Artists in Communities and Schools Projects

Purpose

The program supports the research, development and realization of community-engaged arts projects. Activities involve professional Ontario artists and community members working together to develop and design a creative experience. These experiences may include co-creation. Skill building is a core component of projects. There are three categories:

• Planning: to help cover the costs of co-planning and co-design of the project between artists and communities
• Project: to help cover the costs of realizing a community-engaged arts project
• Two-year project: to help cover the costs of continuous multi-phased community-engaged arts project for two years. This category is available to community-engaged arts collectives and organizations that have received two or more OAC project grants through Community-Engaged Arts or Arts Education grant programs within the last five years.

The program is committed to developing the field of community-engaged arts. Additional funds are available to any category to help cover the cost of mentorship of artists from OAC priority groups looking to build skills and experience in project planning and/or facilitation as part of a community-engaged arts project.

• Mentorship: up to $3,000 in additional funds are available in any category to help cover the costs of mentors and mentees in the development of project planning and/or facilitation skills.
  • Applicants can be either mentors or mentees.
  • Mentees must be professional artists and members of at least one OAC priority group.

Deadline dates

• Applications are available in Nova approximately two months before the deadline.
• Grant notification will be available approximately four months after each deadline.

Grant amount(s)

• Planning: maximum $7,500
• Project: maximum $12,500
• Two-year project: maximum $20,000

Recent changes

• The grant amounts have changed.
• There are new questions.

Eligible applicants

• individuals and co-applicants who are Ontario residents with a permanent physical address in Ontario
• ad hoc groups/collectives, based in Ontario, made up of at least 50 per cent professional artists
• Ontario-based not-for-profit arts organizations and non-arts organizations
• school boards not partnered in OAC’s Artists in Residence (Education) program (for artist fees and travel expenses only)
• schools run by First Nations or Indigenous education authorities

Important: Non-arts organizations, schools run by First Nations or Indigenous education authorities, and school boards must have an arts partner. The arts partner can be an artist, art collective, ad hoc arts group, or arts organization.

Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for more eligibility information.

Ineligible applicants

• municipalities, colleges and/or universities
• if you will be employed by a school involved in this project on a full- or part-time basis during the project, you are not eligible
• school boards who are partnered with the Ontario Arts Council in the Artists in Residence (education) program
• organizations that receive a grant in the Arts Organizations in Communities and Schools – Operating program
• organizations that receive an operating grant in other OAC programs, with the exception of organizations mandated to serve one or more of a OAC’s priority groups

Important: Organizations applying as new applicants in the Arts Organizations in Communities and Schools: Operating program may apply only for projects taking place in their current fiscal year

The following are not eligible to apply to the Two-Year Project category:

• organizations receiving OAC operating funding
• seasonal camps, festivals or events

Note: If granted a two-year project, organizations cannot re-apply to this program until the final report is approved.

This program funds

• artists’ fees
• support specialist fees (including translators, Elders, therapists, etc.)
• honoraria for project participants
• snack and beverage expenses for participants
• travel expenses
• venue or studio rental
• purchase of small-scale equipment, software, electronics and similar materials required to carry out the project
• materials costs
• administrative costs associated with the artists or arts ad hoc group/collective/organization only
• marketing, outreach and promotion expenses

Important: There is specific funding in the program for artists and health care collaborations. To be eligible for this funding, there must be a partnership between an arts partner and a government-funded health care facility (e.g. hospital, community health centre, long-term care facility, mental health and addictions services).

This program does not fund

• events or activities that take place outside of Ontario
• tours (see Touring Projects)
• professional productions for young audiences (see discipline-specific project programs)
• major capital expenditures, including buying, leasing or renovating buildings and purchase of major equipment
• art therapy
• faculty or student projects associated with their research, course work or studies
• non-arts partner administrative activities
• school board costs beyond artists’ fees and travel

Activity timing

The activities for which you are requesting funding:

• cannot start before the deadline
• cannot finish before you receive your grant results
• must be completed no more than two years after you receive the grant results

Final report requirements

If you receive a grant you must submit a final report upon completion of the project. See Terms and Conditions — receipt of OAC project grant funds for more information on reporting obligations. Complete and submit the report in Nova.

Final reports for this program require grant recipients to provide:

• description of the project undertaken and its outcomes, including details on any minor or approved changes to what had been outlined in the application
• final budget
  • If the budget you submit shows a surplus of more than $250 (revenues as compared to expenses), you may be required to repay the surplus amount to OAC.
• photos, videos, audio tracks, participant feedback forms, websites and/or other documentation of the completed project
• documentation and/or an explanation of how you acknowledged or will acknowledge OAC support for your project.
  • This should include samples of OAC logo recognition on any promotional or other materials produced in conjunction with the project, such as publications, brochures, posters, invitations, websites, or videos/films.
  • This could also include a description of verbal acknowledgement at public events or the intention to include OAC acknowledgement in associated future activities/materials.

To apply

Complete and submit an application in Nova, OAC’s online grant application system. You will be able to do this approximately two months before the deadline.

Before applying, you must:

• read the Guide to OAC Project Programs
• read the Guide to OAC Assessment
• create or update your profile in Nova

Your application includes:

• basic information about the project
• your answers to application questions
• project budget
• artistic examples: documentation of your artistic and community work. If you do not have documentation of your community work, provide two letters of reference.
• support documents: résumés or bios for artists including mentees and other support specialists, letter(s) of confirmation from partners outlining their commitment and contributions to the project, or, for applications to the Planning category in early stages, letter(s) of intent from potential partner(s)

Complete instructions and requirements are in the application in Nova.

For information on how assessors rate applications see the Evaluation Rubric – Community-Engaged Projects.

For help creating a profile or submitting an application in Nova, see the Nova User Guide.

Program-specific definitions

Access: People, regardless of geographic, racial, social, economic or physical realities have equal opportunity to experience the arts and participate in cultural life.

Co-creation: A process to create a final product where non-artists and professional artist(s) work side-by-side and have equal input and impact on the outcome.