Manitoba Arts Council - Performing Arts Programs

The Manitoba Arts Council is an arm's-length agency of the provincial government dedicated to artistic excellence. The Council offers a broad-based granting program for professional artists and arts organizations. The Council will promote, preserve, support and advocate for the arts as essential to the quality of life of all the people of Manitoba.

The Council provides assistance in a variety of programs that support its mandate to promote the study and appreciation of the arts in Manitoba. These programs are designed to support life-long learning in the arts, to support the development of the arts or artists in Manitoba, or to increase public understanding of the arts and its value.

The Council provides assistance to professional Manitoban individuals and organizations in the disciplines of dance, music and theatre.

Summary

Grants to Individuals

Major Arts Grant
Deadline:   January 15

The Major Arts Grant is available to support personal creative projects of six to ten months in duration. It allows artists whose work shows exceptional quality or accomplishment to concentrate on a specific project relating to their creative artistic work. The Major Arts Grant covers living expenses, project costs and travel expenses and is worth up to $25,000. Artists in all artistic disciplines are eligible to apply. A maximum of two Major Arts Grants may be held in five years.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantind.html#major  or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Commission and Development (Music and Theatre)
Deadlines:  March 1 and September 1

Playwrights (Established and Emerging)
This grant assists the creation of original works by professional emerging and established Manitoba playwrights, as well as creative or production development projects. The maximum available in a fiscal year is $3,000 for emerging playwrights and $10,000 for established playwrights.

For a copy of the Playwrights: Emerging program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantind.html#commission or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

For a copy of the Playwrights: Established program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantind.html#commission or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Composers
This grant assists the creation of original musical compositions by professional Manitoba composers, and commissions and/or creative or production development projects. The maximum available in a fiscal year is $10,000.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantind.html#commission or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Dance Creation Grant
Deadlines:   March 1 - for projects commencing May 10
                    September 1 - for projects commencing November 10

The Dance Creation Grant is available to support the creation of original works by Manitoba choreographers, as well as for dance production projects. Individuals, professional dance artist collectives and professional dance organizations may be eligible. The maximum grant available through this program is $15,000.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantind.html#dcg or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Travel/Professional Development Grant in the Performing Arts
Deadline:  At least one month prior to the commencement of the project or departure date.

This grant is designed to assist professional Manitoba performing artists and arts administrators with activities of short duration that contribute to their professional development. Only one award may be received in any given fiscal year. The maximum award for individual artists is $1,500.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantind.html#shorttermproject or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Community Connections and Access Program
Deadlines:  April 1 and October 1

The Community Connections and Access Program is designed to address specific needs identified by artists who face barriers to equal opportunities in artistic and professional development and presentation. The program will fund projects to address the needs of the emerging and professional artists in communities that are disadvantaged or under-served. Applications can be submitted by artists, groups, collectives, ensembles and organizations. The maximum award for individual emerging artists is $2,500; for established or professional artists, $5,000; and for ensembles and organizations, $10,000.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantind.html#access or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Deep Bay Artist Residency in Riding Mountain National Park of Canada
Deadline:  December 15

The Deep Bay Artist Residency at Riding Mountain National Park of Canada offers professional artists in all disciplines time, space and a facility in which to work on a creative project in the natural setting of Riding Mountain National Park of Canada. It also offers professional artistic directors and arts administrators the opportunity to undertake visioning, planning and research work.

Riding Mountain National Park of Canada is providing a newly renovated log cabin (live/work studio) to artists, artistic directors and arts administrators who will be selected through the Manitoba Arts Council’s peer assessment process. Residency periods will be 1, 2, 4 or 6 weeks in length, from May through to October. Artists, artistic directors and arts administrators are eligible for a maximum stay of six weeks within a 4-year period, and may apply each year.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit  http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantind.html#deepbay or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Grants to Organizations

Operating Annual Grants - Dance and Music
Deadline:  March 15

This program provides operating/annual assistance to a limited number of professional organizations who: contribute to the development of their art form; participate in the development of local artists; maintain a level of public support; and maintain strict management and financial controls.

For more information about this program contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Multiyear / Annual Grant - Theatre
Deadline:  March 15

This program assists the ongoing annual or multiyear activity of a limited number of professional groups who: contribute to the development of their art form; participate in the development of local artists; maintain a level of public support; and maintain strict management and financial controls.

For more information about this program contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Operating Multi-Year/Annual Grants - Music
Deadline:  March 15

Operating Multi-Year/Annual Grants - Music are available to provide partial support to the ongoing annual activity of a limited number of professional groups as well as ongoing performing ensembles of professional Manitoba performing artists or creative collectives. Organizations receiving support are expected to contribute to the development of their art form, to participate in the development of local artists, to maintain a reasonable level of public support, and to maintain strict management and financial controls.

For more information about this program contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Management and Governance Assistance Program
Deadline:  April 1

This program has been designed to support the development of effective and responsible working relationships of senior management staff and boards of directors in the professional arts sector in Manitoba. This program will fund some or all of the costs of providing appropriate experts to meet the specific needs of professional, non-profit arts organizations in strengthening their operation, particularly in the areas of management and governance. 

For more information about this program contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Production Grant -  Music 
Deadline:  March 1

The Concert Production Grant is available to provide project support towards the presentation of individual productions or series by professional Manitoba musicians. 

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantorg.html#production or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Production Grant - Theatre
Deadlines:  March 1 and September 1

The Theatre Production Grant is available to provide project support towards the presentation of individual productions or series in Manitoba by professional Manitoba theatre artists. 

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantorg.html#production or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Dance Creation Grant
Deadlines:  March 1 - for projects commencing May 10
                   September 1 - for projects commencing November 10

The Dance Creation Grant is available to support the creation of original works by Manitoba choreographers, as well as for dance production projects. Individuals, professional dance artist collectives and professional dance organizations may be eligible. The maximum grant available through this program is $15,000. 

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantorg.html#dcg or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Community Connections and Access Program
Deadlines:   April 1 and October 1

The Community Connections and Access Program is designed to address specific needs identified by artists who face barriers to equal opportunities in artistic and professional development and presentation. The program will fund projects to address the needs of the emerging and professional artists in communities that are disadvantaged or under-served.

Applications can be submitted by artists, groups, collectives, ensembles and organizations. The maximum award for individual emerging artists is $2,500; for established or professional artists, $5,000; and for ensembles and organizations, $10,000.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantorg.html#cca or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Artist in Community Residency Program
Deadlines:  April 1 and October 1

The Artist In Community Residency Program will assist incorporated, non-profit organizations in Manitoba with the opportunity to respond to community development needs in, or through, the arts by engaging Manitoba artists to work in Manitoba communities for a specified period of time. In this program artists will engage with the broader community or public in ways that are meaningful and relevant towards the outcome of individual and community development. The artist(s) must be working with a community that would not otherwise be engaged in the arts. This is an opportunity for communities to express themselves through creative collaboration with established and professional artists.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantorg.html#acrp or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Deep Bay Artist Residency in Riding Mountain National Park of Canada
Deadline:  December 15

The Deep Bay Artist Residency at Riding Mountain National Park of Canada offers professional artists in all disciplines time, space and a facility in which to work on a creative project in the natural setting of Riding Mountain National Park of Canada. It also offers professional artistic directors and arts administrators the opportunity to undertake visioning, planning and research work.

Riding Mountain National Park of Canada is providing a newly renovated log cabin (live/work studio) to artists, artistic directors and arts administrators who will be selected through the Manitoba Arts Council’s peer assessment process. Residency periods will be 1, 2, 4 or 6 weeks in length, from May through to October. Artists, artistic directors and arts administrators are eligible for a maximum stay of six weeks within a 4-year period, and may apply each year.

For a copy of the program guidelines, visit http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/perf_grantorg.html#deepbay or contact the Manitoba Arts Council.

Manitoba Contact(s):
Manitoba Arts Council
525 - 93 Lombard Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3B 3B1
Telephone: 204-945-2237
Fax: 204-945-5925
Toll-free (information): 1-866-994-2787
E-mail: info@artscouncil.mb.ca
Web site: http://www.artscouncil.mb.ca/english/index.html