Media Artists Program: Creation

Application deadline: October 15, 2024

  • Full Program Guidelines for 2024 will become available approximately 3 months before the deadline date

  • Apply

For questions about this program, contact Peter Kingstone, Program Manager, Visual/Media Arts.


DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Toronto Arts Council’s Media Artists Program: Creation provides support to media artists for the creation/production of new work or the completion of works in progress. Funds are intended to cover direct costs of creation/production, including subsistence and materials. Applicants may apply for production and/or post-production.
Media Arts includes independent film, video and new media artworks. New media refers to works that use multi-media, computers or communications or information technologies for creative expression, including installation and performance art works that integrate such technologies.

  • LEVEL ONE: Up to $6,000 – for emerging artists in the early stages of their professional careers: 
    • Artists in this category have produced a small body of work and achieved some local recognition and/or have limited public screening and/or exhibition experience. Generally they have had between 2 and 7 years of professional arts practice.
  • LEVEL TWO: Up to $12,000 – for mid-career and established artists:
    • Mid-career artists are past the early stages of their careers and have produced a reasonable body of work and received recognition, exhibitions or screenings outside the local community. Generally they have had from 8 to 14 years of professional arts practice.
    • Established artists have produced an extensive body of work and have achieved national or international recognition, exhibitions or screenings. Generally, they have had at least 15 years of professional arts practice.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must be professional artists and meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants must be Canadian Citizens, or Permanent Residents (Landed Immigrants), or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status, or be a Protected Person (approved refugee claimant) and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this.
  • Applicants must be residents of the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the application deadline. Temporary absences of up to 12 months may be considered, subject to written explanation and special permission; please contact the Grant Program Manager.
  • Neither a post office box address nor a studio address can be used to meet the residency requirement.
  • Applicants must have completed basic training (not necessarily in a formal educational institution).
  • Applicants must have spent a minimum of one year working on and developing an independent art practice after completing full-time studies.
  • Undergraduate students are not eligible to apply.
  • Professional artists pursuing graduate studies may not apply for work related to their program of study. Note: A letter from the graduate program director specifying that the project is not related to the graduate student’s program of studies must be submitted with the application.
  • Applicants must retain full copyright, financial, editorial and creative control.
  • Applicants to the 2021 Visual Artists Program: Creation may not apply to the 2021 Media Artists Program: Creation.
  • Collaborative proposals are eligible. Co-applicants are subject to the same eligibility criteria as primary applicants. If the application is successful, the grant cheque will be payable to the principal applicant, as listed in the application. Similarly, a T4A slip will be issued to the principal applicant.
  • The only eligible applicant for a film or video project is the director. Producers may not apply as co-applicants.

EXCLUSIONS (The following are not eligible):

  • Projects with total budgets in excess of $250,000.
  • Projects that have been completed prior to the announcement of results.
  • Requests for funding solely for travel or exhibition of work.
  • Promotion and marketing expenses.
  • Capital purchases of tools, equipment, etc.
  • Commissioned, instructional or promotional projects.
  • Pilots for commercial or educational television.
  • Music videos.

Projects involving Deaf artists and artists with disabilities may apply for an additional TAC grant by completing the Accessibility Expenses section of the application and including the requisite information in their budget. A TAC Accessibility grant will provide up to a maximum of $5,000 towards accessibility costs for artists incurred during the project. Accessibility costs include but are not limited to: ASL interpretation, audio description, closed captioning, communications assistants, attendant care (including helpers for Elders), support workers and equipment rentals or other supports required to meet artists' accessibility needs).


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