AFA — Community Performing Arts Organizations Operating Funding

• Planned Activities Listing for the coming year
• Most recent annual financial statements, including the balance sheet, statement of revenues and expenditures, and statement of cash flows
• Most recent annual return from Alberta Corporate Registry
• For first-time applicants, approved financial statements showing positive net assets for the two previous fiscal years

Who is eligible?

• Not-for-profit community performing arts organizations
• Dance, music, and theatre organizations
• Stand-alone arts organizations that self-create and self-produce performances

Who is not eligible

• Organizations primarily engaged in competition-based activity
• Organizations that are not stand-alone arts organizations operating at arm’s length from municipalities, commercial enterprises, or organizations and institutions receiving annual operating funds from the Government of Alberta or its affiliates

Eligible expenses

• Administration and programming costs
• Salaries and professional fees
• Maintenance of equipment and fixed assets
• Promotion costs
• Other operating expenses required to fulfill the organization’s mandate

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Alcohol
• Amortization and GST expenses
• Fundraising expenses
• Bad debt and other paper losses
• Capital expenses

Eligible geographic areas

• Alberta

• Applications are evaluated according to the program’s eligibility requirements.
• Funding allocation is based on Community Derived Revenue (CDR), calculated from the organization’s most recent approved financial statements.
• Each applicant’s CDR is compared with the total CDR of all eligible organizations to determine its share of the program budget.
• Department staff prepare recommendations for the AFA Board of Directors.
• The AFA Board of Directors makes the final decision.

• Step 1: Confirm eligibility
  • Review the program requirements to ensure the organization meets the operating, governance, and Alberta-based criteria.
  • If this is a first application, contact AFA at least three months before the deadline for a preliminary eligibility assessment.
• Step 2: Get access to GATE Front Office
  • First-time applicants must request a GATE Front Office username and password.
  • Complete the GATE Front Office Registration form and submit it at least five business days before the application deadline.
• Step 3: Prepare the application
  • Complete the required online forms in GATE Front Office, including contact and organization information, applicant agreement, board list, CDR information, and diligence questionnaire.
  • Upload the required attachments, including the planned activities list, recent financial statements, and Alberta Corporate Registry annual return.
• Step 4: Submit the application
  • Submit the full application through the GATE Front Office online system.
  • Ensure it is received no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date.

• Department staff review applications against program eligibility requirements and prepare funding recommendations.
• The AFA Board of Directors reviews the recommendations and makes the final decision.
• Successful applicants are generally notified after board approval, usually within four to six months of the application deadline.
• Funded organizations must submit a final report through GATE Front Office showing how funding was used.
• AFA or its authorized representative may review financial and other records to confirm funds were used for their intended purpose.

• AFA provides a Front Office user guide and downloadable templates to help applicants prepare submissions and final reports.
• Organizations may provide direct deposit information if they wish to receive payment electronically.