Arts, Culture and Heritage Grant

1. Review the grant guidelines to ensure you or your group are eligible for grant funding.
2. 2024 grant applications will be submitted through the CIP Grant Portal. Log in or register for your CIP Grant Portal account at rmwb.ca/CIP.

3. Complete and submit the application. The CIP Grant Portal will accept applications until 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2024 or until funds are exhausted (whichever comes first). Only complete applications will be accepted. A complete application contains all the documents listed on the application.

4. CIP will conduct a preliminary review of the application and supporting documents to ensure eligibility and completeness.

5. If clarification on the submitted application is required, you will receive an email notifying you that revisions have been requested. Please log in to the CIP Grant Portal to provide clarifications within two weeks from when the revisions were requested.

6. All complete and eligible applications will be moved forward to Stage 2.

Stage 2

1. A Review Panel including subject matter experts from Municipal departments and a representative from Arts Council Wood Buffalo will complete application scoring and ranking based on an established assessment criteria. See the guidelines.
2. The review panel will meet on the fourth Thursday of every month in 2024, except for the month of December when the meeting will be held a week earlier. To have an application reviewed during that month's meeting, applicants must submit their application no later than the first Tuesday of the month.
3. The review panel will make a recommendation to the Supervisor of Community Investment Program for final decision.
4. Funding is provided on a first-come, first-served basis until December 31, 2024, or until funds are exhausted (whichever comes first).
5. Applicants will be notified of the decision via e-mail.
6. Successful applicants will be provided with an agreement letter that sets out the terms and conditions of participating in the program. Applicants must sign and return the agreement letter to CIP within 30 days.

 If you have any questions or would like clarification, please contact Pulse.

• Environmental Arts: landscape design and environmental art installations.
• Heritage Arts: protection, restoration, display and interpretation of heritage archives and materials, artifacts, archeological and heritage sites.
• Literary Arts: storytelling, creative writing, prose, poetry.
• Media Arts: film/video, photography, sound recording, multimedia, publishing.
• Multicultural Arts: ethnic celebrations, festivals, fairs, ethnic-specific performing, visual, literary, craft, folk tales, culinary traditions.
• Performing Arts: drama, music, dance, choral, theatre, opera, comedic, puppetry, mime, performance art.
• Visual Arts: painting, drawing, calligraphy, fiber arts, ceramic arts, mosaics, sculpture, craft, woodworking, metal work, printmaking.

The Arts, Culture and Heritage Pilot Grant will not fund:

• Applicants that do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements.

• Projects related to political or religious parties.

• Projects that will take place as part of the Alberta Culture Days events.
• Re-applying for additional grant funds for the same project already funded during the same calendar year.
• The items and costs highlighted under Ineligible Expenses.

The Applicant must:

1. Reside within the Regional Boundary for a minimum of one year or be a group with all members residing within the Regional Boundary for a minimum of one year before applying.
2. Apply for projects that are being created, developed, and presented within the Regional Boundary. Projects traveling to be exhibited outside of the region may also be approved, as long as they are created, developed and presented within the Regional Boundary.
3. Apply for projects that occur between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024.
4. Submit only one application and receive only one Arts, Culture and Heritage Grant per Call for Applications (applications can include multiple projects up to the grant maximum).
5. Be in compliance with past reporting requirements from any previous Community Investment Program Grants.

The Applicant must not:

1. Be a registered non-profit organization or society.
2. Be applying for funding from other CIP Grants or Alberta Culture Days funding for the same project.

The Wood Buffalo Culture Plan includes five priority areas, as listed below. Applicants must specify with which priority or priorities their project aligns and explain how the expected deliverables will contribute to advancing the goals of the Wood Buffalo Culture Plan. Projects do not need to align with all five priorities. Projects that align with at least one priority would be eligible for funding.

• Expenses related to fundraising activities/costs.
• Costs funded under other Municipal grant programs.
• Liquor licence, liquor.
• Per diem expenses.
• Projects deemed by the Municipality as ineligible on a case-by-case basis.

Travel expenses may be approved on a case-by-case basis, to ensure that projects are created and developed within the region of Wood Buffalo, and to ensure that coverage is not duplicated by other approved grants.

Individuals and groups may apply for a maximum of $5,000.

If two or more individual applications are received from members of the same group, the total maximum amount awarded will not exceed the maximum amount ($5,000). The amount awarded will be divided among the applicants.

The Municipality will allocate 100% of the approved grant upon application approval. Recipients must complete the Final Report and provide copies of receipts (up to the approved grant value) within 60 days of project completion.

Any funds not used for the project as described in the agreement will have to be returned.

A successful applicant will be required to:

• Contribute to a vibrant, sustainable community and quality of life for current and future residents through projects that align with the priorities of the Wood Buffalo Culture Plan below:
  
  1. Foster healthy environment for culture: arts and heritage.
  2. Further develop cultural facilities and resources.
  3. Support collaboration and innovation.
  4. Encourage diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility.
  5. Improve awareness of the value of culture.
  
  
• Use grant funds only in the manner originally agreed upon. Any funds not used for the project as described in the application may have to be returned.
• Complete and/or upload the following in the CIP Grant Portal:
  • Final Report demonstrating the positive impact of the funded project(s).
  • Original receipts and paid invoices for project-related expenses.
  • Attachments including examples of how the successful applicant publicly recognized the funding considerations provided by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Refer to Logos and the Logo Standards Guide for usage.
    
    

Letters of Support must:

• Be from someone in your field who can confirm for your artistic merit and ability to carry out the proposed project.
• Include contact details.
• Be signed (or in lieu of signature, writer may email CIP@rmwb.ca directly).
• Be dated within 30 days of application.
• Received by application deadline.
• Not be written by immediate family.

• March 4, 2024 - Call for Applications Opens
• During Call for Applications - Pre-application meeting, information sessions and support (contact CIP@rmwb.ca)
• Dec. 31, 2024, or funds are exhausted, whichever comes first - Applications close.
• Within two weeks of application submission - CIP completes preliminary review 
• During preliminary review - CIP requests application revisions, where applicable. The deadline to submit the required revision is within two weeks of the request. 
• TBD - Decision Letter and Final Report sent to applicant
• Within 30 days of signed agreement - Grant Distribution
• Within 60 days of completing project - Final Report and receipts submitted to CIP via CIP Grant Portal