Cultural Relations Individual Project Funding

To be eligible for individual project funding you must be a resident(s) of Alberta. This means you:

• are legally entitled to be or remain in Canada
• have had your primary residence in Alberta for the full calendar year before applying
• ordinarily live in Alberta for at least six months each year

Ensembles and collectives are eligible if they are made up of members who meet the individual criteria:

• applicants, including ensembles, must not be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation

Individuals may not apply on behalf of an ensemble/group if the project is being organized by a registered not-for-profit organization that has received a Cultural Relations grant in the past year.

You must be in good standing with the AFA with no open or outstanding projects or reporting requirements to apply.

Applicants can only receive this grant once in any two consecutive fiscal years (April 1 - March 31)

Please note, AFA funding is not assured for any project.

Through this opportunity, you may apply for project funding to support national or international professional presentations of your work at public events where you have been formally invited to represent Alberta or Canada, due to artistic excellence and achievement.

This can include:

• exhibitions
• performances
• readings
• screenings

Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate that the presentation of their work will contribute to national or international recognition of artistic excellence in Alberta.

Eligible expenses

You can receive up to $15,000 to support your project. You may apply for up to 100% of eligible expenses that are directly related to carrying out your proposed project.

These expenses may include, but are not limited to:

• production
• promotion and publicity
• transportation and accommodation
• basic living/subsistence expenses (housing, food, local transportation, child care, dependent care) up to $3,000/month
• other expenses and supplies considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary

Ineligible expenses

Expenses and activities that are ineligible for AFA project funding include:

• repeat of projects previously funded under this opportunity without change to project objectives, activities or location
• projects that receive substantial funding from any other program of the Government of Alberta
• educational residencies, academic conferences, workshops or other non-presentation activities
• projects undertaken as a part of a course of study
• expenses already incurred prior to application submission including grant writer fees

Grant programs that primarily support travel have been suspended with any current applications withdrawn due to the unviable nature of these activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch our website and other communications for updates to this and other AFA funding programs. See what other programs have changed.

We only accept applications through Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) online application system. Applications for this program are accepted throughout the year and may be submitted at any time. However, applications must be received prior to the commencement of the project. We do not accept incomplete applications.

Projects involving more than one artist must be submitted by one individual on behalf of the ensemble or group. We do not accept separate applications for the same project.

GATE username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE username and password. Email us at registrationafa@gov.ab.ca to get your GATE login information.

Please include:

1. your legal name
2. the funding opportunity to which you are applying
3. your email address

Your GATE user name and password will be sent to the email address provided.

What to include in your application

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please follow the GATE user guide.

GATE online forms

• applicant information: Legal name and Confirmation of the applicant status (minor/Albertan)
• if the Applicant is under the age of 18 years at the time of application, a parent or legal guardian must e-sign the Applicant Agreement as the designate for the funding, and be responsible for
  • the completeness and accuracy of the application in full
  • receipt and use of funding
  • reporting on the use of funds
  • serving as contact person for any inquiries relating to the funding
• contact information for primary applicant
  • ensembles must designate one contact person for all requirements of the grant as primary applicant
  • this designated individual must e-sign the Applicant Agreement
• applicant contact information: Street and mailing address for the primary applicant
• general information: Confirmation of the applicant status (individual/ensemble/minor/Albertan)
• project description: A brief project description (20 words) and project start and end dates
• principal artists: A listing of the principal artists involved in the project, their position or role, and confirmation of Alberta Residence
  • if you are a single applicant, list yourself as artist  
• individual applicant agreement: A declaration of agreement with the statement of conditions e-signed by the primary applicant or designate
• project budget: A project budget detailing expenditures and non-AFA revenues in Canadian dollars The difference between expenditures and revenues will comprise the grant request to the AFA and cannot exceed $15,000.
• project expenses: A listing of project expenditures in Canadian dollars
• project revenue: A listing of non-AFA revenues in Canadian dollars
  • the difference between expenditures and revenues will comprise the grant request to the AFA

Attachments

The GATE 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.

Please submit the following attachments:

• a resume of the artist(s) representing Alberta in the project
• a detailed description of the project, including an outline of the objectives, planned activities, timelines and expected results and benefits
• official letter(s) of invitation from the host organization
• any applicable itinerary, travel confirmations, and/or justification for travel and accommodation estimates
• first-time applicants will be required to provide two letters of reference from recognized peers attesting they maintain a standard of professionalism that will represent Alberta artists in a positive light
• additional support materials that may assist in the assessment process
  • all support material should be scanned into a single file and attached to the online application

Applicants may be asked for additional information.

Format

• wherever possible, support material should be uploaded as an attachment into GATE (up to 4 MB)
• all video and audio files must be Windows compatible, MP3 and MP4 files are preferred
• for files too large to include as attachments in GATE, they may be submitted via email to musicafa@gov.ab.ca as email attachments or downloadable links
  • please format your subject line: <your first initial, last name and project number>, eg. "H.Lee CRI-56-172631" 
  • please ensure link contains downloadable files (MP3 or MP4 preferred)
• alternatively, please mail a hard copy CD or USB to 10708 – 105 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0A1
  • please include your first initial, last name and project number on the CD or USB
  • support material must be submitted or postmarked no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date

This funding is administered at the discretion of the AFA board on a project-by-project basis.  

Department staff provide consultative and administrative services to the AFA board. An inter-disciplinary panel will assess each application and make recommendations to the AFA board.

Assessment of a project is based on the following general criteria:

• the impact of the project on both the applicant and the artistic genre in Alberta
• the artistic or promotional merit of the project
• how the project enhances the capacity of the applicant
• the appropriateness of the project budget, including evidence of in-kind and/or financial contributions from the applicant. Contributions from applicant organizations are strongly encouraged
• the ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed project
• the performance and achievements of the applicant to date

Preference will be given to projects that:

• provide a significant opportunity to profile Alberta arts and artists
• are destined for those countries designated as a priority by the Government of Alberta
• have confirmed support from the Government of Canada and/or the Canada Council for the Arts or hosted or initiated by national organizations or facilities (e.g. National Gallery of Canada, National Arts Centre)
• introduce Alberta artists to new audiences
• are initiated or hosted by the Government of Alberta or other federal, provincial, or regional governments or their agencies, offices, high commissions or embassies, in support of provincial cultural relations nationally or internationally;/ are official government-to-government exchange projects
• promote the AFA collection in national or international exhibitions
• are part of the national programs at the Confederation Centre of the Arts 

Funding is not assured for any project.

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.

Funding is intended for the purposes described in your application. By accepting funding, you agree to undertake the project as proposed in your original project description.

If you do not receive the full grant amount requested, you are still required to complete the project as proposed if you accept the grant:

• you must return the grant funds if the project cannot be completed as proposed

If you require a change to your project including outcomes, location or an extension to your final report due date:

• you must submit a request in writing for approval by the AFA
• the request must be submitted prior to the change being made and/or before your final report is due
• the AFA may consider a single extension per funding opportunity

Funding recipients are responsible for informing the AFA of how funds were spent and outcomes of the project:

• you must return funds if reporting requirements are not met
• you must return unused portions of funding to the AFA

Any funding recipient who does not provide a report prior to the date noted in the successful notification document, or does not fulfill any conditions associated with a grant or whose report is not approved will be made delinquent and ineligible for further funding from the AFA for a period of three years from the time the delinquency is resolved.

New applications will not be accepted until your previous project is completed and the final report is received and approved by the AFA.

The AFA, or our authorized representative, may examine a funding recipient's financial and other records to ensure that the funding is being, or was, used for its intended purpose. 

We require a complete and satisfactory final report submitted to GATE that demonstrates that funding was spend on the activities described in the application.

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.

In your final report, please include:

• a completed project outcomes questionnaire
• a complete and accurate financial accounting for the project based on the original budget submission

Attachments

• copies of promotional materials related to the project, such as posters and programs showing funding credit to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts where appropriate
• any reviews, publications, invitations and/or catalogues in which the project is mentioned
• a travel itinerary, confirmation of attendance at the presentation
• a description of the results of the project, with an evaluation of its success in relation to the original objectives and outreach as stated in the application

• Application writing tips for individual artists
• GATE user guide for Cultural Relations individual projects