Literary Readings and Author Residencies Program: Literary Readings
Deadlines
- 1 September – For readings taking place between 1 January and 31 December .
- 1 March – For readings taking place between 1 July and 30 June .
Organizations hosting readings may apply to both competitions for a period of six months each. Organizations planning activities spanning the 12-month periods indicated above may apply to only one competition.
If either of these dates falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Please refer to the Program Guidelines for detailed information.
Program Description
The Literary Readings and Author Residencies Program increases knowledge and appreciation of Canadian authors and writing by providing opportunities for authors to read from their works, be in contact with an audience or public, and contribute to the quality of life of a community by their presence. The program has two components:
- Literary Readings, and
- Author Residencies.
These guidelines describe the Literary Readings (there are separate application guidelines and form for Author Residencies). Literary Readings provides financial assistance to organizations that wish to invite authors to give public readings. The purpose is to promote the literary works of writers and to give audiences across Canada greater access to authors.
This program is also open to Aboriginal organizations and organizations of diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.
Eligibility of Host Organizations and Activities
Hosts of Literary Readings
Canadian organizations such as post-secondary institutions, public libraries, writers’ associations, national service organizations, museums, art galleries and community centres that intend to host four or more full readings (or an equivalent that includes joint readings) may apply for assistance to invite writers to their region. A full reading is considered to be one presented by a single writer and lasting approximately one hour. A joint reading consists of two writers reading for approximately 30 minutes each.
Note that meeting the eligibility requirements allows you to apply to the program. It does not, however, guarantee that you will receive a grant.
Activities
Host organizations may team up with other small local and (or) regional organizations, and combine their requests in one application, to meet the minimum requirement of four full readings (or the equivalent). Collaborating organizations must not submit separate applications for the same readings.
Before applying to the program, host organizations must contact proposed writers to obtain their agreement to potentially read on the dates planned. Hosts must also determine whether the writers are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and whether they have been published professionally before the application deadline.
Host organizations may apply for their choice of the following:
- 6-month period:
individual readings: minimum 4 and maximum 12
joint readings: minimum 8 and maximum 24
(or a combination of both)
- 12-month period:
individual readings: minimum 4 and maximum 24
joint readings: minimum 8 and maximum 48
(or a combination of both).
Eligibility of Invited Writers
Invited writers must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and must have been published professionally at least once before the application deadline. Eligible publications include a complete book of fiction, short stories, poetry, drama, children’s literature or literary non-fiction that lends itself to a public reading.
A host may invite the same Canada Council–supported writer only once in a two-year period.
Hosts are strongly encouraged to invite writers from distant communities or remote parts of Canada.
Illustrators of children’s books are eligible, provided they have illustrated the complete text of a work.
Literary translators are eligible for joint readings when they read with the original author of the translated work.
Grant Amount
Literary Readings
Support for a full reading consists of a $250 reading fee and payment of travel expenses to a maximum of $400 per reading. The Canada Council will support up to two full readings by the same writer per day, provided these readings are held at different venues.
Support for a joint reading consists of a $125 reading fee and payment of travel expenses to a maximum of $300 per reading. The Canada Council will support up to two joint readings by the same writer per day, provided these readings are held at different venues.
If a writer’s travel expenses exceed $400 for a full reading or $300 for a joint reading, host organizations and writers are encouraged to arrange for a minimum of two readings in the same region. For travel to and from northern (north of 55º latitude) and remote parts of Canada (e.g. some communities in Newfoundland and Labrador), travel expense maximums may be doubled. The applicant must provide a written statement justifying the request for excess travel funds.
Literary Reading Tours
Three or more readings by a writer are considered a tour. Host organizations may collaborate with other local and (or) regional organizations to create a tour for one author or more. In addition to the travel expense maximum of $400 per full reading (for a maximum of two readings per day), applicants may request $300 for a third reading, to a total maximum of $1,100 per author for full readings only. The request can be made as follows:
- Travel costs for a reading tour with the same author:
- first individual reading: maximum of $400
- second individual reading: maximum of $400
- third individual reading: maximum of $300
for a total maximum of $1,100.
- Any additional individual readings for this tour:
Applicants may request travel funds for four or more readings that exceed the $1,100 maximum, but they must request this in writing and include the justification.
Please note that applicants may also request travel costs for tours with joint readings to a maximum of $300 per reading, for a maximum of two readings per day. Applicants may request an additional $200 for a third reading, to a total maximum of $800 per author for joint readings only.
Further Information
Mona Kiame
Program Officer
Writing and Publishing 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. 4016
TTY: 1-866-585-5559
Fax: 613-566-4410
July 2010