Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists

• Maximum funding of $10,000 per project for creation-based initiatives.
• Maximum funding of $15,000 per project for production-based initiatives.
• The amount requested cannot exceed the total eligible cost of the project.
• Unused funds allocated to unperformed activities must be repaid to the City of Ottawa.

• The applicant must be an individual artist who is established, mid-career, or emerging and committed to their artistic practice.
• The applicant must be 18 years of age or older.
• The applicant must reside in Ottawa, or be an Anishinabe Algonquin artist living within a 150 km radius of Ottawa.
• The applicant must have completed training in their artistic discipline, through schooling, apprenticeship, mentorship, collaboration, or be self-taught with demonstrated experience.
• The applicant must have a demonstrated history of public presentation or publication, be recognized by peers in their artistic tradition, and be dedicated to the independent practice of art in their chosen discipline.

Who is eligible?

• Individual artists in the literary, visual, media, interdisciplinary, and performing arts

Who is not eligible

• Collectives, organizations, and groups cannot apply (only individual artists are eligible).
• Producers and presenters are not eligible for this fund.
• Managers or agents applying on behalf of artists, ensembles, groups, or bands are not eligible.
• Cover bands and projects involving the manufacture and distribution of products in multiple copies are not eligible.
• Businesses or organizations applying for commercial purposes, fundraising, or arts education activities are not eligible.

Eligible expenses

• Artist fees and payments to collaborators directly involved in the project
• Cost-of-living expenses for the artist during creation (such as rent, food, or caregiving)
• Materials and supplies necessary for the creation or production of the artistic work
• Studio or rehearsal space rental fees
• Technical or equipment expenses essential to the project (excluding purchases of equipment, instruments, computers, or software)
• Venue rental for production-related activities (for production projects only)
• Insurance expenses related to production activities
• Administration and mentor fees directly related to the project

Eligible geographic areas

• City of Ottawa residents
• Anishinabe Algonquin artists living within a 150 km radius of Ottawa
• Residents of Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation or Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation

• Artistic merit, including the strength of the proposed body of work and its relationship to previous work.
• Strength of artistic vision and goals, as well as artistic excellence and innovation.
• Technical competence and artistic impact of the project.
• Effectiveness of planning, including the viability of the project and realistic budgeting.
• Track record of the applicant and the contribution to the artistic discipline.

• There are two application deadlines per year, and applicants can only submit to one deadline each year.
• Application results are communicated by email within six months of the deadline; there is no appeal of funding decisions except in cases of procedural error.
• Support material total review time is limited to seven minutes for audio and video content per application—cue times must be provided.
• Recipients must submit a final report detailing the use of funds, and failure to do so will render the applicant ineligible for future funding.