Presented by:
ArtsNL
Grant Writing Workshop for
Professional Arts Organizations
ArtsNL Mandate ArtsNL is a non-profit Crown agency created in 1980 by The Arts Council
Act. Its mission is to foster and promote the creation and enjoyment of
the arts for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The
Council is governed by a volunteer board of 13, appointed by
government, reflecting regional representation of the province. This
includes 10 professional artists who provide sectoral representation of
the arts community; one community representative (with an interest in
the arts); one business representative (with an interest in the arts); and
one representative of the Department of Business,Tourism, Culture and
Rural Development (non-voting). ArtsNL receives an annual grant from
the Province to support a variety of granting programs, program delivery,
office administration, and communications. It also seeks support from
the public and private sector. It supports the following artistic disciplines:
dance, film, multidiscipline, music, theatre, visual art, and writing.
ArtsNL Funding Programs Professional Project Grants Program
Professional individual artists and arts groups
School Touring Program
Professional individual artists, arts groups and not-for-profit arts organizations
Professional Artists’ Travel Fund
Professional individual artists and arts groups
Sustaining Program for Professional Arts Organization
Professional not-for-profit arts organizations
Annual Operating Program for Professional Arts Organizations
Professional not-for-profit arts organizations
Community Arts Program
Community based not-for-profit arts groups and organizations
ArtsSmarts
Schools in the K-12 provincial school system
Labrador Cultural Travel Fund
Residents of Labrador and Labrador based arts and heritage groups or organizations
Grant Writing:
Annual Operating Program for
Professional Arts Organizations
Your application will consist of the following 4 parts:
The Application Form
The Annual Budget
The Project Description(s)
Support Materials
7 copies of the application and support material must
be submitted.
Application deadline is February 15 annually
The Application Form
Tips and Advice
READ the whole application before you write anything! Do you have the latest version? Do you understand everything stated?
The application form should be the first thing you read and the last thing you complete!
Hand print or type the application. (Online form)
Make sure you sign the application form!
Make sure the start date is after April 15.
Read the budget notes section carefully.
www.artsnl.ca (www.nlac.ca)
Required Attachments:
A description of the organization’s history
A detailed description of the season/events for your upcoming year
A list of your current board members including residency information
A detailed annual budget for the organization for your upcoming fiscal year
Updated resumes/bios for key artists featured in the upcoming year’s season/events
One copy of the financial statement for the organization’s last completed fiscal year (Must include a list of revenues and expenses, annual surplus/deficit for the last completed year, and accumulated surplus/deficit for the organization.)
Optional attachments:
Relevant support material
Project Description
The W5 Approach
WHAT (HOW): Very simply, what do you want to do? Present a play, exhibit art work, show films? What is the duration of the event? How does it fit in the artistic genre? What is it about? How do you plan to create/develop the work? How will it be presented? What will you need to make this project happen?
WHO: Who will be working on this project? Be sure to include resumes and a statement outlining their role in the project.
WHERE: Where will this project happen? Is it touring? Where will it be performed or exhibited?
WHEN: This is a simple time line of what you see happening when for your project, and when it will take place based on your project plan.
WHY: Why do you want to do this project? Is it part of your mandate? Will it stretch the artistic goals of your organization? Is it a unique opportunity that will not be possible at another time?
Support Materials
Always include 7 copies of your support material.
Make sure reviews are good ones.
Images should be of good quality, and in a digital format
(pdf, tif,jpeg).
Don’t include a video of a play or a dance piece unless it
is of very good quality and has been edited.
Manuscripts must be typed.
Make sure press clippings are legible.
You must include an self addressed envelop with correct
postage if you want your support materials returned by
mail.
The Annual Budget
Things to Remember
The budget should be completed after you have completed your project description. Get the vision of the project(s) nailed down first, and then you can have a clear idea of what the vision is going to cost.
Capital costs cannot be covered through ArtsNL
Quotes: include quotes for any costs over $1,000.
You can use your own budget form, but keep it simple.
Try to be as exact as possible. A little research can go a long way to showing professionalism.
Make sure you check your figures. Twice.
ArtsNL requires other contributions towards a project. These can come from other funders (Canada Council, City Arts Jury, corporate support), or from the project itself (box office, guaranteed sales), or from a benefactor.
If you are not familiar with developing a budget you should have an experienced artist or arts administrator look it over.
Read the budget notes on the application form carefully
Final General Tips
Have someone read over your application with a critical
eye.
Get your application in early! We can read through your project description and offer feedback before the deadline.
Check your budget figures! Twice!
Remember, everyone wants to give you a grant! Make it as easy as possible for them to say yes!
Sometimes competition can be tough, so don’t get too discouraged by a rejection. This is especially true for your first couple of applications.
If you don’t get a grant be sure to get feedback. Call after the grant release date and we will tell you what the committee thought of your application.
Grant Writing:
Sustaining Program for Professional
Arts Organizations Your application will consist of the following parts:
Mandate and governance
Item 1: (New Applicants Only) A copy of the organization’s Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador
Item 2: An up-to-date list of the organization’s Board and/or Directors.
Artistic/Operational Activity and Vision
Item 3: A brief Organizational History that includes the Organizational Mandate, Artistic Mission Statement,
Item 4: The Artistic Director/Executive Director’s (or equivalent) vision for the organization for the next 3 years
Item 5: An overview of the organization’s activities during the current and/or prior year to this application.
Item 6: An overview of the organization’s planned activities for the coming 3 years.
Item 7: Statistical data on your last completed year of activity. (To be completed on the CADAC website at www.thecadac.ca.)
Organizational Employment, Professional Development, Fundraising and Outreach
Item 8: An overview of the organization’s history of providing local employment, professional development activities for
staff/membership, outreach to the general public, and fundraising activities.
Organizational Financial Report
Item 9: A narrative report on the last complete financial year as reported in your financial statements.
Item 10: Completed Budget Forms for your last two completed years, your current year and your upcoming financial year (To
be completed on the CADAC website at www.thecadac.ca. )
Item 11: A copy of the organization’s most recent annual financial statement.
Support Material (optional)
SPPAO Eligibility Criteria Professional arts organizations must:
Have the development, production, and promotion of the arts as its primary mandate
Be based in Newfoundland and Labrador
Have at least half its board and/or membership currently residing in Newfoundland and Labrador for a minimum
of 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the time of application
Be registered as a not-for-profit organization in the province
Have completed two consecutive years of significant operations in keeping with the mandate of the organization
Have a formal organizational structure including an active board of directors
Employ a professional artistic director/executive director or equivalent
Have sound administrative and financial management using typical business accounting and organizational
management practices
Have a good record of providing local employment
Pay artist and professional fees in keeping with established national guidelines
Have an annual financial statement prepared (minimum acceptable is a review engagement prepared by an
independent professional accountant)
Offer professional development opportunities for staff and/or membership
Demonstrate community outreach through workshops, school visits, fundraising, etc.
Maintain a minimum annual budget of $50,000 ($20,000 for dance and visual art organizations) for the last two
years and the current year
Maintain a minimum annual budget of $50,000 ($20,000 for dance and visual art organizations) on all proposed
budgets included in the application
Maintain a minimum annual budget of $50,000 ($20,000 for dance and visual art organizations) for the overall
organizational budget for each fiscal year in which it receives sustaining program funding
SPPAO: Submitting an Application
Potential first time applicants should submit a letter of
intent to apply to the SPPAO to the program
manager well before the application deadline. This
will allow time to confirm eligibility, and enable peer
assessors to view performances/exhibitions by the
organization.
Meetings to confirm eligibility start in January 2016.
The SPPAO operates on a three-year cycle. New
applicants may apply only in the first year of the
cycle. Next year one deadline is February 15, 2017
The minimum SPPAO Grant is $15,000 annually.
$575,000 is awarded annually.
SPPAO: CADAC Account
Applying organizations must complete financial and
statistical information on the Canadian Arts
Database (CADAC) website. (www.thecadac.ca)
New applicants not already using CADAC must receive
clearance to set up a CADAC account (a unique
CADAC ID and password for your organization),and
must complete financial and statistical forms on the
website. Ensure you set up your account as early as
possible.
Contact Information
You can contact ArtsNL at:
ArtsNL
P.O. Box 98 (1 Springdale St., The Newman Bldg.)
St. John’s, NL A1C 5H5
Phone: 726-2212
Toll Free (NL Only): 1 866 726-2212
Fax: (709) 726-0619
Web Site: www.artsnl.ca
Ken Murphy Donna Roberts
Program Manager Labrador Cultural Outreach Officer