Arts Presenting Project Funding

To be eligible for this funding, applicants must be one of the following:

• registered not-for-profit organizations
• churches
• library boards
• Indian Bands as defined by the Indian Act R.S.C. 1985, C.I-5
• Métis Settlements recognized under the Métis Settlements Act R.S.A. 2000, C.M14
• organizations registered under the Agriculture Societies Act
• organizations recognized under the Post-Secondary Institutions Act (by Faculty or Department)

Organizations must also:

• be registered and in good standing in Alberta under the appropriate legislation for at least one year prior to the deadline
• be in good standing with the AFA with no outstanding reporting requirements
• have been in operation for at least one full year prior to the deadline
• have at least 50 percent of the organization's board members, or ruling council, living in the community or region where the presentations are given
• demonstrate adherence to good governance principles, effective administration practices and commitment to fiscal responsibility
• demonstrate financial stability, in the judgment of the AFA, for at least one year
• operate as a stand-alone organization at arm’s length from municipalities, commercial enterprises or schools 
• be the primary organizer and producer of the event by directly paying professional artists and/or artist-affiliated organizations (for example: artist managers or booking agents) for professional artist fees
• have a policy of presenting at least three different touring professional artists during the twelve-month period from November 15 to November 14, immediately prior to the grant deadline
  • organizations based in rural areas with a population of less than 3,000 may apply even if fewer than three artists are presented

Partnerships between not-for-profit organizations based in the same region must apply through one primary organization. Organizations with branches or separate offices in the same municipality may submit only one application.

Post-secondary institutions may submit one application per department or faculty.

Ineligible applicants

The following organizations are ineligible for this funding:

• municipalities
• commercial enterprises
• schools
• groups that are not arm’s length from municipalities, commercial enterprises, or schools
• organizations that are eligible for operating funding under another AFA grant stream
• organizations that engage primarily in competition-based activity

Event partners and sponsors may not apply on behalf of the event producer, commercial organizations or other for-profit entities.

Eligible events

Events that are eligible for this funding are:

• events that present professional touring artists who regularly tour outside their place of residence in the following arts disciplines:
  • performing arts includes music, dance, theatre, circus arts and spoken word
  • visual and new media arts includes drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, clay, glass, wood, metal, fibre and new media
  • film and video arts
  • literary arts includes fiction, literary non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting and playwriting
• events where arts presentations, performances, readings, or exhibitions are the primary reason for the event
• events that are available to the public through season tickets, or casual sales or free admission
• events that at least three different touring professional artists between November 15 and November 14, immediately prior to the grant deadline
• original live streaming events, occurring after March 12, 2020, presented through online channels or resources

Eligible artists

Grants awarded through this grant stream are based on eligible fees paid to professional artists (excluding GST). Professional artists are defined as artists that:

• are compensated at an industry standard for their art (example: union or nationally recognized rate)
• fulfill at least 2 of the following:
  • are recognized by the public and by their peers for their art, and have received industry recognition
  • are actively marketing their work to professional booking agents, venues and galleries
  • present, perform and/or exhibit their art for compensation on a regular basis
  • have specialized training in their field
  • have membership to a nationally or provincially recognized industry or other professional organization (e.g. ACTRA, AFM, Canadian Actors Equity Association, CARFAC, IMAA, WGC, Writers Union of Canada, etc.)
  • has received royalties or residual payments on their copyrighted works

Eligible expenses

Only fees paid directly by the applicant to the artist are eligible for consideration under this grant stream. Eligible expenses include:

• presentation fees
• performance fees
• public reading fees
• artist and curator fees for exhibition
• screening fees
• lectures and panel discussions by the creator, director, producer, or representative of film and video works (film festivals only)
• transportation and accommodation for the above activities

An organization may claim artist fees for up to three presentations by the same artist or artistic act presented during the eligible grant period.

Ineligible projects

Ineligible events and activities include:

• activities already funded through other Government of Alberta programs
• curriculum based activities
• pre-recorded events for distribution through online channels or resources
• repeat presentation of previous live streamed events
• activities related to conferences or workshops
• competitive performances
• entertainment or arts activity presented as part of primarily social events, including but not limited to:
  • fundraisers
  • rodeos
  • stampedes
  • grandstand performances
  • trade fairs
  • parades
  • meals
  • conventions
  • community dances
  • student union cabarets
• activities by board members, full-time faculty, sessionals, or staff at post-secondary institutions

Ineligible expenses

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, the following fees are ineligible for project support:

• for staff, board members, resident acts or house bands
• for those practicing applied arts, including but not limited to:
  • culinary arts
  • architecture
  • interior design
  • graphic arts
  • commercial photography
  • gaming
  • fashion design
• for commercial variety acts, including but not limited to:
  • face painting
  • balloon entertainers
  • fireworks/pyrotechnics
  • hypnotism

We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system.

We must receive your online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so that we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls. Applications received after 11:59 p.m. of the deadline date will be considered at the next deadline.

• applicants may submit only one application to the AFA each deadline
• the AFA does not accept incomplete applications
• projects involving more than one organization must be submitted by the primary applicant organization; separate organization applications will not be accepted for the same project

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Requests must be received at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please complete the GATE Front Office Registration form and email it as an attachment to registrationAFA@gov.ab.ca.

GATE Front Office usernames and passwords will be sent to the email addresses provide on the registration form.

What to include in your application

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

GATE Front Office online forms

• applicant contact information, including street and mailing address
• contact list, including primary and secondary contact persons and signing authority designate for the application 
• the organization’s registration details, including organization’s registered name, Alberta Registration number and incorporation date
• an applicant agreement with e-signature of signing authority designate for the organization
• a completed Statistical Report 
• a listing of all current board members include the names, positions, addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses
• total number of events, artists, artist fees paid from Arts Presenting worksheet

Attachments

The GATE Front Office attachment section indicates that not all attachments are required for submission. This is because they are only required for certain types of projects (e.g. marketing plan for a marketing project). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all attachments noted in the guidelines are submitted with their application.

You’ll be required to complete and upload the following attachments:

• Arts Presenting calculation worksheet
• copies of all promotional materials related to the event, such as posters and programs, demonstrating compliance with AFA funding acknowledgement conditions (see "Conditions" below)
  • do not submit press clippings or videos
• the organization's most recent annual financial statement with Balance Sheet, Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, and Statement of Cash Flows
• a confirmation of filing of the organization's most recent annual return from Alberta Corporate Registry
• for presentations that include public screening of film and video media, please attach written evidence of compliance with film classification regulations as outlined in the Film and Video Classification Act
  • please review information and register with Alberta Film Classification on Alberta.ca
  • if you have questions, please email Alberta Film Classification or call them at 780-427-2006, toll-free by first dialing 310-0000 within Alberta

Applicants may be asked for additional information.

Format

• all video and audio files must be Windows compatible
• wherever possible, support material should be uploaded as an attachment into GATE Front Office (up to 4 MB)
• if your support material is too large to upload, please mail a hard copy to 10708 – 105 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0A1
  • please include your first name, last name and project number
  • support material sent by mail must be postmarked no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date

Arts Presenting funding and funding maximums are established annually by the AFA board of Directors. The annual AFA budget is based upon funds allocated in the annual Government of Alberta budget. 

This grant is calculated by formula.

• up to 65% of fees paid to Alberta artists. Ensemble members may not be separated out and residency is determined by majority of ensemble members
• up to 50% of fees paid to Canadian artists from the rest of Canada
• up to 50% of fees paid to International artists to a maximum of 1/3 of the eligible Canadian/Alberta subsidy. International children's artists are exempt from the restriction. Children's artists are those who primarily play to audiences where over 50% of the audience is under the age of 16 years

Staff evaluate applications according to the program grant stream criteria and prepare recommendations to the AFA board.

 Available funds are equitably distributed to all eligible applicants according to a formula.

 Funding is not assured for any project. All decisions are final.

Grant recommendations are made to the AFA board of directors. Successful recipients will be notified upon board approval, generally between four to six months from the application deadline.

The AFA will retain all materials submitted with funding applications. The AFA or our authorized representative may examine a funding recipient's financial and other records to ensure that all claimed expenses were undertaken as outlined in the funding application. 

The AFA may cancel, suspend, reduce or demand repayment of funding in circumstances where the AFA is concerned with the viability of an organization as per the AFA Fair Notice policy.

The AFA does not provide advances for any grant.

Funding acknowledgement

Whenever possible, you must acknowledge the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to the project, including electronic, print or visual material.

Download versions of the AFA logo and guidelines for usage.

A minimum reduction of 10% will be applied to the subsequent grant of any organization that does not satisfy the AFA recognition requirements.

Reporting is not required for Arts Presenting project funding.

Visit the Help and Resources section of our website to:

• download the new Front Office User Guide
• find additional resources for organizations

You may wish to download the following resources to include as attachments with your application:

• Arts Presenting calculation worksheet

Please note that the Arts Presenting Artist fees and financial statement confirmation form is no longer required to complete your grant application. 

Should your organization wish to receive payment through direct deposit, please use the Direct Deposit form:

• Direct deposit form