Spoken Word and Storytelling Program
Deadline
15 April
Program Description
The Spoken Word and Storytelling Program has two components.
- The Creation and Production component of the Spoken Word and Storytelling Program supports literary projects that are not based on conventional book or printed magazine formats. Grants are for the creation, production, performance, broadcast or promotion of spoken word and storytelling. Presenters not eligible for the Festival and Performance Series component may be eligible to apply to the Creation and Production component.
- The Festivals and Performance Series component of the Spoken Word and Storytelling Program increases knowledge and appreciation of Canadian spoken word and storytelling activities by providing opportunities for spoken word artists and storytellers to perform their works. The component has two categories of support: the Festivals category and the Performance Series category.
This Canada Council for the Arts program is accessible to Aboriginal artists or arts organizations and artists or arts organizations from diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.
Creation and Production
Eligibility
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants, as well as the majority of participants in the grant-supported activities, must be Canadian citizens or have permanent status, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Applicants can include:
- professional spoken word artists or professional storytellers who have been paid in the past for their public literary performances or are recognized, in writing, by two established spoken word artists or storytellers
- professional writers who wish to transform their work to the spoken word or storytelling genre, and
- collectives, producers, publishers, or spoken word and storytelling hosts that have proven experience in producing spoken word or storytelling art.
This Canada Council for the Arts program is accessible to Aboriginal artists or arts organizations and artists or arts organizations from diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.
Collaborative projects are eligible. Collaboration is a one-time activity that takes place within a group of two or more professionals in spoken word or storytelling. The group must work in the context of shared authorship or a collaborative process. Other artists or collaborators hired on the project cannot be considered as co-applicants. The applicant whose name appears first on the application form will be considered the lead applicant and responsible for the project. Each co-applicant is subject to the conditions enumerated in the program guidelines and the general grant conditions of the Canada Council for the Arts. If a grant is awarded, payments will be made to the lead applicant.
An artists’ collective is a professional, non-incorporated groups that has been in existence with the same core membership for at least two years of ongoing activity before the competition deadline. The majority of the members must be eligible as individual artists. The collective must have created or presented at least two literary performances that have been presented publicly or have received professional recognition. The application is made in the name of the artists’ collective but information must be given about the members of the collective. If a grant is awarded, payments will be made to the name of the collective.
Eligible Projects
Applicants to this component can apply for only one project per competition. Also, applicants cannot apply to another Canada Council program for support of the same project.
This component of the program supports spoken word or storytelling projects that involve creation, production or dissemination (other than festivals or performance series that are eligible for the second component). Projects can involve live performances or use of media such as CDs, DVDs, audio or audiovisual cassettes, radio or television.
Spoken word projects should be based primarily on literature and the spoken word – where body and voice are central – rather than on dramatic, theatrical or musical presentations or readings of texts. Innovative practices based on performances, language and narrative expressions are eligible.
Projects featuring artistic collaboration that enhances the development of the spoken word and storytelling communities are encouraged.
Artists may also apply for financial assistance for professional development activities.
Grant Amount
Grants range from $1,000 to $25,000, depending on the nature of the project. Requests for the higher amounts are very competitive: for amounts higher than $17,000, priority is given to projects involving artists with a significant profile.
Eligible costs include creation, production and dissemination costs, and performance travel costs and fees. Where applicable, the performer’s fees should also be included. Production costs associated with recording and promoting CDs, DVDs, audio cassettes or video formats (such as video poems) are eligible.
Spoken Word and Storytelling Program grants may also be used to offset subsistence costs of the applicant only (to a maximum of $2,000 per month) to allow an artist to concentrate on his or her project. Grant recipients will be expected to devote the majority of their time to the project for which they receive funding.
Retroactive funding is not available.
Application Form
Creation and Production (pdf, 128 KB)
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
Festivals and Performance Series
Eligibility
For Festival Host Organizations
The Festivals category is for spoken word and storytelling festival organizations that are hosting a minimum of 10 professional, paid spoken word artists and storytellers over a period of at least two days. Festivals may host as many artists as they wish beyond the minimum requirement. New festivals are those less than two years old and established festivals have been in existence at least two years or more.
Festival hosts applying to this category may also submit an application for a performance series that is separate from the festival, within the same competition.
For Performance Series Host Organizations
Organizations and collectives that present a minimum of 6 professional, paid spoken word artists or storytellers in performance over a 12-month period may apply to the Performance Series category for support. New series are those less than two years old and established series have been in existence at least two years or more.
For Other Types of Host Organizations
Organizations and collectives that host performances by spoken word artists or storytellers but do not meet the minimum criteria of either a festival or series may still apply to this program for support. They must, however, apply to the Creation and Production component.
For Invited Spoken Word Artists and Storytellers
Invited spoken word artists and storytellers must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, and must have a history of public spoken word and storytelling performance. Festivals and series also featuring artists of other disciplines may apply for support for spoken word artists and storytellers only.
Grant Amount
The maximum grant available through this component is $35,000 for established series and festivals (that is, those that have been in existence at least two years). New series and festivals may apply to a maximum of $12,000 for new festivals and $7,000 for new series. Support is allocated for the following priorities: honoraria for the spoken word artists or storytellers, travel for the spoken word artists or storytellers, and other reasonable costs incurred by the host organization.
Retroactive funding is not available.
Application Form
Festivals and Performance Series (pdf, 229KB)
This form can only be printed and cannot be filled out on-line.
Financial Summary for Spoken Word and Storytelling Program (Festivals and Performance Series) (Excel format)
OR
To apply for a grant online go to
GO! Grants Online
Further Information
For further details, contact the appropriate Writing and Publishing Section Officer, as indicated below.
For English-language projects: Paul Seesequasis
1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, ext. 5482
For French-language projects: Carole Boucher
1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, ext. 5088
TTY: 1-866-585-5559
Fax: 613-566-4410
Writing and Publishing Section
Canada Council for the Arts
P.O. Box 1047, 350 Albert Street
Ottawa ON K1P 5V8
February 2010