The Professional Project Grants Program (PPGP) is available to Individual Professional Artists, Collaborations of Individual Professional Artists, Professional Arts Groups, and Project-Based Professional Not-for-Profit Arts Organizations. This program supports the creation and/or presentation of works of art in the disciplines of adaptation, dance, film, music, multidisciplinary arts, theatre, visual arts, or writing. Grants support project costs related to creation, production, administration, travel, professional development, etc.
NEW: Project-Based Professional Not-for-Profit Arts Organizations, who do not meet the screening criteria for the Professional Operating Program, may be eligible to apply within the Professional Projects Grant Program. Please contact program staff to discuss eligibility.
Application Deadlines
There are two deadlines per year:
- March 15 for projects starting on/after May 15
- September 15 for projects starting on/after November 15
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 p.m. NT 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 p.m. on application deadlines.
Program Funding
$1,700,000 is awarded annually. $850,000 is available to be awarded across all arts disciplines in each grant session.
Successful applicants will be awarded a minimum of 75% of the funding requested.
Applicants will be awarded one grant through PPGP or Creation Grant Program in a 12-month period.
PPGP Grant Categories
New Professional Artist(s), Collaboration, or Group: Maximum request $6,000: An individual artist with less than three years of professional arts practice* post-education**, or a collaboration or group in which at least half of the members each have less than three years of professional arts practice post-education.
Established Professional Artist, Collaboration, or Group: Maximum request $15,000. An individual with more than three years’ professional arts practice post-education, or a collaboration or group, in which at least half the members each have more than three years’ professional arts practice, post-education.
Project-Based Professional Not-for-Profit Arts Organizations (not eligible for the Professional Operating Program): Maximum request $15,000.
*“Professional arts practice” includes activities in which an artist works on a creative artistic project, makes income from that activity, and/or the presentation of the results of that activity in the artistic discipline in which funds are being requested in an application.
**“Post-education” typically falls into two categories:
-
- For individuals who undertake formal post-secondary studies, it refers to when they have completed studies and/or is no longer a full-time student.
- For individuals who are self-taught, or work in an art practice that does not include formal training, it would refer to secondary school, or after the individual reaches the age of 18.
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 to discuss their application well before the application deadline.
- Only one application per artist (including those in a collaboration), group, or organization will be accepted per deadline. That application may include more than one project taking place within the next program year. A budget for each project and an overall application budget must be submitted.
- Applicants are expected to explore other sources of revenue. Applicants may not always be awarded the full amount requested.
- Complete PPGP applications must include:
- Project title
- Project summary (maximum 200 words)
- Project start and end dates
- Detailed project description (maximum 2,500 words)
- Detailed project budget
- Résumé/bio for all artists involved and/or each member of a collaboration or group. The résumé or bio must:
- confirm a current professional arts practice
- list dates to confirm the length of the professional arts practice
- state the province of residency for each individual artist and/or each member of the collaboration or group
- For Groups: (in addition to the above)
- Group history (maximum 750 words)
- Financial statement for the group’s last completed fiscal year that includes a listing of revenues, expenses, annual surplus or deficit, and accumulated surplus or deficit
- For Project-Based Professional Not-for-Profit Arts Organizations: (in addition to the above)
- Organizational history (maximum 750 words)
- 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
- List of current serving board members.
- CVs/resumes of key leadership positions in the organization.
- Groups or organizations whose financial statements show a surplus or deficit greater than 25% of the total expenses in the 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 applications, related to the project in an acceptable format for upload to ArtsNL’s online application system. Support material must be uploaded as part of the application by or before the PPGP application deadline date.
- Retroactive applications cannot be considered. The project, as described in the application, cannot start before funding has been verified by ArtsNL.
- Capital costs (purchase of lighting and sound equipment, computers, manufacturing, etc.) are not eligible for funding.
- Applicants will receive an email within three weeks of submission to confirm funding eligibility. Eligible applications are sent to peer assessors for review.
- Only individual professional artists can apply for living expenses. The maximum allowable living expense is $3,000 per month.
- ArtsNL funding will only support travel based on the most economical route possible (i.e., 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:
- Current provincial mileage rate is embedded in the application budget form
- Final reports on all past ArtsNL grants must be submitted before ArtsNL will release funding for a new project.
- 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 project 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.
Assessment
Applications are reviewed by discipline-specific peer assessment committees. At least one peer assessor may be from outside the province.
ArtsNL staff do not assess applications or vote on funding decisions. Applicants must agree to accept the result of the assessment process.
There is no appeal process.
Final Reports
Final reports on all ArtsNL-funded projects are typically required within three months of the project end date listed on the application. Applicants will not receive new funding until all outstanding final reports are submitted. A final report section is available on ArtsNL’s online system.
All applicants are encouraged to contact program staff to discuss their application well in advance of the application deadline.
Program Contact
For questions, or to arrange a meeting regarding an application, contact:
For Individual Professional Artists, Collaboration of Artists, or Groups
Ashley Lewis
Program Officer
Phone: (709) 726-2212 ext. 4
Toll-free in NL only: 1 (866) 726-2212 ext. 4
ashley@artsnl.ca
or
Laura Bruijns
Program Officer
Phone: (709) 726-2212 ext. 7
Toll-free in NL only: 1 (866) 726-2212 ext. 7
laura@artsnl.ca
For Arts Organizations
Katrina Rice
Senior Program Officer
Phone: (709) 726-2212 ext. 2
Toll-free in NL only: 1 (866) 726-2212 ext. 2
katrina@artsnl.ca
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can apply to the Professional Project Grant Program?
ArtsNL uses the definition of an artist as outlined in the Arts Council Act.
Definition of an artist:
A person shall be considered to be an artist where the person
(a) demonstrates an intention to develop the person’s arts practice for purposes other than personal enjoyment;
(b) is recognized as an artist by the person’s peers;
(c) demonstrates a history of
(i ) presenting the person’s artistic works publicly,
(ii) publishing the person’s artistic works, or
(iii) engaging in the person’s artistic practice in other public contexts; and
(d) has specialized training in the person’s artistic field.
Definition of a professional arts group:
A group of 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 its primary activity
- that is composed of at least two individuals
- that has all members meeting the definition of an artist under the Arts Council Act
- that charges artist fees at established national standards for the artistic discipline(s) and practice in which it operates
- that pays individual members artist fees at established national standards for the artistic discipline(s) and practice in which it operates
- that has internal oversight of the group’s finances and can produce an annual financial statement
Residency, age and activity requirements:
Artist:
- Must be a current resident of Newfoundland and Labrador for a minimum of twelve consecutive months at the time of application
- Must be at least 18 years of age or hold post-secondary standing
Professional arts group:
- 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 professional arts activities within the last year
- Must have at least half its members who are at least 18 years of age, or have post-secondary standing
How are applications assessed?
Applications are reviewed by discipline-specific peer assessment committees typically consisting of three artists. At least one peer assessor may be from outside the province. ArtsNL staff do not assess applications or 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.