I’m currently waiting on a decision about my individual Canada Council application to direct my first short! I received one also as a group in 2023 to produce a short, which is just finishing up its festival run. These grants make so much possible in this country! But agree there is still work to be done to perfect how and to whom the funds are allocated. Thanks so much for this timely article :)
They make soooooo much possible, which is why I included positive elements to this piece. I didn't want it to be all critique because that wouldn't reflect all the great work grants have done for artists. But yes, there are opportunities being missed and I think we can do a bit better.
I'm looking forward to hearing more. I've glanced at grants a couple of times but have wondered whether it was worth it to take the time to apply (and then any follow up reporting, of course). I am a prolific author and it seems like they are looking at the authors who are putting all of their time into publishing one book. And I feel like by the time they approved the project it would be finished and published. lol
Haha if you're self publishing at a fast rate, then yes, you'll probably release a title before you get grants results. If you know how to work the system, though, you can still apply that grant to your project.
Oh my, I have so much to say about this subject but will try my best to be succinct. Firstly, I agree with you: what a wonderful thing grants are and how grateful I am that they exist! I have never sat on a board of juries but I believe everything you say about the decision making. I totally agree that financial circumstances should be taken into consideration! I am white and live in the second wealthiest neighborhood in Montreal, but as it happens, it’s because I renovated a shithole with my bare hands and got lucky. I am also a single mother with an income of less than 30k (embarrassed to admit!) so while in paper i might look “privileged”, these grants make all the difference between me writing, or doing other jobs to support my family. Also, it would be nice to get feedback on how these decisions are made, but it’s all a mystery. I am currently finishing a book with a grant money and I am beyond grateful!
Yes, the mystery can be a bit annoying, but it's so straightforward. I think the issue is that there are different jurors every time so there's no consistency because everyone is different. And yay to you writing your book! I can't wait to read it.
As a fellow Torontonian who's in an arts-adjacent field (communications for a non-profit org), your honest post is spot on. And, while we're talking about the elusive nature of grant knowledge, I'd add that an understanding of grants and scholarships for Canadian colleges and universities is equally low. 🍁
Thanks for writing this! The questions towards the end get to some of my problems with the Canadian system. Too often it seems to be run by people who equate unpopularity with merit, and we end up with a culture that isn't really for us. So it's always good to hear about someone managing to get money for something that actually feels relevant to them.
I’m currently waiting on a decision about my individual Canada Council application to direct my first short! I received one also as a group in 2023 to produce a short, which is just finishing up its festival run. These grants make so much possible in this country! But agree there is still work to be done to perfect how and to whom the funds are allocated. Thanks so much for this timely article :)
They make soooooo much possible, which is why I included positive elements to this piece. I didn't want it to be all critique because that wouldn't reflect all the great work grants have done for artists. But yes, there are opportunities being missed and I think we can do a bit better.
Thanks so much, Damon. The wait is agonizing!
Wishing you luck on your directorial debut Lauren!! That’s so exciting!
I always find the terms and conditions of applying for grants confusing- I only wish I had more people to guide me through the process.
They're not too confusing, David. Give me a shout sometime if you really want to work through it.
I'm looking forward to hearing more. I've glanced at grants a couple of times but have wondered whether it was worth it to take the time to apply (and then any follow up reporting, of course). I am a prolific author and it seems like they are looking at the authors who are putting all of their time into publishing one book. And I feel like by the time they approved the project it would be finished and published. lol
Haha if you're self publishing at a fast rate, then yes, you'll probably release a title before you get grants results. If you know how to work the system, though, you can still apply that grant to your project.
Oh my, I have so much to say about this subject but will try my best to be succinct. Firstly, I agree with you: what a wonderful thing grants are and how grateful I am that they exist! I have never sat on a board of juries but I believe everything you say about the decision making. I totally agree that financial circumstances should be taken into consideration! I am white and live in the second wealthiest neighborhood in Montreal, but as it happens, it’s because I renovated a shithole with my bare hands and got lucky. I am also a single mother with an income of less than 30k (embarrassed to admit!) so while in paper i might look “privileged”, these grants make all the difference between me writing, or doing other jobs to support my family. Also, it would be nice to get feedback on how these decisions are made, but it’s all a mystery. I am currently finishing a book with a grant money and I am beyond grateful!
Yes, the mystery can be a bit annoying, but it's so straightforward. I think the issue is that there are different jurors every time so there's no consistency because everyone is different. And yay to you writing your book! I can't wait to read it.
Thank you! I am plugging away. It’s such a big project! You’ll be one of the first to read it, promise!
As a fellow Torontonian who's in an arts-adjacent field (communications for a non-profit org), your honest post is spot on. And, while we're talking about the elusive nature of grant knowledge, I'd add that an understanding of grants and scholarships for Canadian colleges and universities is equally low. 🍁
Which is a problem since grants are so critical to artistic success in Canada. The universities and colleges should be experts.
Thanks for writing this! The questions towards the end get to some of my problems with the Canadian system. Too often it seems to be run by people who equate unpopularity with merit, and we end up with a culture that isn't really for us. So it's always good to hear about someone managing to get money for something that actually feels relevant to them.