Music Production and Presentation Projects
This program supports the development and presentation of all genres of live and virtual music by Ontario-based professional musicians, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations. The program has six categories:
Offered by Ontario Arts Council (OAC)
Amount
Up to $20,000
Individual professional musicians and programmers – maximum $20,000; professional ad hoc music groups, collectives and music organizations – maximum $20,000; semi-professional, community and choral training organizations – maximum $5,000; Northern semi-professional and community orchestras – maximum $20,000; other semi-professional and community orchestras – maximum $15,000
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
- Individuals: Professional musicians and music programmers, including composers, songwriters, and curators, who are Ontario residents. An individual may choose to apply on behalf of a group. A personal Nova profile must be used to start and submit an application. In this case, if awarded, a cheque would be made out in the name of the individual and they would take full responsibility for all aspects of the grant.
- Ad hoc groups and collectives: Bands, ensembles, orchestras, opera companies, choirs, other music producers, presenters and festivals. These must operate on a not-for-profit basis (i.e. administrative, production costs and artistic leadership fees are covered with remaining proceeds going to the artists involved in the activity). Most members must be professional musicians, except in the case of professionally-led community orchestras, community choirs, and choral training groups. All must be comprised of a minimum of two professional musicians, songwriters, composers, music programmers/curators, or arts administrators. In the case of community orchestras, community choirs and choral training groups, the professional artistic leadership must be one of the collective members. The other members may include professional artists and/or professional or volunteer administration (i.e. not the non-professional choristers).
- Note: A collective must be able to deposit a cheque issued in the name of the group, as opposed to the name of an individual artist or other entity.
- Incorporated not-for-profit organizations: Professionally-led music presenters and producers of concerts, series and festivals, including opera companies, orchestras, bands, ensembles and choirs who have a head office in Ontario. Non-music arts organizations may request support for music presenting activity provided that one or more persons must take a music curatorial leadership role. An artistic director or leader may volunteer services or receive an honorarium or contracted salary. For organizations where the primary activity is self-presentation, most members must be professional musicians, with the exception of community orchestras, community choirs, and choral training groups.
Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for more eligibility information.
Project requirements
:
- Projects must pay fees to professional musicians.
- Projects must have a range of revenue sources with the exception of rehearsal and repertoire development, and second-stage opera workshops.
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: All public presentation(s) (live and virtual) must occur after grant notification (four and a half months after the deadline).
Not eligible:
Ineligible applicants
colleges, universities, schools and municipalities
religious institutions
record companies/labels, managers, agents and lawyers
organizations that receive an OAC operating grant through one of the following programs
Music Organizations: Operating
Ontario Arts Operating Fund (Music Organizations category
organizations that receive another OAC operating grant, except organizations mandated to serve one or more OAC priority groups
volunteer-run series or festivals not organized by professional artists, music curators or artistic leadership (see the Ontario Arts Presenters Projects program
youth orchestras
About the funding
- Individual professional musicians and programmers – maximum $20,000
- Professional ad hoc music groups, collectives and music organizations – maximum $20,000
- Semi-professional, community and choral training organizations – maximum $5,000
- Northern semi-professional and community orchestras – maximum $20,000
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- Other semi-professional and community orchestras – maximum $15,000
Note: Northern semi-professional and community orchestras are those based in the Far North, Northwest, and Northeast regions of the province, including the Manitoulin, Parry Sound and Nipissing districts and all regions north of these.
Important
:
- Grant requests should be in proportion to the scope of the project.
- Due to the number of applications received and the limited funds available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested.
- All public presentation(s) must occur after grant notification (four and a half months after deadline date).
- rehearsal and repertoire development and live and virtual music where the applicant is responsible for production and presentation costs, including artist fees, venue rental, the virtual platform, and ticket sales.
- Co-productions are also eligible (See Music Definitions)
Eligible activities
:
- rehearsal and repertoire development
- intended for future public performances; this may include new repertoire, set-list, concert program, stage or virtual show or first-stage opera workshop, as well as preparation for an upcoming tour
- rehearsals can also be in preparation for a recording, but there should also be live and/or virtual opportunities for performance planned
- first-stage opera workshop: the initial exploration of a new work in development, with minimal staging, movement, and props. At least a draft of an entire act of the new opera must be complete before the deadline date. Public presentation at the end of the first stage workshop is not required
- second-stage opera workshop: A comprehensive examination and intensive rehearsal of a new opera project that is in an advanced stage of development, moving toward production. Staging, costumes and props are usually employed, and the objective is to identify additional rewriting required before full production. Some form of invited or public presentation is required
- single performance/concert: presentation or production of a single music concert or performance for which professional musicians are paid
- concert series – presentation or production of a minimum of two concerts or performances in a season that takes place over an extended time period
- music festival – presentation of music concerts or performances that takes place in a concentrated time period
- opera production (see Music Definitions)
In the case of projects proposed by non-music-mandated organizations, a distinctive curated artistic vision must be reflected in programming with a music series or festival as its primary purpose.
Eligible expenses
:
- artistic fees
- Note: For community orchestras, community choirs, and choral training groups, only professional artistic costs are eligible for support (for example, conductor, accompanist, section lead and royalty fees). For these applicants, no other costs listed below other than professional artistic costs are eligible to be covered by this grant.
- production costs
- venue and equipment rental
- purchase of small-scale equipment, software, electronics and similar materials required to carry out the project (maximum $500)
- marketing, publicity, promotion and administrative costs
- audio/visual recording costs directly associated with virtual presentations that are part of the proposed project
- modest audio/visual recording costs for documenting activity when a live presentation is the proposed project activity (i.e. archival recording).
- 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.
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