Grassroots

Please note that you can send in your file until 5 p.m. (ET) on the deadline.

CAM invites artists’ collectives and arts organizations to explore more of the Island of Montréal, bringing art to the environments that need it the most to help local artistic projects emerge.

This pilot program for Montréal artists is intended to support research, creation, or production projects that are: 

• rooted in participating artists’ communities
• designed to foster relationships with different local communities
• based on creative collaborations with key partners in the target area

Who is this program for?

Artists’ collectives and non-profit organizations.

What are the program objectives?

This program is designed to:

• help artists put down roots in their communities and improve conditions and spaces for creation
• support multi-disciplinary artistic projects in areas of Montréal with less artistic activity
• encourage collaboration between the arts community and fields beyond arts and culture
• encourage initiatives, projects, or partnerships involving priority groups

What does it involve?

• Artistic projects must be in dialogue with either the target area or its inhabitants, so proof of a partner, collaborator, or place of residence in the area must be provided.
• There is no obligation to publicly present artistic projects.
• Project proposals from collectives and organizations based in less central areas will be prioritized, but collectives and organizations that normally work in central areas are encouraged to submit proposals that explore new communities, spaces and places.

What type of assistance is provided?

• The financial assistance provided can cover up to 90% of the project’s costs to a maximum of $10,000. 
• Contributions in kind or in the form of services from a partner may constitute 10% of the financing package.
• Assistance may cover artist remuneration and support, creation and technical costs, and rental of space for creation or rehearsal.

How long does the support last?

This is a one-time, non-recurring grant.

Who meets the general conditions for eligibility?

For artists’ collectives

Status and conditions

• Groups of artists of any number (minimum: two)
• The person in charge, or the person who submitted the application, must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
• The group must be made up of professional artists.
• A majority of the group’s members (50% +1), including the person who submitted the application, must reside on the Island of Montréal.

For arts organizations

Status and conditions

• Must be a non-profit organization or artists’ cooperative that pays no dividends
• Must be headquartered on the Island of Montréal
• Board of directors must be composed mainly of Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
• The organization’s main activities must be in the creation, production, or dissemination of arts and culture

Professional requirements

• Must possess recognized, demonstrable competence
• Must be managed by qualified individuals
• Must present activities of recognized artistic quality
• Must employ professional artists and/or cultural workers

Are there any special eligibility criteria?

Projects must include a letter of confirmation from collaborators or partners.

What types of projects are eligible?

• Research and creation for in situ projects
• Research, creation, or production residencies
• Artistic collaboration or research, creation, or production partnerships with fields other than the arts

What is the timeframe for completing the work?

Project activities must adhere to the timeline provided with the application.

How many applications will be accepted?

The number of applications accepted into this support program will depend on the budget, the number of applications received, and how well each project meets program criteria.

Who is not eligible to apply?

Ineligible applicants

• Individual artists
• Collectives and organizations that do not meet the general conditions for eligibility
• Artists’ collectives that are incorporated as a for-profit or non-profit company, or general or limited partnership
• Art agents
• Instructional, educational or professional organizations
• Public or parapublic organizations representing governments or municipal corporations
• Organizations registered as partnerships

Activity sectors 

• Organizations working exclusively in variety or comedy
• Applicants working exclusively in cultural mediation

Ineligible projects

• Previously created and disseminated work
• Dissemination activities for existing projects
• Projects completed before CAM renders a decision (please allow eight to ten weeks from the application deadline)
• Promotional or commercial recording projects (albums, CDs, demos, etc.)

Ineligible applications

• Incomplete applications 
• Applications received after the deadline

The evaluation committee will automatically reject ineligible applications.

Can specific populations receive additional financial support to submit their application or complete their project (accessibility costs)?

Yes. Accessibility costs refer to costs that certain individuals, particularly those who are D/deaf and/or living with a disability, must pay to take advantage, in the same way as others do, of the services and programs offered by an institution for research, to create, produce or disseminate their art. Reimbursement of part of these costs by the Conseil des arts de Montréal may offset the financial disadvantage.

The Support Fund for Accessibility Costs is a financial assistance measure that complements the Conseil’s other programs. The deadline to apply for support for accessibility costs is the same as that for the program being applied to.

Artists, collectives or organizations that have obtained financial assistance from the Conseil to carry out a project can also file an application for accessibility cost support up to three months after the decisions related to the successful project have been sent out, provided the project is not completed before the deadline to send out decisions for accessibility cost support applications.

Support is divided into three components:

• component 1 – Financial support to submit a grant application or to apply for one of the Conseil’s initiatives
• component 2 – Financial support for accessibility costs for a project funded by the Conseil
• component 3 – Financial support for presenter organizations for accessibility costs to welcome audiences for a project funded by the Conseil

For more details, please see this additional information on the Support Fund.

Who should submit the application?

• For collectives: the person in charge of the collective
• For an organization: a duly authorized representative

Can I submit an application in English?

Only collectives can submit applications in English. Please note that application form questions are in French.

What information and documents must be included with the application?

• Project description
• Schedule
• Confirmation letter from community partner(s)  
• List of participants (artists, designers, other important collaborators)
• Brief curriculum vitae for each artist (maximum 2 pages per CV)
• Budget

How are applications evaluated?

Applications are evaluated by a multidisciplinary committee of peers. All projects will be assessed in light of their relative value in terms of CAM’s target objectives and strategic priorities.

What are the evaluation criteria?

Quality: 40%

Uniqueness and merit of the artistic project 

Relevance of collaborators or partners

Significance of the artistic approach in terms of the target territory

• Quality of previous work by members of the collective or organization 

Project impact: 35%

• Characteristics of the Montréal area where the project will take place
• Evidence that the project is rooted in the target area(s)
• Anticipated impact on one of the priority groups
• Collaboration with fields other than the arts

Project management and financial stability 20% 

• Project feasibility and practical aspects of the proposal
• Reasonableness of the proposed budget and financial soundness
• Efforts to compensate artists and cultural workers
• Financial health of the organization or collective

Green transition 5%

Integration and implementation of environmentally responsible practices, such as concrete actions to reduce the project’s ecological footprint in terms of creation, production, promotion, waste management, and team and equipment transportation; efforts to include eco-design, digital sobriety, and energy efficiency, etc.

Bonus for alignment with strategic priorities

The evaluation score may be enhanced if the project aligns with CAM’s strategic impact priorities. Bonus points would be added to the score initially accorded by peers. The total of eight possible bonus points is based on:

• equity and representation: maximum 3 points
• local outreach: maximum 5 points

What is the response time?

After the application is received, CAM will need eight (8) to ten (10) weeks to process it and render a decision.

How will I be informed of the decision?

The person responsible for the application will receive an email invitation to view the results on the ORORA platform. Decisions are never communicated by telephone.

Can I appeal the decision?

CAM decisions are final and not subject to appeal. However, you may contact CAM staff if you have any questions about a decision.

Applicants agree to refrain at all times from contacting evaluation committee members or members of CAM’s Board of Directors on any matter concerning their application or any aspect of management, evaluation, or decision that pertains to it.

How will the grant be paid?

Artists are paid in two instalments:

• 80% when the project begins
• 20% upon submitting the final report

What are my obligations?

Applicants who accept payment thereby agree to fulfill the activities the grant is intended to cover and comply with all associated terms and conditions, which will be communicated upon acceptance of the application.

The collective or organization agrees to: 

• fulfill the project as described
• notify CAM as soon as possible if unable to complete the funded project in progress. 
• reimburse some or all of the amount awarded if requested to do so.
• submit activity reports and financial statements as required, upon request.
• if applicable, include with the report any photographs, videos, or other relevant, royalty-free visuals created for the project, which CAM may use for promotional purposes.

Online information sessions

• June 13, 2023: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• August 15, 2023: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.