Music Creation and Recording
Toronto Arts Council’s Music Creation & Audio Recording program offers grants to practicing professional artists to assist them in the writing and production of their original music. This program will support new work in any/all genres of music.
Offered by Toronto Arts Council
Amount
Creation (maximum grant $10,000); Recording – Demo/EP (maximum grant $8,000); Recording – Full-Length (maximum grant $15,000); one category per year
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1
- You must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status and, if requested, be able to provide verification documentation. (Grant recipients must have a Social Insurance Number.)
- You must be a current resident of the City of Toronto who has lived in the City for at least one year prior to making this application. Note: A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet the residency requirement.
- You must be a professional artist who has maintained an independent practice for at least one year. TAC defines a professional artist as someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice; is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic tradition; actively practices their art; seeks payment for their work; and has a history of public presentation.
- Undergraduate students are not eligible to apply. Professional artists who are pursuing graduate studies may not apply for work related to their degree.
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
- Collaborative proposals (involving a co-applicant) are eligible. For these proposals, one of the applicants must identify a principal applicant. Co-applicants are subject to the same eligibility criteria as single, individual applicant. If the application is successful, the grant payment will be payable to the principal applicant, as listed in the application. Similarly, a T4A slip will be issued to the principal applicant.
Can my band/ensemble apply?
Currently, this program accepts applications only from individual artists. If you are interested in applying as a band/ensemble, it is suggested that one member (preferably lead) submit an application on behalf of the group. Please note, if a grant is awarded, a direct deposit and T4A slip will be issued to the primary applicant.
Applicants may receive a maximum of one Discipline grant per calendar year. Applicants may not apply for more than one Discipline grant at a time. However, we offer other types of granting opportunities through our Strategic Category, and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please note: if you apply for a Music Creation and Audio Recording grant you cannot also apply to another TAC program for the same project.
TAC recognizes that due to systemic barriers within the broader arts community (e.g. limited mainstream presentation opportunities for artists from equity-seeking communities) that some flexibility may be required in interpreting eligibility criteria to take into account equivalent professional experience and contexts. Potential applicants from equity-seeking communities are encouraged to discuss their eligibility with the Program Manager in advance of submitting an application.
- The Project Start Date must be after you receive the notification of results (November 30).
- TAC does not fund retroactively. Projects that are completed before results are announced
are not eligible for funding.
- All projects must be completed within two years of the date that the Notification Letter was
issued.
About the funding
Toronto Arts Council’s Music Creation & Audio Recording program offers grants to practicing professional artists to assist them in the writing and production of their original music.
You may apply in one of the three following categories. Artists may only apply to one category per year. Categories may not be combined.
Creation (maximum grant $10,000)
For artists looking for funding to support the writing/composition phase of new work.
Show all funding details
Recording – Demo/EP (maximum grant $8,000) paying yourself (and additional contributors, as applicable) artist fees
For artists looking for support to create a short-form recording in a home-based or professional facility, provided that it is not your own.
Recording – Full-Length (maximum grant $15,000)
For artists looking to undertake the production of a full-length audio recording in one or more professional facilities that regularly charge a fee to a variety of artists to record and produce work.
Grants awarded in this category can assist with creating and composing original music, and other project costs (e.g., the cost of copying and preparing performing parts, etc.). Recording costs are eligible only if they are directly related to the writing process.
Grants for Demo/EP recordings can assist with artistic costs, production costs, mixing, editing, and mastering by professionals. You may pay yourself (and additional contributors, as applicable) artist fees to complete the project. You cannot expense studio fees if you are using your own studio. Packaging, design, and manufacturing costs (maximum 500 units) are eligible, only if the work is completed in professional facilities. You may also include web design and online media management costs to a maximum $500 if they are associated with the proposed recording project.
Grants for full-length audio recording can assist with producer costs and artist costs (yourself and additional contributors). This category also supports costs associated with recording, mixing, editing, mastering, packaging, design, and manufacturing costs (maximum 1,000 units), provided the work is completed in professional facilities. You may also include web design and online media management costs to a maximum $1000 if they are associated with the proposed recording project.
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artists in Communities and Schools Projects | Grant | Planning: maximum $7,500 | Open |
| Exhibition Assistance | Grant | Up to $2,000 | Open |
| Indigenous Artists in Communities and Schools Projects | Grant | Indigenous Artists in Communities: maximum $15,000 | Open |
