The Community Arts Program (CAP) is available to community-based not-for-profit arts organizations and community-based arts groups. This program supports the costs of community-based arts activities including: arts workshops, presentations, productions, new creations, adjudicator fees, artist fees, and travel costs. This program is open to all artistic disciplines served by ArtsNL (dance, film, multidiscipline, music, theatre, visual arts, writing)
Application Deadline:
September 30 for projects starting on/after December 1.
If an application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be moved to the next business day. Completed 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:
$100,000 is available to be awarded annually. The maximum grant request is $5,000, and the minimum grant to be awarded is $1,000, or the total amount requested by the applicant if less than $1,000.
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 YouTube 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 groups or organizations can apply to the Community Arts Program?
Definition of a community-based arts group:
A group of individual artists who work in one or more of the artistic disciplines supported by ArtsNL:
- that has the creation and/or presentation of works of art as a primary activity,
- that is composed of at least two individuals,
- that operates in a not-for-profit capacity,
- that operates as a community-based organization (i.e. run by volunteers and typically does not pay a professional administrator or artistic director)
- that has internal oversight of the group’s finances and can produce an annual financial statement.
Definition of a community-based 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 a 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 operates as a community-based organization (i.e. run by volunteers and typically does not pay a professional administrator or artistic director)
- that has internal or external oversight of the organization’s finances and produces an annual financial statement.
Residency, age, and activity requirements:
Community-based arts groups and not-for-profit arts organizations:
- Must have been active in Newfoundland and Labrador for a minimum of one year at the time of submitting an application.
- Must have actively engaged in community-based arts activities within the last year.
- Must have at least half its members (for groups) or board members (for organizations) residing in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Must have at least half its members (for groups) or board members (for organizations) who are 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 or late application submissions will not be accepted.
- 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.
- Only one application per group or organization will be accepted per application deadline.
- Applicants are expected to explore other sources of revenue. Applicants may not always be awarded the full amount requested.
- Complete CAP applications must include:
i. Project title.
ii. Brief summary of the project (maximum 400 words).
iii. Project start and end dates.
iv. Organizational history (maximum 1,000 words).
v. Detailed project description (maximum 5,000 words).
vi. Detailed project budget.
vii. Résumés/ bios for key individual(s) doing administration and/or production work for the project.
viii. Résumés/bios for key artists involved in the project.
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. These should relate to the project for which you are seeking funding. Support material must be uploaded with your application by the CAP 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.
- Applicants will receive confirmation of receipt of a new application by email within two weeks of the application deadline.
- 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 project.