Media Artists Program : Creation

Who is eligible?

• Individual professional media artists
• Collaborative groups with a principal artist applicant

Who is not eligible

• Companies or firms, only individual applications from professional media artists are accepted.
• Film or video producers (only the director can submit an application).
• Organizations or companies seeking funding solely for travel or exhibition expenses, capital purchases, or promotion and marketing.
• Applications for projects that are already completed, commercial or educational pilots for television, or music videos.

Eligible expenses

• Direct costs of creation or production of new or in-progress media artworks.
• Materials required for the creation or production process.
• Post-production support and associated expenses.
• Accessibility costs for artists, such as ASL interpretation, audio description, closed captioning, communications assistants, attendant care, support workers, and equipment rentals (only for projects involving Deaf artists or artists with disabilities, up to a specified limit).

Eligible geographic areas

• City of Toronto

• Artistic assessment based on past and proposed work by a peer review panel of practicing media arts professionals.
• Applications are reviewed in a competitive context, with evaluation of artistic merit relative to other submissions.
• Equity Priority Policy: If multiple applications of equal merit are identified, priority is given to applicants who self-identify as belonging to equity priority groups.

• Step 1: Register with TAC Grants Online
  • Create an account on the Toronto Arts Council's online application system (TAC Grants Online).
• Step 2: Prepare Application Documents
  • Draft the Proposed Use of Grant, addressing both the relationship of the proposed work to your artistic practice and details on the theme, techniques, and concerns of the project.
  • Write a brief description of the project, including planned treatment of production, visuals, and sound.
  • Compile your Artist Resume or CV.
  • Prepare a detailed project budget, ensuring revenues equal expenses.
  • Assemble support material, such as video/audio links (up to two projects, with relevant instructions or passwords) and printed support materials like scripts or storyboards if required.
  • Gather Letters of Agreement for use of any third-party copyrighted materials or from documentary subjects as needed.
• Step 3: Complete the Online Application
  • Log in to TAC Grants Online and fill out the application form.
  • Upload all required documentation and support materials.
  • If applying for the TAC Accessibility Grant, complete the Accessibility Expenses section and include relevant budget details.
  • If you require application accessibility support, contact the Program Manager at least six weeks in advance to request approval for additional support funding.
• Step 4: Submit the Application
  • Submit your completed application through TAC Grants Online no later than 11:59 pm on the deadline date.
• Step 5: Confirmation of Submission
  • Receive an automated confirmation email once your application is successfully submitted.
  • Check your spam or junk mail folder if you do not receive confirmation in your inbox.
• Step 6: Await Notification
  • Results are typically available approximately three months after the application deadline.
  • Log in to TAC Grants Online to access your result notification when informed by email.
• Step 7: Final Reporting (for approved projects)
  • Once the funded project is complete, submit a final report through TAC Grants Online as outlined in your grant notification letter.

• Applicants will be notified of application results approximately three months after submission; first notifications are expected by the end of December.
• Support materials, such as examples of previous works, are critical for assessment and must be submitted per specified guidelines.
• An additional TAC Accessibility grant of up to $5,000 is available for accessibility-related expenses for artists who are Deaf or have disabilities.
• Grant recipients must maintain adequate accounting records for funds received from the Toronto Arts Council, and a T4A form will be issued to individual applicants for income tax purposes.