How Applications are Selected for Funding
Criteria for Assessing Grant Applications
In the review and assessment of applications, the Ontario Arts Council places high priority on artistic quality. Juries and advisors evaluating organizational applicants also take into account organizational and financial effectiveness, as well as the regional and artistic environments in which the applicant operates.
More information about assessment criteria can be found in the application material for the particular program to which you are applying.
Peer Assessment Principles and Procedures
To determine who receives grants, OAC solicits the opinions of working artists, arts professionals and community representatives to evaluate funding requests and make decisions and/or recommendations to OAC on who gets grants and in what amounts. Peer assessment ensures that the arts community has a voice in how funds are distributed, and that applications are evaluated by artists and other experts with knowledge and experience of the specific art forms, art practices and communities involved.
Assessment by Jury
This method is used for the majority of grants to individuals and for some grants to organizations. The officer responsible for the program selects a number of individuals to form a jury. The jury members meet together to evaluate applications in a competition and make the final decisions.
Assessment by Advisors
This method is used for the majority of grants to organizations. The officer responsible for the program selects a number of individuals to advise on applications. These advisors are consulted either individually or in a group (an advisory panel). If the grant is $30,000 or less, the program officer takes the recommendations to the executive director for approval. Grants over $30,000 are approved by the OAC board of directors.
Assessment by Third Party Recommender
Through a selection process, a partnering organization in the community is chosen to act on OAC's behalf and make recommendations for funding. Recommenders receive applications directly from artists and forward grant recommendations to the officer for subsequent authorization by the Executive Director.
How Jurors, Advisors and Recommenders are Chosen
OAC encourages the arts community to provide names of individuals who may be used as jurors, advisors or recommenders (assessors). Recommendations can be submitted with applications (a form is provided with application material) or sent to OAC at any time. OAC granting staff keep a database of names of artists and representatives from organizations who may be appropriate assessors. Artists from all cultural and geographical communities are encouraged to submit names, including their own.
Jurors and advisors are chosen for their experience and knowledge of relevant art forms, art practices, arts organizations and related issues. They may also be chosen for their knowledge of the cultural needs of a particular region or community. Juries and panels change with each granting cycle. Generally, the same juror or panelist is not used twice for the same program. Decisions on the selection of a recommender for a particular program are made either by jury or on the advice of the arts community.
Conflict of Interest
OAC strives to make the assessment process as objective and impartial as possible through conflict of interest policies for assessors. In advance of assessment meetings, assessors must read and complete a disclosure statement which brings forward any potential conflict of interest. Assessors cannot participate in deliberations about applications in which they have interests. OAC's systems are in place to ensure that applications are reviewed fairly and equitably, within the context of the relevant program's eligibility requirements and OAC's basic criteria for the awarding of grants. If you would like further information about OAC's conflict of interest guidelines for jurors, assessors and recommenders, contact the program assistant for the program to which you are applying.