Application Guidelines – Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund

On this page

• Objectives and expected results for the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund
• Application deadline
• Who can apply
• Eligibility
• Eligible projects
• Eligible expenses
• Limits of government assistance
• How to apply
• Application process
• How applications are evaluated
• Evaluation criteria
• Application processing time
• Funding decisions
• How funding is provided
• Funding conditions
• Workplace well-being
• Official languages requirements
• Acknowledgement of financial assistance
• Access to information requests
• Disclosure of information
• Audits of recipients and evaluation of the Program
• Contact the program
• Glossary

Objectives and expected results for the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund

The purpose and objective of the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund (CPAWRF) is to:

• retain Canadian skilled workers through a temporary program that invests in sector-led and delivered initiatives which improve the economic, career, and personal circumstances of independent and self-employed workers in the live performance sector.

The expected results of the CPAWRF are to:

• Fund organizations to provide programs and services to independent and self-employed workers in the live performance sector;
• Enable as many workers in this sector as possible to access programs and services; and
• Improve or stabilize employment levels for workers in the sector.

The CPAWRF is a temporary funding program for fiscal year 2022-2023.

Application deadline

The deadline to submit applications is March 4th, 2022, for projects starting on or after April 1st, 2022.

Who can apply

To be eligible for funding, your organization must serve or represent workers in the live performance sector and be a:

• union or guild;
• artist association or arts service organization;
• benevolent fund with a mandate related to the sector; or
• Indigenous peoples institution or organization that represents workers in the sector.

The following are not eligible:

• individuals^{Footnote *}; and
• federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments, their institutions and portfolio agencies.

Eligibility

We are responsible for determining the eligibility of each applicant, its project and project-related expenses.

Requests for funding typically exceed available resources. If your organization is eligible, submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

Eligible projects

To be eligible for funding from the CPAWRF, your project must concentrate on one or more of the following priorities:

• provide direct financial assistance for independent and self-employed workers in the live performance sector experiencing financial hardship and requiring emergency support; and / or
• provide professional guidance, information, and training to independent and self-employed workers in the live performance sector to assist them to develop or maintain financial, health, or career-related skills, and increase career resiliency.

Proposed programs and services cannot be exclusive to members of an applicant organization and must be open to all workers in the live performance sector within an applicant’s mandate.

Examples of eligible projects

Funding recipients of the CPAWRF undertake projects for workers in artistic and technical occupations in the live performance sector such as, but not limited to, the following:

• providing short-term emergency financial assistance to workers for emergency or hardship relief;
• initiatives such as webinars or workshops in professional development to better equip workers to create, adjust and improve their skills;
• support programs and services such as career counselling in areas such as finance, careers, legal and personal matters; and
• providing mentorship in artistic or technical occupations, developing career goals, gaining skills, coaching and support.

Eligible expenses

Only project-related cash expenses are eligible; these may include:

• financial support of a one-time payment up to $2,500 to independent and self-employed workers in the live performance sector who are experiencing financial hardship and require emergency support;
• salaries and wages directly related to the project;
• accessibility and translation costs;
• promotion and marketing;
• technology costs (specialized software, custom programming, etc.);
• costs of producing the project audited financial report when the project funding is $100,000 and over; and
• travel expenses, which must not exceed the rates permitted for travel on government business.

Ineligible expenses:

• occupancy and operating costs of the organization;
• artistic creations, artistic and heritage production, programming, and dissemination;
• portion of GST or other taxes that are recoverable for reimbursement;
• funding to reduce deficits;
• salaries and benefits of employees not contributing to the project;
• infrastructure-related costs and related specialized equipment;
• hospitality expenses; and
• all other expenses deemed ineligible by the program.

We cannot fund expenses incurred prior to the project start date. If you incur expenses for your project before receiving written confirmation of your funding approval, you will be doing so at your own financial risk.

Limits of government assistance

The total financial assistance received from the CPAWRF, and other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal) cannot exceed 100% of your total project-related costs.

We can fund up to 100% of eligible expenses.

How to apply

Read these Application Guidelines in their entirety before completing your application.

Contact the Canada Arts Workers Resilience Fund to request an application package.

You must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package to be considered for funding.

A complete application package includes the application form and the following supporting documents:

• the Application Form, completed and signed;
• a project budget/ cashflow;
• proof of legal status of your organization;
  • copy of the letters patent or incorporating documents;
• direct deposit enrollment request form (Part F of the Application Form);
• the most recent financial statements for applicants requesting $100,000 or more;
• if applicable, a signed declaration that any federal servant or former federal public servant in in compliance with the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service of Canada and Lobbyists Registration Act (if applicable) (details provided in the Application Form); and
• additional information and documents may be requested by program advisors in order to complete the assessment of an application.

Application process

• Complete, sign and date the Application Form;
• Attach all the required supporting documents; and
• Submit your application through only one means (i.e., by email or by mail).

Email submissions

We encourage you to submit your application package electronically to the following email address:

frtsssc-cpawrf@pch.gc.ca

The email must be sent no later than 11:59 p.m. local time on the date of the application deadline for your application to be considered.

Mail submissions

You can mail your complete application package at the following address:

Department of Canadian Heritage
Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund
25 Eddy Street, 13th Floor, Room 297 (25-13-V)
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0M5

Your application must be postmarked no later than the published deadline to be considered.

How applications are evaluated

We fund projects that have clear objectives and measurable results. Funding decisions are based on the number and quality of applications received by the published application deadline. Your application will be evaluated based on the evaluation criteria below by a review committee who will compare it with other applications and prioritize it in relation to the funds available.

When prioritizing eligible applications, we will take into consideration the scope and reach (disciplines, occupations, geographic, equity-deserving and linguistic reach) of the proposed activities and services to minimize the potential for any gap in coverage for self-employed and independent workers in the live performance sector.

Failure to comply with any conditions of a previously funded project will be considered in the evaluation of your new application and could result in the rejection of your new application.

Evaluation criteria

All projects will be assessed against the following criteria:

• strength of the proposal and how their proposal meets the needs of the workers they serve;
• reach of the activities and services in the proposal, including the estimated number of workers who may benefit from the program;
• capacity to deliver;
• capacity to reach equity-deserving communities;
• expected results are reasonable and achievable;
• strength of outreach plan;
• the proposed budget expenses are eligible, reasonable and linked to the activities;
• which groups and artistic disciplines they serve within the sector;
• adherence to program objective;
• in the case of further distribution of funds to individuals the applicant must:
  • identify the personal information they will collect from individuals using their services, and what controls are in place to protect private/personal information that may be necessary for the delivery of services;
  • demonstrate the criteria or process used to determine eligibility or prioritize access for their programs and services by self-employed and independent workers in the live performance sector;
  • demonstrate measures in place to mitigate the risk of fraud; and
  • how the impacts of funded activities will be evaluated and reported.

Funding priority may be given to:

• number of participants / recipients;
• capacity to serve equity-deserving communities; and
• ability to ensure a timely delivery of services or funds.

Application processing time

Please refer to the Service standards for Canadian Heritage funding programs or contact the Program.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application within two weeks of receiving your application in our office.

Funding decisions

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

How funding is provided

The funding will be disbursed as a contribution.

A contribution is a conditional payment issued for a specific purpose, as outlined in a funding agreement. The agreement is signed by your organization and by us and specifies the terms and conditions to receive payment. At the end of your project, you must submit a final report.

Funding conditions

You may be required to submit interim reports during your project. If you receive $250,000 or more as a contribution, you are required to submit an audited financial report.

Additional conditions may apply and, if applicable, will be included in your funding agreement.

Workplace well-being

The Government of Canada is strongly committed to promoting healthy workplaces where harassment, abuse and discrimination are not tolerated. Organizations that receive funding from Canadian Heritage must take measures to create a workplace free from harassment, abuse and discrimination.

Official languages requirements

We are committed to taking positive measures to enhance the vitality of official-language minority communities and to promote the use of English and French in Canadian society. If you receive funding, you agree to comply with the official languages requirements set out in your funding agreement.

Acknowledgement of financial assistance

If you receive funding, you must publicly acknowledge – in English and in French – the financial support received from the Government of Canada in all communications materials and promotional activities. Additional requirements may be included in your funding agreement.

For additional information, please refer to our Guide on the public acknowledgement of financial support.

Access to information requests

We are subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. The information you submit in your application may be disclosed in accordance with these Acts.

Disclosure of information

By submitting your funding application, you authorize us to disclose any information submitted with this application within the Government of Canada or to outside entities for the following purposes:

• to reach a decision;
• to evaluate the results of the project; and
• to support transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement.

Audits of recipients and evaluation of the Program

We reserve the right to audit your accounts and records to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of your funding agreement. We also conduct periodic Program evaluations, during which you may be required to present documentation.

You must keep any records, documents, or other information that may be required to perform the audit or the evaluation for five years. Demonstrated failure to maintain such records may result in the repayment of amounts previously received.

Contact the program

For further information, please contact us:

Department of Canadian Heritage
Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund
25 Eddy Street, 13th Floor, Room 297 (25-13-V)
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0M5

Email

frtsssc-cpawrf@pch.gc.ca

Telephone

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

TTY

1-888-997-3123 (for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired)

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

Glossary

Audited financial report

An audited financial report includes a statement of operations for the given period with regard the Project and is prepared by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization.

Audited financial statements

A complete set of financial statements including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Audited financial statements are completed by a certified accountant who is not part of your organization. The certified accountant performs auditing activities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Benevolent Fund

A charitable organization that provides temporary or emergency assistance to those experiencing financial hardship.

Cash flow

A presentation of all anticipated revenues and planned expenses that will occur over the length of your project. At the beginning of your project, your cash flow will have only forecasted revenues and expenses. Over time, your cash flow will be updated to reflect the actual revenues and expenses.

Cultural industries

All businesses that produce goods and services in various cultural sectors of activity such as film and video, broadcasting, television, music, publishing, games, and digital media.

Equity-deserving communities

Equity-deserving communities face significant collective challenges in participating in society. This marginalization could be created by attitudinal, historic, social and environmental barriers based on age, ethnicity, disability, economic status, gender, nationality, race, sexual orientation and transgender status, etc. These groups are those that identify barriers to equal access, opportunities and resources due to disadvantage and discrimination and actively seek social justice and reparation.

Final report

A final report is submitted at the end of your project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. Your final report needs to provide the results of the activities you have undertaken for the duration of your project.

Final financial report

A final financial report includes, as separate items, the budget as well as all the revenues realized, and expenditures incurred for the given period with regard to the Project being funded.

Financial statements

A complete set of financial statements, including a statement of financial position; a statement of operations; and a statement of changes in financial position. Financial statements may be audited or unaudited.

Guild

An association of artists or arts workers who oversee the practice of their craft or trade in an area of the performing arts.

Heritage organization

Incorporated not-for-profit Canadian organizations with a mandate and key policies related to the collection, preservation, interpretation, research, and study, and/or the exhibition of cultural collections which are open to the public. The following are recognized as heritage organizations: museums, art galleries, archives, aquariums, insectariums, zoos, biodomes and botanical gardens, science and interpretation centres, planetariums, and archaeological, historical and ethnographic sites.

Indigenous communities

Indigenous communities are First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Interim reports

Interim reports are submitted during your project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. These reports indicate the results of the activities undertaken for a specific period. In addition, they include a status report on the work to be accomplished and include updated revenue and expense reports.

Live performance

An artistic performance that takes place in front of a live audience of one or more.

Management letter

A letter from a chartered accountant which normally accompanies audited financial statements. Based on the chartered accountant's audit and analysis of the organization's financial records and statements, this letter communicates observations of particular interest to the organization's management.

Not-for-profit professional arts organization

An incorporated organization operating in one or more artistic discipline(s) with a core mission and primary activity of creation or production of professional artistic works; presentation of professional artistic works; and/or training of professional artists. Furthermore, it is an organization that is registered and operates as a non-profit arts entity with a board of directors overseeing its operations. It has a paid artistic director, or equivalent and the organization pays artist fees at established national standards for the artistic discipline(s) and practice in which it operates. Finally, the organization has internal or external oversight of the organization’s finances and produces annual financial statements.

Official-language Minority Communities

The official-language minority communities are the Anglophone communities residing in Quebec and the Francophone communities residing outside of Quebec.

Outputs/Deliverables

Outputs are products or services generated by activities and provide evidence that the activity did occur. They demonstrate the "What" of the project.

Performance measurement strategy

Data sources and methodologies that will be used to collect, measure, and analyze performance of the project against its planned results/objectives. The range of information in a performance measurement strategy could include reach, outputs and outcomes, performance indicators, data sources, methodology, and costs.

Performance indicator

An indicator is a qualitative or quantitative means of measuring an outcome, with the intention of gauging the performance of a project. Performance indicators are the key pieces of information that need to be collected in order to determine if the project has achieved its objectives or final outcomes.

• Qualitative performance indicators: Qualitative indicators are expressed as opinions, behaviours, or attitudes. Whenever possible, these performance indicators are generalized using a rating scale, this will allow for comparability for a given period.
• Quantitative performance indicators: Quantitative performance indicators are expressed as statistical measurements such as numbers, percentages, or ratios.

Remote region

A community with a population of less than 50,000 that is located more than 200 kilometers from an urban centre with a population over 100,000 or a provincial or territorial capital.

Results

Outcomes are the results of an effort to attain a goal, the consequences of the activities and outputs. They are usually associated with an action word (e.g., "increased", "improved"). They demonstrate the "Why" of the project and must be measurable and directly related to the objectives.

Rural region

A community with a population of less than 50,000 that is located between 50 and 200 kilometers from an urban centre with a population over 100,000.

Strategic plan

The strategic plan clearly describes an organization's mandate, its near, mid and long-term goals or objectives, as well as the priority actions necessary to realize these goals and objectives. The strategic planning process should analyze the internal and external factors, assess the risks, and determine mitigation plans.

Union

An organized group of workers who unite to make decisions about conditions affecting their rights and interests.