The Annual Operating Program for Professional Arts Organizations (AOPPAO) is available to professional not-for-profit arts organizations. This program supports costs involved in operating the organization and creating, presenting, or producing artistic works including artist and technician fees, venue rentals, administration cost, and travel expenses. This program is open to all artistic disciplines served by ArtsNL dance, film, multidiscipline arts, music, theatre, visual arts, and writing.
New applicants are encouraged to book a meeting with program staff (by telephone, video conference, or in person) to discuss their application well before the application deadline.
Application Deadline:
February 15 annually for a season or event(s) starting on or after April 15.
If an application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be moved to the next business day.
Applications MUST be submitted through the ArtsNL online application system by 11:59 pm on the application deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Note that technical support from ArtsNL will be available ONLY until 4:30 pm on application deadlines.
Program Funding:
$300,000 is available to be awarded annually. The maximum grant request is $15,000, and the minimum grant to be awarded is $5,000, or the total amount requested by the applicant if less than $5,000.
How to Apply:
All applicants must register on the ArtsNL Online Application System before they can complete an online application form. The registration must be reviewed by ArtsNL staff to confirm eligibility for ArtsNL funding. Registrants will be notified via email when their registration is approved. This process typically takes up to two business days to complete. ArtsNL staff may request additional documentation or information from a registrant to confirm eligibility. If documentation has been requested, the registrant will not be approved until the requested documentation has been submitted and reviewed by ArtsNL staff.
All applications for ArtsNL funding must be submitted through the ArtsNL Online Application System. Paper applications will no longer be accepted. Applicants who may need support using the Online Application System are encouraged to contact ArtsNL staff well before an application deadline to allow time to familiarize them with the online system, or to arrange accessibility support. Video tutorials giving an overview of the online system, and how to complete an application for each program are available on the ArtsNL You Tube channel.
Program Contact:
For questions, or to arrange a meeting regarding an application, contact:
Ashley Lewis
Program Officer
Phone: (709) 726-2212 ext. 4
Toll free in NL only: 1 (866) 726-2212 ext. 4
ashley@artsnl.ca
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What organizations can apply to the Annual Operating Program?
Definition of a professional not-for-profit arts organization: A formal organization operating in one or more of the artistic disciplines supported by ArtsNL
- that has the creation and/or presentation of works of art as its primary activity,
- that is registered, or operates as a non-profit arts entity,
- that has a board of directors overseeing the operations of the organization,
- that has a paid artistic director, general manager, or equivalent,
- that pays artist fees at established national standards for the artistic discipline(s)and practice in which it operates,
- that has internal or external oversight of the organization’s finances and produces an annual financial statement.
Residency, age, and activity requirements:
Professional not-for-profit arts organizations:
- Must have been active in Newfoundland and Labrador for a minimum of one year.
- Must have actively engaged in professional arts activities within the last year.
- Must have board members residing in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Must have at least half its board members and artists hired be at least 18 years of age or have post-secondary standing.
How are applications assessed?
Applications are assessed by a multidisciplinary peer assessment committee, typically consisting of five to seven members. At least one peer assessor will be from outside the province. Decisions are reviewed and ratified by Council. Government members of Council and ArtsNL staff do not vote on funding decisions.
Can I apply if I owe a final report on a past grant?
A final report on all grants awarded by ArtsNL is typically required within three months of the project end date listed on the application form. A final report form is available on ArtsNL’s online application system.
When applying for new funding from ArtsNL, an applicant is permitted to have one final report owing across all ArtsNL programs. In this instance, a final report is considered owing on any past grant awarded by ArtsNL that is past the end date listed on the application or extended on approval of ArtsNL staff before the current application deadline. Applicants owing more than one final report across all ArtsNL programs will not be permitted to apply for further funding from ArtsNL.
Grant Criteria
Program Guidelines:
- Applications must be submitted using ArtsNL’s online application system. Paper copies cannot be submitted.
- Incomplete application submissions will not be accepted.
- Applicants are encouraged to book a meeting (by telephone, video conference, or in person) with program staff to discuss their application well before the application deadline.
- Only one application per organization will be accepted per annual deadline.
- Applicants are expected to explore other sources of revenue. Applicants may not always be awarded the full amount requested.
Complete AOPPAO applications must include:
i. Title of the upcoming season/events.
ii. Brief summary of the upcoming season/events (maximum 400 words).
iii. Season/events start and end dates.
iv. Organizational history (maximum 1,000 words).
v. Detailed description of the season/events for the coming year (max. 5,000 words).
vi. List of the organization’s current board members, including province of residency for each individual.
vii. Detailed annual budget.
viii. Résumés/bios of key participants in the upcoming season/events confirming their professional arts practice.
ix. Financial statement for the organization’s last completed fiscal year that includes a listing of revenues, expenses, annual surplus or deficit, and accumulated surplus or deficit.
- Applicants whose financial statement shows an accumulated surplus or deficit of greater than 25% of the organization’s total expenses in its last fiscal year must submit a deficit or surplus reduction plan to be approved by ArtsNL staff.
- Applicants are encouraged to include support materials with their application. Support material must be uploaded with your application by or before the AOPPAO deadline date.
- Retroactive applications cannot be considered. The project, as described in your application, cannot start before you have been notified it has been funded by ArtsNL.
- Capital costs (e.g., lighting and sound equipment; computers; buildings) are not eligible for funding.
- Staff in producer/general manager/artistic director roles must be paid a minimum fee of at least $20 per hour of work.
- Applicants will receive an email within three weeks of the submission of an application to confirm if the application is eligible for funding and will be sent to peer assessors for review.
- ArtsNL funding will only support travel based on the most economical route possible (i.e., the cheaper overall travel cost for driving versus flying).
Fees and travel costs can only be considered for individuals who are 18 years of age or older. - ArtsNL travel rates:
i. Current provincial mileage rate is embedded in the application budget form.
ii. Per diem for travel within Newfoundland and Labrador: Maximum $49/day ($9.80 breakfast; $14.70 lunch; $24.50 dinner)
iii. Per diem for travel outside Newfoundland and Labrador: Maximum $55/day ($11.00 breakfast; $16.50 lunch; $27.50 dinner)
- Final reports on all past ArtsNL grants must be submitted before ArtsNL will release funding for a new grant.
- Organizations seeking to move to the Sustaining Program for Professional Arts Organizations (SPPAO) may apply to both the SPPAO and AOPPAO in year one of the SPPAO funding cycle, but if successful in the SPPAO, the AOPPAO application will be pulled.