COVID-19 alert
The AFA recognizes this is an extremely difficult time for Alberta's arts sector. Learn more about our COVID-19 response here.
The AFA recognizes this is an extremely difficult time for Alberta's arts sector. Learn more about our COVID-19 response here.
This grant provides funding in three-year cycles to eligible member-based arts organizations that provide educational, resource-based, promotional and advocacy services as the umbrella organization for an artistic discipline or sector in the province.
To be eligible for Provincial Arts Service Organizations operating funding, you must:
Your organization must:
Organizations that are engaged primarily in competition-based activity are not eligible for AFA funding.
If this is your organization’s first application for AFA Provincial Arts Service Organizations operating funding, you must contact the AFA at least three months before the deadline for a preliminary eligibility assessment.
Eligible first-time applicants will be accepted only at the beginning of each three-year cycle.
As a first-time applicant, your organization must provide approved financial statements that demonstrate the organization has positive net assets for the three annual fiscal periods immediately prior to application.
This funding is designed to support your organization’s operations, which are specific to your organization’s mandate, strategic and/or business plan and activities as described in your application and/or reporting.
AFA operating funding typically supports expenses such as:
We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) online application system.
We must receive your online application through GATE no later than 11:59 pm 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 the AFA receives notification of your submission before the deadline falls.
First-time applicants will require a GATE username and password. Contact us via email at least five business days prior to the application deadline.
Please include:
The GATE username and password will be sent to the email address provided.
GATE online forms
Attachments
Attachments must be developed prior to application, using either original documents specific to your organization or preformatted AFA templates, and uploaded to your online GATE submission.
You’ll be required to complete and upload the following attachments:
Your organization’s submitted Cash Reserve Policy must:
We strongly encourage all organizations to strive for a cash reserve of no less than 10% of your organization’s average annual operating expenditures.
However, we recognize that individual organizations have unique operating requirements. In considering the savings target for the Cash Reserve, your organization’s board of Directors is expected to consider its own operating requirements and determine an appropriate target which may be more or less than 10% of average annual operating expenditures.
Eligible organizations in this funding opportunity are encouraged to consult department staff as they develop the Cash Reserve Policy and associated plan for implementation.
Funding awarded through this opportunity is calculated for each organization through two components:
Note: Recommended additional amounts are determined within the context of total available funds within the allocated Provincial Arts Service Organizations program budget.
Funding for Provincial Arts Service Organizations is established by the AFA Board of Directors based upon the annual AFA Budget allocated by the Government of Alberta. Department staff evaluate applications according to eligibility criteria and prepare recommendations to the board.
An Expert Panel makes funding recommendations over and above the base amount to your organization. The Expert Panel is convened by department staff and is comprised of representatives from the arts and/or not-for-profit community. Expert Panel assessment is based on your organization’s governance practices, fiscal responsibility and arts mandate. They will consider your organization’s demonstrated successes in providing ongoing development of, support for, and advocacy on behalf of your identified arts discipline or sector and your strategies for the future.
The AFA Board of Directors reviews all funding recommendations, and 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.
Your organization is only eligible to receive support from one AFA operating funding opportunity in any given year. Funding is intended for the activities planned for your organization’s next fiscal year based on information provided in your funding application.
Ineligible expenses for AFA operating funding include, but are not limited to:
The AFA or our authorized representative may examine your financial and other records to ensure funding was used for its intended purpose:
The AFA Fair Notice Policy applies to this funding opportunity. We may cancel, suspend, reduce or demand repayment of your grant in circumstances where we are concerned with the viability of your organization.
Your organization must credit the AFA for financial support in any publicity prepared in relation to your organization’s activities, including electronic, print or visual material.
You are required to complete and submit satisfactory interim and final reports in GATE that demonstrates that funding awarded for the previous fiscal year was spent on the activities described in the application.
We must receive your online report through GATE no later than 11:59 pm Mountain Time, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until 11:59 pm on the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls.
GATE online forms
Attachments
Your organization’s final report, due by the three-year cycle application deadline of February 1 must include:
GATE online forms
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10708-105 Ave,
Edmonton, AB, Canada, T5H 0A1
780-427-9968
(toll-free within Alberta by first dialing 310-0000)