advice

It's always tough to get funding in the arts, particularly for an emerging artist. Here is a short and incomplete list of funding sources aimed at performing artists who are at the beginning of a professional career.

Government of Canada Department of Canadian Heritage
Heritage Cultures and Languages
Arts Apprenticeship
Voice: 604 666 0176, Fax: 604 666 3508
email: py_infocentre@dch.gc.ca
http://www.dch.gc.ca

Government of Canada - The Canada Council
Voice: 1 800 263 5588
Fax: 613 566 4390

Theatre Production Project Grants
Emerging Artists' Creation/Development
Theatre Section, ext. 4487
Robert Allen, ext. 5488,officer
email: jocelyne.alain@canadacouncil.ca

Grants to Dance Professionals
emerging, mid-career, established
Denise Bolduc, ext. 4103 First People's officer
Monique Léger, ext 4578, officer
Andrea Rowe, ext. 4578, officer

BC Arts Council
Cultural Services, Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture
Free calls through Enquiry BC: 660 2421
Voice: 250 356 1718,
Fax: 250 387 4099
email: csbinfo@tbc.govbc.ca
Training and Scholarships: Julie Poskitt 250 356 1724
Professional Performing Arts: Gillian Brydon 2SO 356 1725

Vancouver Foundation Advanced Arts Study Award
c/o The Registrar,
Vancouver Academy of Music
Voice: 604 734 2301

ArtsFACT
Arts Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent
c/o CHQM/FM
Project grants, Capital grants and Scholarships
Voice: 604 871 9000
Fax: 604 871 2901
Carl LeGrice, contact person

This list was compiled from the Arts Resource Book, an extensive and detailed practical manual on arts funding in Canada. The book is available from:

The Assembly of BC Arts Councils
Linda Power: 604 878 4940
Fax: 604 738 5161

Many grants require that you have a body of work and at least a couple of years of professional experience. However, the funding people we spoke with said that the most important thing is to get in touch with them. Contact them, and tell them what you're seeking funding for. They'll direct you to the right person, they'll tell you what to apply for, they'll tell you how to do it. Some may even help you draft your proposal. Talk to whoever you can; many established artists are open to discussing the labyrinth of grants. Funding officers are essentially there to get as much money as possible to as many artists as possible. It's their job. And if you want creating artwork to be your job, they're people you should talk to.