AFA — Theatre Individual Project Funding

• An artistic resume of no more than four pages, or for emerging artists a description of theatre arts background and relevant arts activity history
• Resumes of all project co-owners involved in the project
• A detailed project description with objectives, planned activities, timelines, and expected results and impact on artistic development
• Project-specific attachments noted in the guidelines, such as a marketing plan, proof of acceptance and schedule for training, or a completed and signed contract with the commissioner
• Any additional support materials that may assist in the assessment process

Who is eligible?

• Individual Alberta artists
• Alberta arts administrators
• Collaborating artists, ensembles, and collectives, if all project co-owners meet the individual eligibility criteria
• Alberta individual artists contracted by commissioners to create a specific work

Who is not eligible

• Applicants, including ensembles or collectives, that are incorporated under provincial or federal legislation
• Applicants with open or outstanding projects or reporting to the AFA
• Previous grant recipients whose final reporting has not been approved by the AFA

Eligible expenses

• Contracted artist and technician fees, commission fees, royalties, administration and contract fees
• Production, promotion and publicity
• Transportation and accommodation
• Tuition or training fees
• Basic living/subsistence expenses (housing, local transport, food, childcare, dependent care) up to $3,000/month, plus other expenses and supplies considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Capital purchases, such as buildings or property, capital development, studio construction, or renovations
• Recreational training projects
• Artistic activities or projects undertaken to fulfill credit or thesis requirements
• Projects that are primarily commercial in nature
• Contracts for ongoing activities or artists pursuing projects similar in scope to usual activities with commissioner; expenses already incurred prior to application submission, including grant writer fees

• Project descriptions should be clearly structured, concise, and centered on a strong main objective.
• Applications should outline concrete steps in the creation process and clearly define the scope and feasibility of the work.
• For research projects, the scope of inquiry, methods, and intended outcomes should be clearly explained.
• For training opportunities, priority is given to applicants who can clearly articulate the outcomes or impacts on artistic development and the theatre ecology in Alberta.
• The panel values fair compensation, consistency between the project description and budget, and context for how expenses are calculated.

• Apply through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system.
• First-time applicants must email registrationafa@gov.ab.ca at least five business days before the deadline with your legal name, the funding opportunity, and your email address to receive a username and password.
• Submit the online application no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date; if the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend, it is extended until the next working day.
• Submit only one application to the AFA each deadline across all disciplines, and make sure the application is complete.
• If the project involves more than one artist, one individual must submit on behalf of the ensemble or group.
• Applications must be received prior to the commencement of the project.

• Staff convene an expert panel to consider all eligible grant applications submitted to each deadline.
• The expert panel assesses each application on its own terms and in relation to all other applications received for that deadline.
• All expert panel recommendations are reviewed by the AFA board, and all decisions are final.
• By accepting funding, you agree to undertake the project as proposed in your original project description.
• Funding recipients must submit a complete and satisfactory final report in GATE, and the AFA may examine financial and other records to ensure the funding is being, or was, used for its intended purpose.

• AFA grant workshops are always free-of-charge.
• Workshops are offered in-person and online throughout Alberta.