Literary Performance and Spoken Word Program
Deadline
15 April
If this date falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Please refer to the Program Guidelines for detailed information.
Program Description
The Literary Performance and Spoken Word Program has two components:
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The Creation and Production component of the Literary Performance and Spoken Word Program supports literary projects that are not based on conventional book or printed magazine formats. Grants are for the creation, production, performance, broadcast or promotion of literary performance, spoken word and storytelling.
- The Festivals and Performance Series component of the Literary Performance and Spoken Word Program increases knowledge and appreciation of Canadian literary performance, spoken word and storytelling activities by providing opportunities for spoken word artists and storytellers to perform their works.
This program is open to Aboriginal artists and organizations and those of diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.
Creation and Production
Eligibility of Applicant
Eligible Organizations
Collectives, producers, publishers, or literary performance, spoken word and storytelling hosts that have proven experience in producing literary performance, spoken word or storytelling art are eligible to apply to this program.
Presenters not eligible for the Festival and Performance Series component may be eligible to apply to the Creation and Production component.
Eligible Artists
To apply to the Canada Council for the Arts, you must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You do not need to be living in Canada when you apply.
You must also meet the Canada Council’s definition of a professional artist, which is an artist who:
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has specialized training in the artistic field (not necessarily in academic institutions)
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is recognized as a professional by his or her peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition), and
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is committed to devoting more time to artistic activity, if possible financially.
Eligible individual applicants include:
- professional literary performers, spoken word artists or professional storytellers who have been paid in the past for their public literary performances or are recognized, in writing, by two established spoken word artists or storytellers, and
- professional writers who wish to transform their work to the literary performance, spoken word or storytelling genre.
Collaborative projects are eligible.
Eligibility of Activities
This component of the program supports literary performance, spoken word or storytelling projects that involve creation, production or dissemination (other than festivals or performance series that are eligible for the second component). Artists may also apply for financial assistance for professional development activities.
Projects featuring artistic collaboration that enhance the development of the literary performance, spoken word and storytelling communities are encouraged.
There are two types of creation grants:
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Literary performance projects involve media or creative collaborations with other disciplines as long as the literary aspect is central. These projects may include film and video performances, digital creation, installation and other creative literary performances that present literature in innovative ways.
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Spoken word and storytelling projects involve performance with minimal or no cross-disciplinary components. A major consideration is use of voice and the originality of the work. These projects may include traditional and contemporary storytelling, slam-based works, dub, hip hop and other spoken word expressions
Grant Amount
Grants range from $1,000 to $25,000, depending on the nature of the project. Requests for the higher amounts are very competitive: for amounts higher than $17,000, priority is given to projects involving artists with a significant profile.
Eligible costs include creation, production and dissemination costs, and performance travel costs and fees. Where applicable, the performer’s fees should also be included. Production costs associated with recording and promoting CDs, DVDs, film or video formats (such as video poems) are eligible.
Festivals and Performance Series
Eligibility
Only Canadian organizations and collectives can apply, for activities in Canada.
For Festival Host Organizations
The Festivals category is for literary performance, spoken word and storytelling festival organizations that are hosting a minimum of 10 professional, paid literary performers, spoken word artists and storytellers over a period of at least two days. Festivals may host as many artists as they wish beyond the minimum requirement. New festivals are those less than two years old and established festivals have been in existence at least two years or more.
Festival hosts applying to this category may also submit an application for a performance series that is separate from the festival, within the same competition.
For Performance Series Host Organizations
Organizations and collectives that present a minimum of 6 professional, paid literary performers, spoken word artists or storytellers in performance over a 12-month period may apply to the Performance Series category for support. New series are those less than two years old and established series have been in existence at least two years or more.
For Other Types of Host Organizations
Organizations and collectives that host performances by literary performers, spoken word artists or storytellers but do not meet the minimum criteria of either a festival or series may still apply to the Creation and Production component of this program for support.
For Invited Spoken Word Artists and Storytellers
Invited literary performers, spoken word artists and storytellers must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, and must have a history of public literary performance. Festivals and series also featuring artists of other disciplines may apply for support for literary performers, spoken word artists and storytellers only.
Grant Amount
The maximum grant available through this component is $35,000 for established series and festivals (that is, those that have been in existence at least two years). Applicants may apply to a maximum of $12,000 for new festivals and $7,000 for new series. Support is allocated for the following priorities: honoraria and travel for the literary performers, spoken word artists or storytellers, then other reasonable costs incurred by the host organization.
Further Information
Mona Kiame
Program Officer
Writing and Publishing Section
Canada Council for the Arts
P.O. Box 1047, 350 Albert Street
Ottawa ON K1P 5V8
Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, 4016
TTY: 1-866-585-5559
Fax: 613-566-4410
February 2011