Music Creation Projects
The program supports Ontario-based professional artists in creating original musical works. This program supports music creators at all career stages, working in all music genres/styles. The program has two categories:
Offered by Ontario Arts Council (OAC)
Amount
Self-directed creation: maximum $4,000; Commissioning: maximum $20,000 (grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested)
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
- Individuals: professional composers, songwriters and music creators, who are Ontario residents
Note:
- Eligible songwriters must be creating music and words, or the music in partnership with a lyricist or poet. They cannot write only the song texts.
- Others may be involved in the creative process. This could include commissioners where applicable, musicians, band members, lyricists, etc.)
For applicants applying for music commissions only:
- Composers are the applicant and commissioners of the new music are required participants.
- Commissioners can be professional individual artists (music performers, choreographers) music groups, not-for-profit arts organization or dance company. Commissioners not entirely comprised of professional musicians, such as community orchestras or choirs, are also possible.
- Commissioners where music performance is not a primary activity, (e.g. an art gallery), are eligible. However, commissioners must describe their music programming curation and the context in which the new work will be presented to the public.
- Projects with commissioners located outside Ontario are eligible. The world première may occur elsewhere, but any plans for the first Ontario performance must be provided.
- Commissions suitable for young performers are eligible if the impact on learners or its potential for future use by the music education community can be demonstrated.
Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for more eligibility information.
Activity timing
The activities for which you are requesting funding:
- cannot start before the deadline
- cannot finish before you receive your grant results
- must be completed no more than two years after you receive the grant results
Note: For self-directed creation, your project may have started before the program deadline date. However, expenses incurred before the deadline date are ineligible and will not be covered by this grant. For commissioning, composer and librettists/lyricists fees may include activity that occurred before the deadline. The world première/performance, public releases of recordings and/or publishing of new songs/compositions cannot be earlier than four and a half months after the deadline.
About the funding
- Self-directed creation: maximum $4,000
- Commissioning: maximum $20,000
Important
: Due to the number of applications received and the limited funds available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested. Grant request amounts should be in proportion to the proposed activity. Only large-scale projects (e.g. compositions for opera) are likely to be awarded grants close to the maximum amount in the Commissioning category.
Show all funding details
- Composition/creation of new original work. This may also include:
- creation of a companion piece or additional movements, intended to accompany an earlier composition
- completion of a larger-scale work under development (for example, an opera)
- music incorporating other media or art forms.
Eligible activities:
- Self-directed creation:
- composition of original lyrics and/or music, including time to create a body of work
- mentor consultation, collaborations with other artists and research
- creation of electronic music, where the process involves sampling and manipulation of recorded materials
- Commissioning:
- projects where a composer is contracted by an ensemble, arts organization, music education organization or an individual artist wishing to commission and première a new work. For commissioning projects, please note the following additional information:
- in the case of opera, a commitment to production development or workshops must be specified, even if the exact plans for a world première production are not known
- composer and librettists/lyricists fees may include activity that occurred before the deadline. For information on commissioning rates, please see Canadian League of Composers official fee schedule
Eligible expenses:
- artist fees (for example, composer/songwriter/creator, co-creator, librettist/lyricist, mentor)
- score/sheet music copy costs or the self-generation of parts (for example, individual parts for each instrument) for one master set (not reproductions for each player or publishing copies for resale/rental)
- space and equipment rental for the purpose of the creation process
- purchase of small-scale equipment, software, electronics and similar materials required to carry out the project (suggested maximum $500)
- modest recording costs are only eligible when documenting new creation or process (i.e. archival recording)
- for electronic music (i.e. electro-acoustic, beat production, sound art), or where your project is exploratory in nature or you are creating beats/soundscapes with the potential to be used for future works by other artists (i.e. not a finished work/recording), higher recording costs are eligible
- higher recording costs are also eligible for commissions for dance/new choreography where creation of an electronic soundtrack is necessary for use by the commissioner
- childcare and other dependant care fees enabling individuals to take part in the project (this does not include regular, ongoing expenses)
- expenses related to making the project accessible to audience members and project participants (other than the applicant) who are Deaf or have a disability
- Note: Applicants to this program who identify as Deaf or as having a disability may apply for supplementary funds for their own accessibility expenses through Accessibility Fund: Project Support.
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Literary Creation Projects (Works for Performance) | Grant | Creation of literary works for performance: $5,000 | Open |
| Music Recording Projects | Grant | Demo/EP recordings: maximum $4,000 | Open |
| Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators | Grant | Up to $3,000 | Open |
