Tips & Tricks for Writing a Grant Application

Posted by: Unison

New to funding? Or just looking for some tips to spruce up your application… We’ve got a check list of how you can put your best foot forward when preparing your application to either a Canadian national or provincial funding organization. Below we’ve also included a list of funding sources, with some upcoming deadlines.

TIPS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU PREPARE YOUR FUNDING APPLICATION

Give yourself time to prepare your application at minimum 4-6 weeks out from a deadline
Make a realistic plan and consider at least a year out
Plan to submit your application before any activity starts
Call the program administrator for the program you want to apply to and review your check list, with what is mandatory to accompany your submission
Create a list of who you are working with, who do you want to work with and how you’re going to pursue a career and/or maintain a career
Set your recording/project start date and write down a list of each track you intend to record, with who, when and how you will distribute it
Make your goals clear, concise and realistic/ obtainable
Set your goals and expected results based on your plan
Prepare a detailed marketing/business plan – here’s some suggestions how to do this
Create a budget for who you want to work with and what it will cost for production and marketing/promotion, advertising plans
Organize your lyric sheets to support each track you intend to record and include all writers and publishing information
Choose 2 songs to showcase your work for assessment
Gather letters of support to use for reference purposes – when applicable
Get your work proof read by someone to make sure your submission is focused and organized.

HERE’S A LIST OF MUSIC FOCUSED PROGRAMS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY,

FACTOR

ARTIST DEVELOPMENT

This program offers a $2,000 subsidy toward a year of artist development activities such as recording, touring & showcasing, video production, and marketing. Next Deadline: October 15, 2020

JURIED SOUND RECORDING

The JSR program contributes toward the cost of acquiring, producing and marketing a full length album. Submissions are assessed by an independent jury of industry professionals.

Next Deadline: October 29, 2020 at 5:00pm ET.

Components for this Program:

MARKETING AND PROMOTION FOR NON-FACTOR-FUNDED SOUND RECORDINGS

This program supports the marketing of commercially released full-length sound recordings that were not acquired or produced with FACTOR funding. The sound recording must have been commercially released and achieved a qualifying sales threshold or had a track charting on commercial radio.

Artists may apply on their own behalf if they retain the exploitation rights to the sound recording. If a record label controls the exploitation rights to the sound recording, the record label must apply. Artist applicants must have an approved applicant profile. Record labels including MEC-supported companies must have a reviewed and rated applicant profile.

This program has rolling deadlines. You can apply as soon as the qualifying sales threshold or radio chart position has been achieved, but no later than 12 months after commercial release.

COMPREHENSIVE ARTIST

The Comprehensive Artist program contributes toward the cost of acquiring, producing and marketing a full-length album.

Artists may apply for this program on their own behalf if they are unsigned. Such artists must have an approved applicant profile as well as an artist profile with an Artist 3 rating. Canadian record labels of all ratings, including MEC-supported companies may apply, provided the Artist is rated 3. Record labels including MEC-supported companies must have a reviewed and rated applicant profile. Recipients of Envelope Funding may apply provided that the artist is rated 3.

Artists are ineligible (regardless of artist rating) if they have ever had: a Platinum Album Certification in Canada; and/or worldwide sales of any one album of 100,000 units or more; and/or worldwide sales of all album releases equalling 200,000 units or more.

Application can be submitted any time; project expenses will be eligible from date of Application. May apply for Component funding up to 24 months after first Application.

SUPPORT FOR ELIGIBLE MUSIC COMPANIES

The Support for Eligible Music Companies Program provides funding for business development initiatives that support the marketing and promotion of the company and its services, domestic and international travel to support the company’s development objectives, as well as funding to music publishers to support songwriting initiatives. This program consists of three components, Business Development, Business Travel, and Songwriter Support for Music Publishers.

Next Deadline: Round 2 – October 22nd, 2020

SOCAN FOUNDATION

The SOCAN Foundation is dedicated to fostering musical creativity and promoting a better understanding of the role of music creators in today’s society. The Foundation is an independent organization guided by its own board of directors, which consists of composers, songwriters and music publishers. Both programs have on-going deadlines.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

Grants are provided to SOCAN composers, writers, and music publishers across all genres of music, for upgrading their skills and knowledge or acquiring new skills and knowledge to advance their careers.

WORK COMMISSIONING ASSISTANCE

Grants are provided to assist individuals, corporations, performers, ensembles, and presents in the commissioning of SOCAN members to create new works in all genres of music. The overall intent of this program is to reach beyond local, regional, provincial and federal arts council funding bodies, and encourage other members of our society (individual, organizations or companies) to commission new musical works.

Visit The SOCAN Foundation for more information, deadlines, and application forms.

RADIO STARMAKER FUND

The Radio Starmaker Fund supports emerging artists with star potential from every region of Canada. The aim is to allocate funding in such a way that it has a direct impact on artists and supports their marketing and touring initiatives both in Canada and abroad in a way that will make a difference. The Fund supports a variety of marketing and promotional initiatives related to eligible Canadian music recordings, including radio advertising, that are key to developing the star status of Canadian artists.

Next Deadlines: November 12, 2020, February 4, 2021 & May 20, 2021. Artists must meet eligibility requirements including sales minimums. Visit Radio Starmaker Fund for more information, deadlines, and application forms.

CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS

The Canada Council for the Arts provides support for the development of individuals, groups, small ensembles, orchestras and other professionals working in the Canadian music community. The Music Section funds a variety of related activities such as residencies and the commissioning of Canadian compositions.

EXPLORE AND CREATE

This program funds Canadian artists, artistic groups and organizations committed to the creation and dissemination of innovative, vibrant and diverse art.

This program advances Canadian artistic practices by encouraging artists to investigate creative processes and take risks that lead to the development of unique works destined to connect with the public. Explore and Create supports the research, development, creation and production of work, as well as professional development for artists.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ARTISTS COMPONENT

Next Deadlines: October 21st, 2020 / February 3rd, 2021

RESEARCH AND CREATION COMPONENT

Next Deadline: October 7th, 2020

CONCEPT TO REALIZATION – PROJECT COMPONENT

Next Deadline: October 7th, 2020

SUPPORTING ARTISTIC PRACTICE

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ARTS PROFESSIONALS COMPONENT

Next Deadlines: October 14th, 2020 / February 3rd, 2021

For more programs and deadlines, please visit Canada Councils website.

THE MVP PROJECT

This program support comes from the RBC Foundation, was established to promote the intersection of emerging Canadian Recording Artists and Filmmakers through Music Video Production Grants valued between $5,000 and $15,000. The Music Video Production Project, a joint RBCxMusic & Prism Prize initiative, is committed to supporting emerging artists. The MVP Project is administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Next Deadline: Applications open October 1st, 2020 @ 9AM EST and close November 1st, 2020 @ 5PM EST

PROVINCIAL FUNDING INCLUDES,

CREATIVE BC – AMPLIFY BC