Open Call for Music Industry Initiatives – Canada

Priorities Areas

• Develop B.C. artists, industry professionals, and the next generation of talent.
• Foster new business opportunities locally and abroad.
• Inform industry innovation and the evolution of business practices.
• Support local, national, and cross-sector collaboration and conversation.
• Develop knowledge and research to inform B.C.’s music industry.
• Support a broad range of projects, including those led by systemically excluded groups who experience systemic barriers to participation.

Funding Information

• Grant amounts:
  • $2,000 – $20,000 for individuals, collectives, and companies or organizations without financial statements.
  • $2,000 – $60,000 for companies or organizations with externally prepared financial statements in the form of a compilation engagement, review engagement, or audited statements.

Eligible Activities

• Industry conferences, panels, workshops, forums, and events.
• Opportunities for training, mentorship, professional development, and fostering new talent.
• Community infrastructure, services, or digital platforms that provide broad industry benefit.
• Projects that increase the capacity of systemically excluded groups in B.C.’s music industry.
• Resources, policies or manuals to share best practices in the areas of business, harm reduction, sustainability, equity, etc.
• Collaborative business initiatives, showcases, trade missions, or export activities.
• Research projects that develop knowledge to benefit those working in music.

Eligibility Criteria

• This program supports initiatives and events that build the capacity of B.C.’s music industry by developing knowledge, skills, processes, resources, opportunities, and abilities to meet existing needs. Priority will be given to new or expanding initiatives, and to projects that serve a clear need or gap.
• Projects must demonstrate a broad benefit to B.C.’s music industry, or to an aspect of B.C.’s music industry, and cannot predominantly benefit one artist, company, organization, or their clients.
• Projects must have a business or industry development component, and not focus primarily on artistic growth. For example, this program supports workshops on touring and building audiences and skills related to the use of technology, but does not fund music lessons, coaching, or masterclasses.
• Examples of eligible projects include:
  • Applicants can apply as an individual, collective, company or organization, and must be:
    • Active in the music industry in B.C..
    • Headquartered in Canada, or located in and eligible to work in Canada.
  • Other eligibility information:
    • New Companies: This program will fund start-ups that are newly registered companies, in addition to existing companies.
    • Collectives: Projects can be run by an informal group of people. In this case, one individual needs to be the lead on the project and take legal responsibility for the funds. This person will sign the funding agreement and receive payments.
    • Collaborations: Business collaborations are welcome in this program. A primary applicant is required to take on legal responsibility for the project and manage all payments. The application should specify the partners or collaborators involved and their respective roles, with letters of support provided by each partner.
    • Projects must be industry-led: This program is intended to support projects and collaborations led by the music industry. Research companies, consultants, or academic institutions are eligible to apply, but must demonstrate significant involvement from industry partnerships in delivering the project, and support from industry stakeholders for the project. Municipalities and other levels of government are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit Creative BC.