First Peoples’ Cultural Council announces Music Program (Canada)

The FPCC Arts Program supports creation, development, production, marketing, promotion and distribution of all forms of creative expression. This includes, but is not limited to, ceremonial, visual, performance, music, literary, media, sculpture, carving and weaving.

Objectives

• Creation & Sharing
  • Supporting B.C. First Nations artists in music creation, performance, recording, touring and promotion.
• Recording Engineers – Mentorship
  • Supporting B.C. First Nations emerging recording engineers who are operating an independent recording studio OR emerging recording engineers who have graduated from a recognized professional recording school or who have a minimum of one year experience in a recording studio. This priority area is to broaden knowledge, skills, networking and business opportunities within the B.C. music industry through mentorships based on direct participation in recording projects. Applicants may apply for up to 50% of their total grant request (to a maximum of $15,000) for recording equipment and software enhancements.
• Industry Professionals – Mentorship, Internship, Training
  • Supporting emerging B.C. First Nations music industry professionals in the roles of administrator, agent, promoter, manager, event organizer or presenter. This priority area includes short-term mentorship, internship and/or training and project support opportunities that will provide applicants with experience, skills and knowledge.

Focus Areas

• The FPCC Arts Program is organized into four areas of program offerings:
  • Arts Strengthening
    • One-on-one arts mentorships and arts group knowledge transfer.
  • Arts Infrastructure
    • Art space construction or renovation and capacity building for First Nations arts and culture organizations and communities.
  • Individual Artists
    • Projects and creative development; Scholarships for arts education.
  • Music Program
    • Creation & sharing and industry professional internships, mentorships and training.

Priority Areas

• This funding offers support in three priority areas:
  • Creation & Sharing
  • Recording Engineers – Mentorship
  • Industry Professionals – Mentorship, Internship, Training

Funding Information

• Creation & Sharing
  • Grant amount: up to $20,000.
• Recording Engineers – Mentorship
  • Grant amount: up to $30,000.
• Industry Professionals – Mentorship, Internship, Training
  • Grant amounts: up to $20,000.

Eligible Expenses

• Salaries and wages – must be project specific and explained clearly in budget description. For all project participants, including applicant (remember to pay yourself!), mentor, studio musicians, etc
• Elder and/or Knowledge Holder consultation fees, include names and explain clearly in budget description
• Honoraria – Fees and honoraria for collaboration with other artists, mentors and/or elders, explained clearly in budget description
• Travel, transportation and accommodation expenses
• Administrative expenses directly related to the project activities (up to 10% of total funded project)
• Equipment required for the project (with strong justification in project description, up to 20% of total funded project)
• Childcare expenses for studio days or other activities directly related to the project
• Rental of space and equipment required for project
• Mentor program costs
• Expenses related directly to project activities
• For Creation & Sharing: Expenses related to sound recording, such as studio rentals, gear rentals, producer fees, mixing and mastering to a maximum of $10,000.
• For Creating & Sharing: Expenses related to marketing and promotion, such as photography, digital media, websites, bio writing, publicity, video, social media marketing or radio promotion to a maximum of $4,000.
• For Recording Engineer Mentorships: Up to 50% of the requested grant amount to enhance or upgrade studio equipment and software to a maximum of $15,000. All new equipment and software purchased by the applicant belongs to the apprentice applicant (the person receiving the mentorship). Quotes may be requested to support this budget item.
• For Music Industry Professionals: Salaries & Wages, applicant stipend to a maximum of $2,500 per month for a full-time program.
• For Music Industry Professionals: Equipment purchase (camera, video camera, laptop, etc.) to a maximum of 25% of total funded project.

Ineligible Expenses

• Expenses not directly related to the project.
• Expenses that take place before the Music Program application deadline.
• Business development costs, for example, business start-up costs, point of sale systems/websites, building a brand, business logo design, production of items intended for sale such as t-shirts or vinyl records.
• Capital purchases, such as vehicles or costs associated with building or land improvement.

Eligibility Criteria

• B.C. First Nations individuals with previous experience or a mandate that demonstrates a commitment to your creative practice or profession in the arts.
• 19 years of age or older.
• Have been a resident of B.C. for at least one year. If there is a question about whether you live in B.C., you may be asked to provide documentation. Proof of residency can include a valid B.C. services card, a valid B.C. driver’s licence or evidence of income taxes paid in the previous year as a B.C. resident.
• Demonstrate support of the project by recognized artists and creatives or cultural or community leaders within B.C. First Nations communities you are connected to.
• Submit only one application as an applicant to the Arts Program per deadline.
• FPCC is a First Nations-led organization with unique expertise in B.C. First Nations languages, arts and heritage. There is an urgent need to support the revitalization of First Nations arts practices in B.C. With the growing number of requests for funding, the FPCC Arts Program is focused on providing support for the artforms that come from this land.
• Their work is founded in the fundamental belief that First Nations are the rightful stewards of their cultural knowledge and arts practices, and are best equipped to lead this important work of protecting, sharing and revitalizing B.C. First Nations Arts practices on these lands.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Individuals cannot be the project lead for more than one application to the FPCC Arts Program for the same deadline, but they may be involved in more than one project if they are in a different role.
• Individuals with an active FPCC Arts Program grant.

For more information, visit First Peoples’ Cultural Council.