicant and a professional production and (or) distribution organization. Before you submit your application, you must have a confirmed agreement with a professional organization for the production and (or) distribution of a book, exhibition, film or video, television program, radio program, multimedia program, series of articles or lectures, or other public event.

Major Projects

For major projects spread over several years, such as a book or major exhibition, different architecture professionals may submit separate applications to carry out separate parts of the same project. An individual applicant may receive a maximum of two consecutive grants to carry out distinct phases of the same major project.

You must apply separately and for each phase. Each grant application must support a clearly defined and distinct segment or phase of the project with a separate budget. You cannot include the same expenses in multiple applications.
There is no guarantee that all applications related to a single project or consecutive applications will be successful.

Ineligible Projects

The following projects are not eligible for support under this program:

  • the design and (or) construction of works of architecture
    graphic or industrial design projects or visual art installations
  • the pursuit of advanced studies
  • student projects or the teaching of architecture
  • the production of portfolios, specialized technical publications, or any other material that is not intended for public dissemination by a professional organization.

Other Restrictions

If your architectural firm submits an application to this program, associates of your firm may not apply to the same competition as individuals.

You may submit an application to the Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture, the Ronald J. Thom Award, and the Assistance to Practitioners, Critics and Curators of Architecture program in the same year.

Applications to the Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture will be assessed first, followed by those for the Ronald J. Thom Award, and finally the Assistance to Practitioners, Critics and Curators of Architecture. If you are successful in any of the competitions listed above, your application will be withdrawn from subsequent competitions.

You may apply for only one Canada Council grant to professional artists program (or to one deadline of that program) and one travel grant program in any fiscal year (1 April to 31 March). You may receive a maximum of two grants to professional artists from the Canada Council in any 48-month period.

The Canada Council may fund projects that are funded by other public or private organizations, but not for the same expenses.

All final reports due for previous Canada Council grants must be submitted before the application deadline for this grant program. If you or your firm has not submitted all final reports that are due, your application will not be eligible.

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Grant Amount

Amount Available

The maximum grant amount that you can receive from this program is $20,000.

Grants are not intended to cover all the costs associated with approved projects. Also, you may not be awarded the full amount that you request.

Retroactive funding is not available. In other words, you cannot use grant funds to cover any expenses that occur before the application deadline.

Eligible and Ineligible Expenses

Eligible expenses include (if they apply to your project):

  • professional fees
  • the commissioning of photographs, models, videos, films and texts about
    contemporary Canadian buildings, landscapes, places, or design and (or) critical research
  • studies, analysis and documentation relating to a competition
  • transportation costs directly related to the project

Capital expenses and equipment purchases are not eligible expenses.

Application Form

Assistance to Practitioners, Critics and Curators of Architecture (in PDF Acrobat format)
This form can only be printed and cannot be filled out on-line.

OR

To apply for a grant online go to GO! Grants Online

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Further Information

Sarah Gelbard, Program Officer
Visual Arts 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. 5270

TTY: 1-866-585-5559

Fax: 613-566-4332

February 2010