HomeGrant Programs Discover TAC Grants TAC Grants Animating Historic Sites

Toronto Arts Council’s Animating Historic Sites program provides funding to arts organizations, collectives or professional artists to re-imagine and animate selected Toronto History Museums and Black Creek Pioneer Village.

The silhouette of a dancer's head with the sky and a 'Todmorden' sign in the background.
Alias Dance Project animates Todmorden Mills. Choreographed by Hanna Kiel. Photo by Dave McKay (2017)

Application deadline: July 15, 2024

Application support: Join a program specific grant writing workshop on May 30, 12–1:30 p.m. Register here. 

Site tours: Offered by the staff of participating sites in early June. Please see below for details and registration.

For questions about this program, contact Lena Golubtsova, Strategic Programs Manager: lena[at]torontoartscouncil[dot]org

WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT?

The Animating Historic Sites program provides funding to professional artists, arts organizations and collectives working in any artistic discipline (i.e.: theatre, dance, music, visual arts, media arts, community-engaged arts, Indigenous arts, Black arts, disability arts, arts education, literary arts, etc.) to pursue time-limited projects involving site-specific research, development, creation, production, presentation, and programming that responds to or interprets the selected site or museum. This grant may cover up to 100% of project costs, including artist fees, equipment rental, materials, and other project costs.

The maximum grant amount is $30,000.

Grant recipients will have the opportunity to conduct artistic research, investigate the site and its exhibits and archives, explore its surrounding landscape, historical and environmental context, engage with the local community, and create new site-responsive work in collaboration with the site or museum. The recipients will deliver free site-specific programming following research and development, which may vary in scope depending on the project. Programming may include activities such as: exhibitions, installations, performances, concerts, screenings, readings, workshops, presentations of work in progress, community-engaged arts activities, and other arts programming. Permanent exhibitions and installations are not eligible. All funded projects will be produced by the grant recipient and hosted and supported by the partnering site.

TAC ACCESSIBILITY GRANT

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).


PARTICIPATING MUSEUMS & SITES

  • Gibson House (THM)*
  • Montgomery’s Inn (THM)
  • Scarborough Museum (THM)
  • Spadina Museum (THM)
  • Todmorden Mills (THM)
  • Black Creek Pioneer Village 

*THM — Toronto History Museums sites  

Site descriptions can be found here. You can apply to work in/with only one site or museum.
 

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TORONTO HISTORY MUSEUMS AND BLACK CREEK PIONEER VILLAGE?

Applicants are advised to research Toronto History Museums and Black Creek Pioneer Village online. Applicants should attend a site visit and/or consult with site staff to discuss their project vision and its connection to the site before submitting an application. 

Site visits with the site staff will be offered for each location:

●    For Toronto History Museums, please attend open house that will take place as follows: 

●    For Black Creek Pioneer Village: Open House for Artists will take place on Wednesday, June 19 from 6:30  – 8 p.m. Please RSVP to Allison White at allison.white@trca.ca.

 

WHEN CAN THE PROJECT HAPPEN?

All projects must be completed in the 2025 calendar year.

WHO CAN APPLY?

This grant program is open to professional artists, not-for-profit arts organizations or artist collectives operating on a not-for-profit basis.

If you are a first-time applicant or have questions about your eligibility or your application, please contact the Strategic Programs Manager.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Applicants are required to register and submit the application, including the required support material, on TAC Grants Online. Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm on the deadline date. TAC does not accept applications by any other means of delivery. You will receive a confirmation email when your application is submitted.  Check your spam/junk mail folder if it doesn’t arrive in your in-box.
 

APPLICATION ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORT FOR DEAF APPLICANTS AND APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES

Applicants who are Deaf or have a disability and need support to complete their grant applications can apply for funds to cover the costs of assistance from Application Support Service Providers. Up to $500 is available per eligible applicant in each calendar year. Please contact your Grant Program Manager at least six weeks before the grant program deadline to determine eligibility, request application support funding, and to review the process for payment to be made to your Service Provider. Requests for application support require approval from the Grant Program Manager.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Lena Golubtsova, Strategic Programs Manager: lena[at]torontoartscouncil[dot]org

See grant guidelines for more detailed information.

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