Toronto Arts Council: Literary Projects Program (Canada)

The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council.

Funding Information

• The maximum grant available in this program is $8,000. TAC will not fund 100% of the project budget. Applicants must indicate a range of revenue sources, which may include donated goods and services. Applicants may receive less than the full amount requested.

Eligible Projects

• Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
  • Writer-in-Residence programs;
  • Literary festivals;
  • Conferences or symposia for literary professionals and their audiences;
  • Series or performance events that incorporate any or all of the following: readings, storytelling, dub poetry, spoken word, etc.
• These grants contribute to the costs associated with a literary project, including artistic fees, production and technical costs, marketing and publicity costs, event documentation expenses, administrative costs, etc. Due to potential public health restrictions, social distancing rules and venue closures, works conceived for digital platforms are eligible.

Eligibility Criteria

• To apply to Literary Projects applicants must be either an incorporated non-profit organization or an unincorporated collective operating on a not-for-profit basis.
• A collective is defined as two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project or on an ongoing basis.
• Organizations and collectives must be located in the City of Toronto. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet this requirement. Organizations with a regional Toronto office must have operated in the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the deadline.
• For collectives of two artists, both must be City of Toronto residents. For collectives of more than two artists, the majority of members must be City of Toronto residents.
• Artists must be professional. A professional artist is someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice; is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic tradition; actively practices her/his/their art; seeks payment for her/his/their work; and has a history of public presentation.
• TAC recognizes that due to systemic barriers within the broader arts community (e.g. limited mainstream presentation opportunities for artists from equity-seeking communities) that some flexibility may be required in interpreting eligibility criteria to take into account equivalent professional experience and contexts. Potential applicants from equity-seeking communities are encouraged to discuss their eligibility with the Program Manager in advance of submitting an application.
• The payment of artist fees is a requirement in this program.
• The project for which the funding is requested must take place in the City of Toronto.
• Applicants may receive only one grant per calendar year through the literary program and may not apply to other TAC discipline programs.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Projects that have been started or completed prior to the announcement of results. Toronto Arts Council does not fund retroactively.
• Organizations or collectives that receive Operating funding from TAC.
• Schools that are part of Ontario’s public or private education system.
• Educational and religious institutions, unless there is a clear separation in both programming and budget between their regular activities and their arts activities.
• Individuals.
• Ongoing operating costs, such as permanent staff salaries and general administration of an organization. This program is not intended to support an organization or collective’s ongoing activities.
• Costs related to equipment purchase, capital projects (such as building purchase or renovation), fundraising activities, deficit reduction, publishing and archiving projects, awards and award ceremonies, projects conceived for the creation of a film or for competitive purposes, art therapy.
• Activities taking place outside of the City of Toronto (such as touring, travel, accommodations).
• Expenses related to publishing, book launches, and archiving projects; awards and award ceremonies, fundraising projects, deficit reduction, art therapy, equipment purchase, capital projects (e.g. renovation).

For more information, visit Toronto Arts Council.