Funding Parameters — Support for Workers in Live Arts and Music Sectors Fund

For BCAH or CAPF applicant organizations

Objectives and expected results for the Support for Workers in the Live Arts and Music Sectors Fund

The Support for Workers in Live Arts and Music Sector Fund is designed to:

• support the arts and cultural sectors in immediately contracting and employing artists and cultural workers, as part of the federal government’s overall efforts to help Canadians and Canadian businesses weather the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; and,
• To provide arts and cultural experiences, both live and digital to Canadians, while restrictions on gatherings and travel continue across the country.

This fund will provide project-based support to organizations in the live arts and music sectors to present live events - before an audience and/or virtually - and to generate income opportunities for artists and cultural workers from these sectors.

Application deadline

There is no deadline to apply for the Fund. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis for projects to be carried out between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022.

Funding will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, until all funds are disbursed.

Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply before October 15, 2021, to ensure that the Department has sufficient time to assess their application and the applicant has enough time to carry out its project before March 31, 2022.

Who can apply

To be eligible for this Fund, organizations must be one of the following:

• Existing recipients of the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program (BCAH) - Local Festivals component; or of the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF).
• Organizations that were eligible for the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund delivered by the BCAH and the CAPF (including eligible but unsuccessful CAPF 2020-21 applicants).
• Past program recipients that meet the applicant and activity eligibility criteria of BCAH or the CAPF.
• Eligible but unsuccessful CAPF 2021-22 applicants.

Important: New applicants must first apply for regular funding under the BCAH Local Festivals component or the CAPF Development Component. Please contact the Canadian Heritage regional office nearest you for more details on how to apply for regular funding.

Eligible organizations are encouraged to partner with other organizations that may not be eligible under this initiative, for the planning and implementation of a project, to maximize reach and impact of the funding.

Eligible applicants may only apply once to the Support for Workers in Live Arts and Music Sectors Fund administered by the BCAH or the CAPF, and must include all proposed activities in one project application.

Eligibility

The Department of Canadian Heritage is responsible for determining the eligibility of the applicants.

Eligible projects

• Live arts events that can be presented before an in-person audience (contingent on applicable public health guidelines) and/or live streaming of these events. Eligible activities may include those that are entirely virtual, in recognition of public health regulations that may temporarily prohibit in-person gatherings in some jurisdictions or that could change on short notice.
• Projects must comprise new events or new activities (i.e., activities in addition to what BCAH or CAPF have already supported through their regular funding streams).
• Wherever possible, applicants are encouraged to offer greater and equal opportunities to artists and art workers who self-identify as Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQ2, Deaf and/or living with disabilities.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses under the Support for Workers in Live Arts and Music Sector Fund include:

• Performance fees to artists, artisans, heritage performers
• Project fees to (including but not limited to): 
  • Event coordination and management
  • Stage designers
  • Stage technicians
  • Recording/streaming technicians
  • Front of House workers
  • Health and Safety contractors, consultants
  • Marketing, promotion and communications workers
  • Venue maintenance
  • Costs related to volunteers, such as training, coordination, food and non-alcoholic beverages, distinctive clothing, etc.
• Related costs to the above (i.e., travel, accommodation, training)
• Venue rental
• Staging costs (props, lighting accessories, etc.)
• Recording and streaming digital costs
• Rental of specialized equipment (digital or traditional staging)
• Health and safety related costs (PPE, signage, barriers, sanitizer, and dispensers)
• Administration
• Insurance

Ineligible expenses include:

• Salaries related to operational costs.
• Costs related to competitions, such as prizes and costs of judging.
• Costs of commissioned art.
• On-going operational costs.
• Food and beverages, other than food and non-alcoholic beverages for volunteers.
• Equipment purchases such as computers, staging, lighting, sound.

The fulfilment of the Fund’s eligibility criteria does not guarantee access to the Fund.

Limits of government assistance

• Funding will cover up to 100% of eligible expenses, up to $100,000.
• Funding will be available starting April 1, 2021 for fiscal year 2021-22.
• Only eligible expenses incurred after receipt of application may be considered.
• Expenses incurred before receiving written confirmation of funding approval are made at the risk of the applicant.

How to apply

• Read these funding parameters in their entirety
• Contact the Canadian Heritage regional office nearest you to discuss your project and to obtain an application package.
• All applicants will be required to fill out:
  • an application and attestation form that includes a project description.
  • a budget form related to the project.
• Only complete applications will be accepted.

Additional information and documents may be requested by program advisors in order to complete the assessment of an application.

Applicants will also be required to attest the following:

• Their application is for a project separate from their organization’s regular programming; it does not include any expenditures already funded through BCAH or CAPF regular program support, or already funded under any other government COVID-19 emergency measures, including but not limited to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Business Account, and the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance for small businesses.
• Their organization cannot receive support from this Fund for the same project from more than one Canadian Heritage program and /or the Canada Council for the Arts.
• A minimum of 50% of the total project cost will be attributable to artist fees, contract workers, etc., which are directly related to the project.
• All applicable health and safety guidelines and regulations are respected, providing all necessary conditions for the employees and the public as per our local health authority.

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit their documentation by email to the nearest Canadian Heritage regional office.

Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. However, the Department reserves the right to apply its discretionary judgment to ensure a diversity of projects that reflects the many perspectives of Canada's cultural life.

Application processing time

The programs will seek to notify applicants of a decision within 14-16 weeks (from receipt of a completed application to notification of decision) for existing BCAH and CAPF recipients and eligible but unsuccessful 2020-21 and 2021-22 CAPF applicants; and within 16-18 weeks for past BCAH and CAPF recipients.

Funding decisions

Please note that decisions regarding eligibility and funding amounts are final.

How funding is provided

Funding will be disbursed as a grant or as a contribution, as appropriate.

Funding conditions

This funding is subject to the funding conditions outlined in the regular BCAH or CAPF published guidelines, and to the following additional conditions:

• Your organization must remain in good standing; the project funding provided will help ensure a continuity of operations, enabling your organization to continue contributing to the sector in the future.
• The final report for the project will focus on the number of short-term contracts and their values created due to the departmental support.
• Funding received from the Support for Workers in Live Arts and Music Sector Fund, whether received as a grant or a contribution, may be audited by the Department to ensure funding conditions have been respected.

Contact us

Department of Canadian Heritage 
15 Eddy Street 
Gatineau, Quebec 
J8X 4B3

Email

pch.info-info.pch@canada.ca

Telephone

819-997-0055 
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)

TTY

1-888-997-3123 (toll-free)

Agents are available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET).

Canadian Heritage Regional offices