The Ontario Arts Council has announced the applications for Music Creation Projects to support Ontario-based professional artists in creating original musical works.
Purpose
This program supports music creators at all career stages, working in all music genres/styles. The program has two categories:
Self-directed creation: Projects where the applicant is an individual creator who is requesting support for composing/writing a new piece of music or body of work (for example, a song set). The applicant is taking their own initiative and making their own decisions about the music to be created.
Commissioning: Projects where the applicant is an individual composer/songwriter working with a commissioner. The commissioner can be an individual artist, music group or non-profit arts organization, choreographer or dance company, who makes a commitment to give the proposed commissioned work a première.
Priorities
The program’s priorities are to support:
projects that display exceptional creativity in composition and song-writing
projects that enhance the range of music available to performers and the public
projects that, in addition to the above, may contribute to arts education, public participation and community involvement in the arts in Ontario (for example, composition for children’s choir)
Funding Information
Self-directed creation: maximum $4,000
Commissioning: maximum $20,000
What this program funds?
Composition/creation of new original work.
This may also include:
creation of a companion piece or additional movements, intended to accompany an earlier composition
completion of a larger-scale work under development (for example, an opera)
music incorporating other media or art forms.
Eligibility Criteria
Individuals: professional composers, songwriters and music creators, who are Ontario residents
Note: Others may be involved in the creative process. This could include commissioners where applicable, musicians, band members, lyricists, etc.)
For applicants applying for music commissions only:
Composers are the applicant and commissioners of the new music are required participants.
Commissioners can be professional individual artists (music performers, choreographers) music groups, not-for-profit arts organization or dance company. Commissioners not entirely comprised of professional musicians, such as community orchestras or choirs, are also possible.
Commissioners where music performance is not a primary activity, (e.g. an art gallery), are eligible. However, commissioners must describe their music programming curation and the context in which the new work will be presented to the public.
Projects with commissioners located outside Ontario are eligible. The world première may occur elsewhere, but any plans for the first Ontario performance must be provided.
Commissions suitable for young performers are eligible if the impact on learners or its potential for future use by the music education community can be demonstrated.
Ineligible
ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations. Note: an individual may apply to create with others
professional composers or songwriters who are currently enrolled in composition or songwriting courses or a music composition degree program at a university, college or conservatory (composition/songwriting workshops are permitted), are not eligible to apply in the Self-directed creation category
However, they may apply in the Commissioning category, provided they can demonstrate that the professional contract to create a new composition for the commissioner is independent of their studies.
