Volunteer Based Arts Organizations

• Most recent board-approved annual financial statements
• Board of directors list
• Primary contact information
• Summary of staff and volunteers
• Planned activities and artistic programming details

Who is eligible?

• Organizations with arts programming in film and video, literary, visual, or performing arts.
• Organizations legally registered and operating in Alberta under the listed legislation.
• Organizations with an Alberta-based address and a majority of board members living in Alberta.
• First-time applicants may apply if they contact the AFA at least three months before the deadline and provide board-approved financial statements showing positive net assets.

Who is not eligible

• Municipalities
• For-profit organizations
• Funding agencies or other funders
• Organizations that primarily benefit those outside of Alberta
• Organizations with overdue or incomplete accounting or reporting related to any grant previously awarded by the AFA or Alberta Arts, Culture and Status of Women

Eligible expenses

• Artists, curators, and technician fees
• Cultural protocol honoraria and related fees
• Production, programming, marketing, and communications
• Salaries, professional fees, rent, utilities, and insurance
• Equipment maintenance and facility operating costs

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Scholarships, prizes, gratuities, and awards
• Endowment funds and third-party funding to other organizations
• Consignment fees
• Renovations, land or facility purchase, and major equipment or vehicle purchases
• Bad debt or debt reduction

Eligible geographic areas

• Alberta

• Funding is based on total eligible expenses to a maximum of 10 per cent.
• Organizations outside the Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan regions may be eligible for an additional 2 per cent, subject to available funds.
• Available funds are distributed equitably among eligible applicants.
• Applications are assessed using the organization’s most recent, board-approved financial statements.

• Apply through Alberta’s Digital Grants Service (DGS).
• Register an Alberta.ca Account for Organizations to access DGS.
• Sign in to DGS using your Alberta.ca log-in credentials and submit your application.
• Applications must be received through DGS no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on the deadline date.
• If the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend, it is extended until the next working day.
• Late applications will not be accepted.

• Department staff evaluate applications according to eligibility criteria and prepare recommendations to the board.
• The AFA Board of Directors reviews and approves all funding.
• All decisions are final and no appeals will be considered.
• Applicants receive email notification upon AFA board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.

• Reporting is not required.
• Applicants are notified by email after board approval, generally within four to six months after the deadline.
• Organizations must acknowledge AFA financial support in related publicity materials.
• Unused portions of the grant must be returned to the AFA.