Spoken Word, Storytelling and Literary Performance
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
15 April
If this date falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Program Description
The Spoken Word, Storytelling and Literary Performance program has two components:
- The Creation and Production Grants component of the Spoken Word, Storytelling and Literary Performance program supports literary projects that are based on oral expression encompassing any of the following: creation, production, and performance.
- The Festivals and Performance Series component of the Spoken Word, Storytelling and Literary Performance program increases knowledge and appreciation of Canadian spoken word, storytelling and literary performance activities by providing opportunities for spoken word artists and storytellers and literary performers to perform their works.
Creation and Production Grants
Please refer to the Program Guidelines for detailed information.
Eligibility of Applicant
Eligible Artists
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.
You must also meet the Canada Council’s definition of a professional artist, which is an artist who:
- has specialized training in the artistic field (not necessarily in academic institutions)
- is recognized as a professional by his or her peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition)
- is committed to devoting more time to artistic activity, if possible financially
- has a history of public presentation.
Eligible individual applicants include:
- professional spoken word artists, storytellers or literary performers who have been paid in the past for their public literary performances or are recognized, in writing, by two established spoken word artists, storytellers or literary performers
- professional writers who wish to transform their work to the spoken word, storytelling or literary performance genre.
Collaborative projects are eligible.
Eligible organizations
Organizations who have a history of collaboration with eligible artists in spoken word, storytelling and literary performance may submit an application to this component.
An artists’ collective is a professional, non-incorporated group 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 spoken word, storytelling or 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.
Presenters not eligible for the Festival and Performance Series component may be eligible to apply to the Creation and Production component.
Eligibility of Activities
Applicants can apply in one of the following categories:
Grant Amount
Grants range from $2,000 to $25,000, depending on the nature of the project.
Festivals and Performance Series
Please refer to the Program Guidelines for detailed information.
Eligibility
Only Canadian organizations and collectives can apply, for activities in Canada.
For Festival Host Organizations
The Festivals category is for spoken word, storytelling and literary performance festival organizations that are hosting a minimum of 10 professional, paid spoken word artists, storytellers and literary performers over a period of at least two days. Festivals may host as many artists as they wish beyond the minimum requirement.
For Performance Series Host Organizations
Organizations and collectives that present a minimum of 6 professional, paid spoken word artists, storytellers and literary performers in performances over a 12-month period may apply to the Performance Series category for support.
For Invited Spoken Word Artists and Storytellers
Invited spoken word artists, storytellers and literary performers must:
- be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
- have a history of public literary performance.
Grant Amount
The maximum grant available through this component is $30,000.
Further Information
Elizabeth Eve
Program Officer
Writing and Publishing Section
Canada Council for the Arts
P.O. Box 1047, 350 Albert Street
Ottawa ON K1P 5V8
Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, 5576
TTY: 1-866-585-5559
February 2012