Arts Organizations in Communities and Schools: Operating

Purpose

This program supports the ongoing operations of Ontario-based, not-for-profit community-engaged arts organizations working in Ontario communities or schools.

Priorities

The program’s priorities are to support organizations that:

• generate and host high-quality, innovative work that cultivates a rich engagement between artists and participants or communities
• implement strategies to reduce or eliminate barriers to public engagement in the arts
• engage Ontario artists to work with communities and schools

Deadline dates

• In 2022 this program is in year 2 of a three-year cycle and is accepting new applicants.
• Applications are available in Nova about two months before the deadline.
• Financial and statistical reports must be submitted through Canadian Arts Data / Données sur les arts au Canada (CADAC) before the deadline.
• Grant notification will be available about five months after the deadline.

• Normally, OAC operating programs only accept new applicants in year one of their multi-year cycle. This year is an exception: most operating programs, including this one, are open to new applicants in 2022.
• After this year, 2024 will be the next deadline open to new applicants to this program.
• Participation in this program is by invitation only. Potential new applicants must contact the program officer at least one month before the deadline to be considered for an invitation. This process will involve one or more discussions between OAC and the potential applicant to determine its eligibility to and fit with the program, what grant amount to request, and other particulars.

Recent changes

• After being paused last year, multi-year cycles have resumed for all operating programs. The timing of cycles for some programs has been adjusted. A program that was in year 1 in 2020 may now be in year 1 again, for example.

Eligible applicants

• Ontario-based, not-for-profit corporations, or national not-for-profit corporations with the head office in Ontario.
• Organizations must have:
  • at least $75,000 in total revenues for the last fiscal year, and in projected revenues for the current and requested years (for applicants not currently receiving funding from this program)
  • at least two years of sustained, regular, ongoing programming, as of the application date. If your organization does not meet this requirement, consider applying for project funding
  • a range of revenue sources
  • an active board of directors/governing body

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

Ineligible applicants

• non-arts organizations
• organizations whose mandate and/or activity does not address access to the arts by underserved communities
• municipalities, colleges and/or universities
• organizations whose primary mode of participant engagement is one-on-one activity

To apply

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

Before applying, you must:

• read the Guide to OAC Operating Programs
• read the Guide to OAC Assessment
• contact the program officer to discuss eligibility (new applicants only)
• create or update your profile in Nova
• register for an account with CADAC (new applicants only)

Your application includes:

• your answers to the application questions
• financial and statistical information submitted through Canadian Arts Data / Données sur les arts au Canada (CADAC)
• financial statements for your organization’s last completed year, uploaded to CADAC.
• artistic examples: community-engaged arts examples and professional artist examples for artists facilitating programming
• support documents: links to online communications showing how you promote your programming to the public (for example websites, social media)

Complete instructions and requirements are in the application in Nova.

For information on how assessors rate applications see the Evaluation Rubric - Operating Programs.