March 2, 2026 Submissions
General Expert Panel comments
Comments made by the panel during its assessment of applications submitted to the March 2, 2026 deadline are outlined below. Please note that these comments provide a summary of the panel's assessment and do not necessarily relate to every application submitted to this deadline. The panel does not provide individual comments.
Project description
- Always answer the WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE with specificity (i.e names, definitions, justifications, dates, and locations).
- The panel showed support for applications that were well written, provided clear project viability, and had detailed budgets and strong supporting material.
- For all types of activities, the panel recommends project dates and timelines are consistent throughout documents.
- Marketing: Supporting documentation should outline the marketing plan with clear and relevant goals. Focus on how you will achieve those goals, why it is the right time for this project, and how this will benefit the trajectory of your career.
- Clearly specify other expected funds, grants, revenues and support you plan to receive and if these are guaranteed or pending.
- The panel appreciated applicants that demonstrated an understanding of their target audience.
- The panel appreciated music video applications that included a storyboard/treatment/script that gave insight to the music video’s theme/look.
- The panel appreciated applications that included social media/playlisting spends with goals beyond simply increasing online stats. - Training: The panel supported applicants who demonstrated a clear vision with realistic goals and expected outcomes for their future post education.
- The panel favoured applicants who explained their training project’s impact on the artist’s career trajectory and how they plan to use their skills and training once the project was completed.
- Support was also shown for training which would develop new knowledge that could potentially benefit the applicant’s community.
- The panel showed appreciation for mentorships and/or residencies for music genres that don’t traditionally have a post-secondary stream. Art Production: The panel encourages applicants to consider and clearly explain their goals and how the project will influence their career. What is the impact of the project on both career and within the current music industry? Why is this the right time to be doing the project?
- Applications with quotes from service providers and letters of reference not from people directly benefitting from the grant funding are encouraged.
- If projects are planned to take place outside of Alberta, address how the opportunity will benefit project's completion.- Overall, the panel acknowledges the use of AI-generated content, and were concerned with unauthentic submissions of an artist(s)'s proposals and/or music samples. The panel responded more favorably to authentic submissions.
Budgets
- The panel favoured applications with budgets that fairly compensated other artists and/or the provincial artistic economy.
- The panel recommends project details to be in the written support documents, not in the budget form’s comment boxes.
- For recording projects, the panel favoured applications that provided details on producers, session musicians, etc., and particularly why a producer was chosen.
- Expenses that include direct quotes from the contracted source(s) boosts confidence in the project’s budget.
- Be clear about how you plan to use the funds within your budget, with specific timelines and expected cultural, artistic, and/or financial return on investment. Avoid vague budget expenses.
- Detailed budget breakdowns are strongly encouraged. This includes any expected revenue, pending funding, and personal contributions.
- Applicants requesting funding for subsistence should provide clear details on monthly expenses (accommodations or rent, daily food allowance, local transportation and childcare, when applicable).
- Only apply for the portion of these costs which accurately cover the amount of time spent working on the project.
Support Materials
- The panel recommends CVs focus on artistic accomplishments.
- Letters of recommendation are encouraged. It is best to include these letters from industry contacts, rather than personal contacts.
- Letters that were genuinely written by the supporter were favoured.
- Letters of confirmation from your team members are appreciated.
- Panel members encourage applicants to provide high quality recording and ensure instruments and vocals are in tune. It’s recommended to label your audio is either ‘demos’ or ‘final’ and whether or not it’s already released.
- Music selections that were AI-generated were concerning. The panel felt some applications misrepresented artistic integrity and skill level.
- Include bios of the team you are assembling for the project.
- Ensure PDF documents are readable