Fonds signature métropole - Stream 1: Support for festivals and major events

• The applicant must be established in Québec.
• The project must align with the Fund’s objectives and the selected stream.
• For Stream 1, the festival/event must take place within the Montréal Metropolitan Community territory.
• For Stream 1, the festival/event must run for at least 2 days.

Who is eligible?

• Non-profit organizations (legally constituted in Québec)
• Cooperatives constituted under Québec or Canadian cooperative legislation
• Private for-profit companies constituted in Québec (Stream 1 only)

Who is not eligible

• Private for-profit companies applying under Stream 2
• Trade shows, fairs, and markets (projects)
• Tourist attractions and their programming (Stream 1 projects)
• Shows and exhibitions (Stream 1 projects)
• Infrastructure projects, including related studies and technical plans (all streams)

Eligible expenses

• Project operating costs (e.g., salaries, rent, purchase of materials and equipment)
• Communication and promotional costs (e.g., web/advertising tools, public relations and press, marketing in Québec and outside Québec)
• Plans and studies to improve the project (e.g., business plan, market analysis, feasibility, concept development, activity programming, attendance/impact studies)
• Training costs related to the project
• Costs related to sustainable and responsible development commitments
• Eligible travel expenses (as per Québec government standards; may be reduced if deemed excessive)

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Debt financing expenses or loan repayment
• Expenses incurred more than 8 months before applying (Stream 1)
• Expenses incurred before submitting the application (Stream 2)
• Expenses for a project already completed
• Capital expenditures (immobilizations)

Eligible geographic areas

• Québec (applicant must be established in Québec)
• Montréal Metropolitan Community territory (Stream 1 projects)
• Montréal administrative region / Island of Montréal (Stream 2 projects)

• Essentiality of funding (demonstrated need for the Fund’s financial assistance)
• Relevance (alignment with the applicant’s core mission and the program objectives)
• Organizational capacity (team experience, partnerships, past achievements, sound governance, compliance with prior agreements)
• Project quality (clear objectives and realistic implementation plan)
• Financial framework strength (diversified financing, realism of forecasts, applicant’s financial situation) and contribution to sustainable development (environmental, social, economic)

• Applications are reviewed in batches, based on available budgets and the selection criteria.
• Selected projects are subject to a financial assistance agreement with the Minister responsible for the Metropolis and the Montréal region.
• Payment conditions are tied to key project milestones and the submission of supporting documents (e.g., financial statements, activity reports, progress reports, final report).
• Funding is paid in two instalments (or more for multi-year projects); the first instalment cannot exceed 80% of the annual funding granted.
• The final instalment is conditional on providing the information required to assess program results, including results indicators.

• Projects must first be submitted to the relevant sectoral ministries/agencies when a suitable program exists; the Fund may provide complementary funding after consultation with the public sector body concerned.
• Applications are reviewed in batches, depending on available budgets.
• An organization may submit more than one application in different streams, if each project aligns with the Fund’s objectives and selection criteria.
• Projects can be submitted until 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the deadline date.