Ontario Arts Council – Music – Research at FIMS, Law and Music

Description: The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) supports artists and organizations working in a variety of styles and genres of music. Through its programs and services, the OAC welcomes all forms of artistic expression and practice.

NOTE: In general, you will be unable to apply in your capacity at Western University. You will apply as an individual (or from another eligible organization) and depending on the grant it may count as income for personal income tax purposes. Check with OAC’s Program officer prior to completing your application to ensure you are eligible.

The following funding is available through the music program:
Choirs & Singing Groups offers project grants toward the professional artistic and production costs for rehearsal and repertoire development, and self-presented concert series or individual concerts.

Choral Organizations provides operating grants to not-for-profit professionally lead choral organizations that have presented at least two years of regular programming.

Classical Music Recording offers project grants toward audio recording projects undertaken by professional musicians, ensembles and organizations. Eligible, styles include solo instrument, chamber, choral and orchestral music, electro acoustic and non-Western classical forms, and more.

Music Commissioning offers project grants toward composers and/or librettists in creating new works commissioned by an individual or organization. Works can be in classical contemporary musical genres or non-European classical forms.

Opera provides operating grants to professional and semi-professional not-for-profit opera companies that have achieved at least two years of sustained programming.

Opera Projects offers project grants toward a wide range of opera development and production activity, from fully staged productions to new work development. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit music and theatre organizations as well as artist collectives.

Orchestras provides operating grants to not-for-profit professional and semi-professional orchestras who have completed at least two full seasons when they apply.

Orchestras Projects offers project grants directed toward the artistic costs of professional, semi-professional and community orchestras who do not receive operating support.

Popular Music offers project grants toward creation and recording projects in genres such as folk, roots, country, hip hop, soul, R&B, jazz, blues, rock and pop music, as well as traditional and contemporary Aboriginal music and music stemming from Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia. This is not an exhaustive list.
– Category 1 Grants provide support to individuals, bands and collectives who are creating new songs intended for publication, performance or recording, or who want to produce a project, demo or home recording of new songs. No budget is required with your application.
– Category 2 Grants support individuals, bands and collectives who are creating new professional full-length audio recordings. Grants can cover costs of producing, recording, mixing, editing, mastering, designing, packaging and manufacturing up to 1,000 units.

Presenter/Producer provides operating grants to not-for-profit music organizations presenting and/or producing live music of any type in a festival and/or series format.

Presenter/Producer Projects offers project grants rehearsal and repertoire development as well as the presentation and /or production of single concerts, series and festivals by not-for-profit organizations or artist collectives, ensembles or bands.

Amount:
1. Choirs & Singing Groups: Grant of up to $5,000, $2,000 to $4,000 is the general range of grants awarded in the past. Due to the number of applications received and the limited funds that are available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested.
2. Choral Organizations, Opera, Orchestras, Presenter/Producer: Requests can be for under or over $30,000.
3. Classical Music Recording: $10,000 is the maximum grant available, $3,000 to $6,000 is the general range of grants. Due to the number of applications received and the limited funds that are available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested. OAC does not anticipate the grant will cover the full costs of the recording, and assumes that the applicant will have other sources of revenue that it will outline on the budget form. Approximately 1 in 4 of the projects is funded at each jury assessment.
4. Music Commissioning: Total fees for composer/librettist are negotiable between the creator(s) and the commissioner. However, the OAC will pay commission fees to the composer to the maximum of the Fee Schedule that follows and to the set maximum grant request allowed, whichever is less.
Composer:
– $13,000 maximum for chamber music up to 15 performers and choral works (unaccompanied or with instruments up to 15 players)
– $16,000 maximum for works for orchestra over 15 parts (with or without soloists/chorus)
– $22,000 maximum for opera/music theatre works
– $10,000 maximum for music for choreography
-$10,000 maximum for electro-acoustic works
Librettist:
– $5,000 maximum request
Maximums listed above do not include any awarded music copying/reproduction and/or electronic studio costs.
5. Opera projects:
– Category 1: For fully staged production and concert performance projects: $20,000 is the maximum grant request for staged opera productions $10,000 is the maximum grant request for concert performances of opera
– Category 2: For new work development workshop projects: $5,000 is the maximum grant request for a first-stage workshop $10,000 is the maximum grant request for a second-stage workshop
Due to the number of applications received and the limited funds that are available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested.
6. Popular Music:
– CATEGORY 1: up to $4,000
– CATEGORY 2: up to $10,000
Due to the number of applications received and the limited funds that are available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested. Approximately 1 out of every 8 projects is funded at each jury assessment.

Eligibility:

Through its programs and services, the OAC supports artists, organizations and communities across Ontario.

1. Choirs & Singing Groups, Opera Projects, Presenter/Producer Projects: To apply, an applicant must be either an:
– Incorporated not-for-profit organization located in Ontario
– Ad hoc group, collective or unincorporated organization, submitting a not-for-profit project. Most of the group members must be professional artists or arts professionals, with at least 50% of the members located in Ontario.
If one’s organization receives OAC operating funding, please check operating guidelines to see if the organization qualifies for project funding.
a. Choirs & Singing Groups: This program is open to choral organizations and singing groups or collectives with a minimum of 4 members in a variety of vocal genres (e.g. singing circle, Aboriginal vocal drum group, a cappella ensemble, vocal jazz ensemble, etc.).
b. Opera Projects: Applicants to this program must have a budget with annual expenses of $200,000 or more. For first-time applicants to this program, this means that the organization must have at least $200,000 in total revenues for the last completed year, and in projected revenues for the current and request years.

2. Choral Organizations, Opera, Orchestras, Presenter/Producer: To be eligible for this program, arts education organizations must:
a. be an Ontario not-for-profit corporation; OR
b. be a federal not-for-profit corporation with the head office in Ontario;
c. be led by professional personnel;
d. have completed at least two years of sustained, regular, ongoing programming in its community as of the application date (an organization that does not meet this requirement may instead apply for project funding);
e. have a range of revenue sources such as private and government;
f. be governed by a board of directors or an advisory body solely responsible for the organization;
g. have community support and involvement demonstrated through one or more of the following: membership, fundraising and volunteer involvement; have proof of sound financial management;
h. submit verification of financial results of the last completed fiscal year with their application.
– Choral organizations: Applicants to this program must have a budget with annual expenses of $100,000 or more, and hire professional administration (full-time, part-time or contract assistance). For first-time applicants to this program, this means that the organization must have at least $100,000 in total revenues for the last completed year, and in projected revenues for the current and request years.

3. Classical Music Recording: This program is open to professional musicians, ensembles and music organizations.

4. Music Commissioning: Applications must be submitted jointly by the commissioner and the composer. This program is open to:
– Commissioners, including musical performing ensembles, organizations or performing artists wishing to commission and premiere a new work by an Ontario composer;
– Composers and/or librettists who are professional artists and residents of Ontario, collaborating with an eligible commissioner in order to request support for the creation of a new work.

5. Popular Music: This program is open to Ontario-based music originators seeking assistance for projects taking place in Ontario.

Deadlines:

Music
Choirs & Singing Groups	February 17, 2016
Choral Organizations	February 17, 2016
Classical Music Recording	October 4, 2016
Music Commissioning	October 4, 2016
Opera	February 2, 2016
Opera Projects	February 2, 2016
Orchestras	March 15, 2016
Orchestras Projects	March 15, 2016
Popular Music	December 6, 2016 (new deadline date)
	June 15, 2016
Presenter/Producer	April 1, 2016
	November 1, 2016
Presenter/Producer Projects	April 1, 2016
	November 1, 2016