Prairies Performing Arts Initiative (PPAI) applicant guide
This applicant guide is a companion for the Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) Prairies Performing Arts Initiative.
Contents
- Overview
- Eligible applicants – Mandatory criteria
- Funding
- Eligible activities
- Eligible project costs
- Ineligible project costs
- Guidelines for in-kind costs/contributions
- Application requirements
- Attributes of a strong project
- Economic results
- Official languages
- Environmental assessment compliance
- Reporting requirements
- How to complete the application
- Annex: Glossary
Overview
The Prairie Performing Arts Initiative (PPAI) is part of Canada’s budget 2024 commitment to create vibrant and inclusive communities. PPAI provides $20 million in one-time support over three years (2024/25 to 2026/27).
The initiative provides contributions directly to eligible performing arts organizations to support projects that contribute to the financial sustainability and growth of the performing arts sector across the Prairies.
Eligible applicants – Mandatory criteria
To be eligible for funding under the PPAI, your organization must be:
- A not-for-profit professional performing arts organization, or equivalent Indigenous organization, defined as:
- An incorporated organization operating with a mandate to create, produce, and perform works in the professional performing arts;
- Is registered and operating as a non-profit arts entity with a board of directors overseeing its operations and with internal or external oversight of the organization’s finances and produces annual financial statements; and
- Employs a paid artistic director, or equivalent, and pays artist fees at established national standards for the artistic discipline(s) and practice in which it operates.
- Who also:
- Disseminates the work they create and produce through at least 5 years of continuous professional programming that is accessible to the public, and through programming offered as subscription or member series; and
- Has an annual revenue of normally $1 million or more from the previous fiscal year or an average of the last two fiscal years.
- An incorporated organization operating with a mandate to create, produce, and perform works in the professional performing arts;
- An organization residing within Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; and
- A legal entity capable of entering into legally binding agreements.
The Government of Canada supports diversity and inclusion.
If you’re a not-for-profit professional performing arts organization from or mandated to support Indigenous and other underrepresented groups, such as racialized, official language minority, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and you meet the other eligibility criteria above, you may have a minimum annual revenue of $500,000 or more.
Funding
Not-for-profit recipients under PPAI will normally receive non-repayable contributions.
PrairiesCan contributions must normally range between $100,000 to a maximum of $750,000 per project over a maximum of 3 years. PrairiesCan can fund up to 100% of eligible project costs.
The amount of the project is to be at the minimum level required to meet the objectives of PPAI and the results expected from the project. PrairiesCan will take into consideration all other sources of funding available to the applicant. A strong project would demonstrate leveraging of funding from other sources.
Maximum PrairiesCan funding may exceed $750,000 in cases where:
- The project benefits multiple performing arts entities comprising partnerships, and/or
- The collaboration provides new approaches and a plan for broader application to other organizations in the sector.
Recipients will not normally receive funding for more than one project.
An organization may receive funding, on an exceptional basis, for a maximum of two projects where:
- At least one project includes participation within a collaborative initiative providing benefits to multiple organizations in the performing arts sector.
Successful applicants will need to sign a contribution agreement and will be reimbursed on the basis of documented claims for eligible costs incurred and paid and/or the fulfillment of conditions specified in the contribution agreement being met. Successful applicants will also be required to complete claims and progress reports at key phases of the project, as well as a final project report.
Eligible activities
Eligible projects must provide incremental value (e.g., incremental/improvements to the applicant’s existing activities). Eligible PPAI activities must demonstrate how the project will contribute to the improvement or innovation of business practices and diversification of revenues and/or audiences to strengthen the sustainability and growth of the performing arts sector through alignment with one or more of the program activities:
- Innovative marketing and audience development.
- Innovation and development of new approaches and tools to diversify revenue bases and increase exposure to new partners and investment.
- Strategic use of technologies and tools to improve operational efficiency, support digitization, or expand audience multimedia experience and products.
- Developing, sharing and/or implementation of expertise, best practices and tools to benefit performing arts organizations in the sector.
Eligible project costs
All proposed costs should be incremental and essential to the implementation of the project. Project-related costs that may be eligible for reimbursement include, but may not be limited to:
- professional services (e.g. consultant fees associated with project implementation, design, etc.);
- digital tools (e.g. platforms, applications, etc.) and new technology that will improve business operations, and/or increase or diversify audiences or revenue;
- purchase and/or rental of machinery and equipment directly related to the authorized project;
- marketing/promotion costs, only as part of a broader project and if deemed essential to the success of the project (e.g. to promote a new offering developed as part of the project, to target a new audience base);
- pro-rated salaries/wages directly related to staff time spent on the project;
- legal, administrative, accounting, licensing, permits;
- acquisitions of proprietary processes;
- supplies, transportation; and
- other costs that are reasonable, incremental and directly attributable to activities necessary to achieve desired results, as specified by the agreement.
Costs may be eligible on a retroactive basis for a 12-month period prior to the receipt of a funding application, but no earlier than April 16, 2024.
PrairiesCan reserves the right to make the final determination on the value of contributions, the inclusion of any in-kind contributions, and to exclude expenditures deemed to be ineligible or outside the scope of the project.
Ineligible project costs
Costs that are deemed unreasonable, not incremental, and/or not directly related to project activities will be ineligible for reimbursement. These include, but may not be limited to:
- refinancing of existing debts or amortization or depreciation of assets;
- ongoing operational activities;
- infrastructure improvements such as construction, expansion, or modification of buildings;
- presentation of festivals, one-time or new events/celebrations related to holidays (e.g., Canada Day);
- salaries and benefits of employees not contributing to the project and artists’ fees;
- ticket subsidization;
- prize money or merchandising and promotional products (e.g., gifts, caps, pencils, mugs, etc.);
- land acquisition and goodwill;
- entertainment expenses; and
- donations, dues, and membership fees.
Costs incurred prior to the Project Proposed Start Date will not be eligible.
Project costs incurred by the applicant in the absence of a signed funding agreement with PrairiesCan are incurred at the sole risk of the applicant.
Guidelines for in-kind costs/contributions
Under not-for-profit programming, only project costs incurred and directly paid by the applicant can be reimbursed by PrairiesCan. An in-kind contribution is a project cost that does not involve an expense incurred and paid for by the project applicant. Typically, these expenses are borne by third parties for items or services that are in turn provided to the applicant at no cost or at a reduced cost (e.g., a deep discount not typically offered to others). Such costs are used to demonstrate a more accurate picture of the project scope, including project funding, leveraging, and demonstration of participant and/or private sector contributions to a project.
The cost must be for an item considered by PrairiesCan to be essential to a project’s success, eligible under the programming, and would otherwise be purchased and paid for by the applicant. For example:
- An industry partner will provide trucks to a college for use in a project to train truck drivers. In this case, the college did not incur or pay any incremental costs but the project could not reasonably go forward without the trucks, so this would be an in-kind contribution to project costs.
In-kind costs may only be included in the project when there is a clear plan and commitment from the applicant on how the costs can be verified.
- In the example above, the value of the trucks to the project can be quantified via sales records.
PrairiesCan reserves the right to make the final determination on the value of contributions, the inclusion of any in-kind contributions, and to exclude expenditures deemed to be ineligible or outside the scope of the project.
Application requirements
PrairiesCan requires the items below to support your application for funding:
- a completed application form;
- financial statements for the past 2 years (including the most current);
- interim financial statements (past 6 months) (required only if past two years financials are unavailable);
- detailed budget; and
- evidence of other funding sources (where available provide written confirmation). Funding will only be considered confirmed if written proof is provided. It is mandatory that you attach confirmation of other (non-RDA) sources of funding if “confirmed” funding has been selected. There is a maximum of one attachment for each confirmed funder.
If the project has confirmed funding at the time of application, please attach proof of all sources of non-RDA funding. PrairiesCan considers the following as sources of confirmed funding:
- letters of confirmation;
- signed agreements; and
- financial and/or bank statements.
This documentation is necessary in order to consider non-RDA funding as confirmed.
We may require additional documentation and information as part of a more detailed assessment.
Please attach any supporting documents that you feel will support your application. There is no maximum number of attachments for additional documentation. Examples include:
- project plan;
- letters of support;
- regulatory approvals and resolutions;
- board minutes; and
- list of the Board of Directors.
Please note:
- PrairiesCan will not assess saved applications that have not been submitted.
- Signing and submitting the application form does not constitute a commitment from PrairiesCan for financial assistance.
Attributes of a strong project
PrairiesCan targets its investments toward strong projects that clearly demonstrate:
- a clear alignment to one or more of PrairiesCan’s PPAI program activities;
- a need, sector demand, or opportunity (e.g., the project addresses a significant gap in the sector or there is a demonstrated demand for the activity);
- economic results for the organization and/or the sector;
- financial statements that demonstrate the organization is financially sustainable;
- effective management capacity in place to carry out the project;
- a strong rationale for the project;
- leveraged funding from provincial governments, the private sector, and other non-government sources (typically 50 percent or more); and
- non-PrairiesCan funding is confirmed; funding will only be considered confirmed if written proof is provided
Economic results
Projects will create economic results or benefits for the Prairies. The economic results should be clear, measurable, directly attributable to the project, and can be reported against during and at the end of the project.
Your proposal should help strengthen the performing arts sector in the Prairies. To contribute to this goal, project outcomes should include one or more of the following:
- Revenue diversification (does the project increase the sources of revenue or proportion of the source);
- Projected revenue growth;
- Projected audience growth or diversification;
- Improvements in business practices (efficiencies gained, costs reduced, improved business models, such as through the adoption of technologies);
- Jobs created or maintained; and/or
- Benefits to the performing arts sector (sharing of best practices, expertise, and tools) outside of the applicant.
If you are successful in obtaining PrairiesCan funding for your project, you will be expected to report on progress against the economic results a minimum of twice per year.
Depending on the nature of the proposed project, results may be measured and reported up to one year past the proposed end date.
Official languages
Under the Official Languages Act, the Government of Canada is committed to supporting the development of official language minority communities (English-speaking communities in Quebec and French-speaking communities in the rest of Canada). More than two million Canadians belong to an official language minority community. The intention is to enable these communities to thrive and to enjoy the same benefits as the rest of the population.
Applicants seeking funding under not-for-profit programming may assist PrairiesCan in fulfilling its obligations under the Official Languages Act by identifying aspects of the proposed project that may benefit Francophone communities in the Prairies or by being willing to modify the proposed project to extend its benefits to the Francophone community. This may be as simple as including a French-speaking service provider who is able to offer business services in French as part of the project or offering the final product resulting from the project in French.
Please follow up with your PrairiesCan project officer to explore how you might modify your proposed project to assist the department in extending benefits to the Francophone community.
Environmental assessment compliance
Projects involving physical works may be subject to the Impact Assessment Act (2019). Recipients of PrairiesCan funding will be responsible for obtaining all certificates, consents, permits and approvals required for compliance with applicable legislation and for complying with the requirements of such legislation. Should an environmental assessment be required, it will be necessary to plan several months before the Project Proposed Start Date to allow sufficient time for the completion of the assessment.
Reporting requirements
All contribution agreements jointly signed between PrairiesCan and a successful applicant include a requirement for periodic reports in order to demonstrate progress in implementing the project and achieving the economic results. These progress reports are required at least twice a year to support claims for reimbursement of project costs. Recipients are also required to provide financial statements to PrairiesCan throughout project implementation.
How to complete the application
Tips
- Note that the fields marked with the * are mandatory and need to be completed in order to submit this form.
- Character count includes spaces.
- Remember to click save after each section.
Organization information
- Legal name of applicant organization: *
The legal name as shown on the certificate of incorporation or registration.
- Operating name (if different than legal name):
Provide the name you are operating under if different from the full legal name.
- Mailing address (Including suite, unit, apt #): *
The mailing address of your organization.
- Mailing address line 2:
Additional mailing address information.
- City: *
The city in which your organization resides.
- Province/Territory: *
The province in which your organization resides.
- Country: *
The country in which your organization resides.
- Mailing postal code: *
The mailing postal code of your organization.
- Telephone country code: *
The telephone country code of your organization.
- Telephone: *
The telephone number of your organization.
- Facsimile country code:
The facsimile country code of your organization.
- Facsimile:
The facsimile number of your organization.
- Website:
Your applicant organization’s website address (if available).
- Email address:
Include the general email address of your organization.
- Are you an Indigenous (First Nation, Métis or Inuit) organization or government? *
Select yes or no.
- Corporate Status: *
Indicate if your organization is a for-profit or not-for-profit.
- Organization Type (select best fit): *
Select from the drop down menu that most accurately reflects your organization type.
- I have a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Business Number: *
Select yes or no.
- Provide your CRA Business number or GST number (first 9 digits only): *
The unique business number or GST number assigned to your organization by the CRA. A business number or GST number must be obtained through the CRA. For information on obtaining a business number visit the website of the CRA.
- Jurisdiction of Incorporation: *
Select from the drop down menu your organization’s jurisdiction of incorporation.
- Incorporation number: *
As shown on your certification of incorporation.
- In the province of:
Indicate in which province your organization was incorporated.
- Date of incorporation:
Indicate the date your organization was incorporated.
- Alternative number and Alternative number type:
Please enter if you do not have a CRA Business Number or Incorporation Number, so your organization can be identified (such as band number, education number).
- Number of employees working for your organization (full time equivalents): *
Indicate the number of full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) working for your organization (and any affiliated companies if applicable). Part-time employees should be calculated based on their equivalent to an FTE (in other words, 1 part time employee working approximately 20 hours per week should be represented as 0.5 FTE).
- Provide a brief summary of your organization (Maximum of 500 characters). *
Outline how your organization aligns to the eligibility criteria above by briefly answering the following questions:
- What is your organization’s mandate/mission? How does your organization support the creation, production, and performance of professional performing arts?
- Does your organization employ a paid artistic director (or equivalent position)?
- Does your organization pay artist fees at the established national standards for the artistic discipline and practice which it operates?
- Does your organization have a board of directors that oversees operations?
- Is the oversight on the organization’s finances internal or external?
- How long has your organization’s professional programming been available to the public?
- Do you offer programming through subscriptions or member series?
Click Save.
Project information
If you have an existing portal account, the project contact may be selected and sub-sections will be pre-filled.
- Project Primary Contact *
This person will be contacted for any follow-up on this application and is also a member of your organization with signing power/authority to enter a legal agreement with PrairiesCan. Enter primary contact person information in sub-sections below (primary contact name, title, email address, and phone number).
- Project Secondary Contact
This person will be contacted if the primary contact is unavailable. Enter secondary contact person information in sub-sections below (secondary contact name, title, email address, and phone number).
Project information
- Project title (maximum of 90 characters): *
Provide a project title that accurately reflects the activities and results of the project. Should your project be approved, this description may be disclosed on the Open Government Portal website as part of its proactive disclosure guidelines. A project title can be a maximum of 90 characters including spaces.
(e.g. Collaboration on a shared online ticketing platform to streamline business operations)
- Project address is the same as mailing address? *
Select “Yes” if the address at which the project will be undertaken is the same as the organization’s mailing address. If checked, the mailing address will be automatically entered.
- Project address / location (Including suite, unit, apt #): *
If the project address is different from the mailing address, enter the location at which the project will take place.
- Project address line 2:
If you would like to provide additional project address information, please fill out this section.
- Project city, province/territory, and postal code. *
The project location address.
- Briefly describe your project activities in plain language. This is an important section as it will be used in summary documents to describe your project at various review stages (maximum of 1,000 characters including spaces). *
Briefly describe your project in plain language. This is important, as this section will be used in summary documents to describe your project at various review stages. Do not use technical language in this section.
The description should:
- Provide a high-level overview of the project and its objective;
- Outline the main elements of the project, including what the funds will be spent on; and
- Provide an understanding of how the project aligns to one or more program activities:
- Innovative marketing and audience development;
- Innovation and development of new approaches and tools to diversify revenue bases and increase exposure to new partners and investment;
- Strategic use of technologies and tools to improve operational efficiency, support digitization, or expand audience multimedia experience and products; and
- Developing, sharing and/or implementation of expertise, best practices and tools to benefit performing arts organizations in the sector.
- Briefly describe the economic benefits associated with this project. (1,000 characters including spaces) *
Provide an explanation on what outcomes your project will achieve, such as improvements to your business operations, diversification/growth of your audience, and/or diversification/growth of your revenue streams. Also outline how the proposed project will assist to enhance the sustainability of your organization or sector.
Anticipated outcomes include:
- Revenue diversification (does the project increase the sources of revenue or proportion of the source);
- Projected revenue growth;
- Projected audience growth or diversification;
- Improvements in business practices (efficiencies gained, costs reduced, improved business models, such as through the adoption of technologies);
- Jobs created or maintained; and/or
- Benefits to the performing arts sector (sharing of best practices, expertise, and tools) outside of the applicant.
Provide numerical values measured year over year from the project funding start date to typically one year following the project completion date.
Provide an explanation as to how these economic outcomes will be achieved. Ensure to identify and detail all assumptions to support the reasonableness of your economic outcomes. All projects will be screened for significance of outcomes and the likelihood of them being achieved.
Note: A job created refers to a job that did not exist prior to the project, but which was created as a result of the project. A job maintained is a position that would be potentially lost if an additional source of funds/revenues cannot be identified. Identify the numbers of jobs requiring highly qualified personnel, which is defined as individuals with university degrees at the bachelor’s level and above.
You will be provided another opportunity to explain in the Benefits section.
- Which RDA priority does this project best support? *
Applicants must select the “Outside of Current Departmental Priorities” priority as the PPAI does not align with other standard PrairiesCan program priorities.
To select the “Outside of Current Departmental Priorities” priority, click on the magnifying glass icon and the “Lookup records” window will appear where you can then select a priority from. For example:
- Explain how this project supports the indicated priority. (Maximum of 2,000 characters) *
The objective of PPAI is to support projects that improve business practices and leads to diversification of revenues to strengthen the sustainability and growth of leading professional performing arts producing organizations on the Prairies.
Explain how your project, including the project objective, activities, and outcomes, meets the PPAI objective.
Project Timelines
- Proposed start date: *
This is the proposed date the agreement between the Recipient and PrairiesCan could come into effect. Note that costs may be eligible on a retroactive basis for a 12-month period prior to receipt of a funding application, but no earlier than April 16, 2024. If the application is approved, eligible project costs incurred after this date may be reimbursed with proper documentation. Any costs incurred prior to April 16, 2024, or 12 months preceding your date of application (whichever is later), would not be eligible for reimbursement under the terms of the agreement and are outside of the scope of the project.
- Proposed end date: *
This is the anticipated date the project activity will cease. Project activities cannot occur past the program end date of March 31, 2027.
Funding
Project costs *
Note: PrairiesCan contributions must normally range between $100,000 to a maximum of $750,000 per project over a maximum of 3 years.
In exceptional circumstances, the maximum PrairiesCan funding may exceed $750,000 for projects that may involve partnerships or collaborations with benefits that extend to organizations in the sector. See Step 1: What this program offers for more information. Please contact PrairiesCan for discussion.
Recipients will not normally receive funding for more than one project.
- Description
List the various cost items you anticipate incurring in the implementation of the project. Each cost item should have its own line (see instructions below).
Recipients must ensure all project cost items are clearly verifiable.
Costs that may be eligible for reimbursement include, but may not be limited to:
- professional services (e.g. consultant fees associated with project implementation, design, etc.);
- digital tools (e.g. platforms, applications, etc.) and new technology that will improve business operations, and/or increase or diversify audiences or revenue;
- purchase and/or rental of machinery and equipment directly related to the authorized project;
- marketing/promotion costs, only as part of a broader project and if deemed essential to the success of the project (e.g. to promote a new offering developed as part of the project, to target a new audience base);
- pro-rated salaries/wages directly related to staff time spent on the project;
- legal, administrative, accounting, licensing, permits;
- acquisitions of proprietary processes;
- supplies, transportation; and
- other costs that are reasonable, incremental and directly attributable to activities necessary to achieve desired results, as specified by the agreement.
Examples of ineligible costs include:
- refinancing of existing debts or amortization or depreciation of assets
- ongoing operational activities;
- infrastructure improvements such as construction, expansion, or modification of buildings;
- presentation of festivals, one-time or new events/celebrations related to holidays (e.g., Canada Day);
- salaries and benefits of employees not contributing to the project and artists’ fees
- ticket subsidization;
- prize money or merchandising and promotional products (e.g., gifts, caps, pencils, mugs, etc.);
- land acquisition and goodwill;
- entertainment expenses; and
- donations, dues, and membership fees.
The PrairiesCan reserves the right to make the final determination on the value of contributions, the inclusion of any in-kind contributions, and to exclude expenditures deemed to be ineligible or outside the scope of the project.
Costs incurred prior to the Proposed Project Funding Start Date will not be eligible.
Project costs incurred by the applicant in the absence of a signed funding agreement with the RDA are incurred at the sole risk of the applicant.
- Type
Indicate if the cost is capital (such as purchase of equipment and associated costs such as installation) or non-capital (such as salaries, professional fees).
- Amount
The anticipated amount of the cost item.
- Total project costs
Automatically sums the cost items listed above. Note: This total must equal the total expenditures from the Cash Flows section below.
To add a project cost item, click on the
button and the following window will appear for you to provide the information. Click the Submit button once complete. You will still have the ability to edit the project cost item after hitting this Submit button.
Cash flows *
- Fiscal year (ending March 31)
Select appropriate fiscal year for cash flows.
- Total fiscal expenditures
Anticipated total project costs incurred from each fiscal year.
- RDA funding
The amount of PrairiesCan funding being requested to support each fiscal year expenses.
- Non-RDA funding
Automatically generated: the portion of project expenditures not covered by PrairiesCan funding.
- To enter cash flow information, click the down arrow on the far right for the fiscal year you are interested in. Click the Edit option that appears. Note: the fiscal years shown below are for illustrative purposes only.
- Enter the Expenditures and RDA Amount Requested information and then hit Submit. You will still have the ability to edit the project cost item after hitting the Submit button. Note: the fiscal year shown below is for illustrative purposes only.
- Total expenditures, total RDA funding requested and total non-RDA funding
The system will automatically calculate total PrairiesCan funding requested, as well as Total Fiscal Expenditures. Note that this total must equal total projects costs from the project cost section.
- Total expenditures: *
This is the sum of the Total Fiscal Expenditures column in the Cash Flows section. It is automatically calculated.
Note: This total must equal the Total project costs from the Project Costs section above.
- RDA funding requested: *
This is the sum of the PrairiesCan Funding column in the Cash Flows section. It is automatically calculated.
- Total non-RDA funding: *
This is the sum of the Non-RDA funding column in the Cash Flows section. It is automatically calculated.
Note: This total must equal the Amount provided by funding partners from the Funding Partners section below.
The solid arrows point to the fields that must balance and the dotted lines indicate what column is being summed to produce those totals. Note: the fiscal years shown below are for illustrative purposes only.
Funding Partners *
- Funding Partners
The first line in the list of funding partners is reserved for the applicant organization. Please add other funding partners or contributors, if any, in subsequent rows. Identify all potential contributors that will provide a monetary contribution to the project. Refer to the guidelines on in-kind contributions.
In-kind contributions, such as goods and services, toward project costs that do not involve a cost incurred or paid for by the applicant, should be demonstrated in the application at fair market value.
Identify all potential project contributors including the applicant organization that will provide funding as a monetary contribution or in-kind contribution. Note: applicants must ensure all contributions are clearly verifiable.
- Funding Category
Select from the drop down menu the description that best reflects the funding source.
- Funding Confirmed
In the case where your organization (Applicant) is a source of funding, indicate yes if you have cash on hand. In the case of other funding sources, indicate yes if there is written documentation supporting the funding.
- Amount
The anticipated amount of funding this partner (Applicant or funding partner) will provide.
- To add a funding partner, click on the
button and the following window will appear for you to input the information. Click the Submit button once complete. You will still have the ability to edit the project cost item after hitting this Submit button.
- To edit what your organization will be contributing towards this project, click the down arrow on the far right for the fiscal year you are interested in. Click the Edit option that appears and a similar pop-up window as shown above will appear.
- To add a funding partner, click on the
- Total amount provided by funding partners
Automatically sums the funding amounts listed above.
Note: This total must equal the Total non-RDA funding from the Cash Flows section above.
- Briefly describe any partnerships (non-financial and financial), including any costs covered (maximum of 1,200 characters, including spaces) *
Describe the partnerships that would be important to the success of the proposed project.
If the project is collaborative in nature and benefits multiple performing arts entities, list the names of the project partners and include any additional project partner locations where benefits of this project may accrue. Furthermore, provide a description of how this project will benefit the performing arts entities involved.
Click Save.
Benefits
- Primary activity: *
Choose 1 primary activity that best aligns with your project’s objectives, activities, and outcomes. As a reminder, the primary activities for PPAI projects are the following (options in drop down in application are bolded):
- Innovative marketing and audience development;
- Diversifying revenues and partners, which refers to Innovation and development of new approaches and tools to diversify revenue bases and increase exposure to new partners and investment;
- Adoption of new technology or tools, which refers to Strategic use of technologies and tools to improve operational efficiency, support digitization, or expand audience multimedia experience and products; or
- Sector best practices and collaboration, which refers to Developing, sharing and/or implementation of expertise, best practices and tools to benefit performing arts organizations in the sector.
- Indicator: *
Note that these should be measured from the project proposed start date until typically 1 year following the project completion. The most common indicators are below, although additional indicators pertaining to your project can be added. If your project does not have a value to report for a listed indicator, input a value of “0” (zero) and enter a target date.
- Number of jobs created (highly qualified personnel including STEM) in Canada: *
Provide the number of jobs created as a result of this project that are professional, science, and technology-related jobs – based on an OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) definition of ‘science and technology-related jobs’. See definition of this in the glossary. Number of jobs created includes the number of HQP (highly qualified personnel, including STEM) jobs expanded as a result of project supported through PrairiesCan funding. Expanded refers to transitioning a seasonal or part-time employee to a year-round or full-time position, or similar increase in hours.
- One FTE job = 12 person-months of employment. (In the case of seasonal or part time employment, person months of employment should be converted to FTE job).
- Inclusiveness sub-types include women, Indigenous Peoples, and youth.
- Number of jobs created (non-highly qualified personnel) in Canada: *
Provide the number of jobs created as a result of this project that are not considered highly qualified personnel (HQP) as per the definition above. Number of jobs created includes the number of non-HQP jobs expanded as a result of projects supported through PrairiesCan funding. Expanded refers to transitioning a seasonal or part-time employee to a year-round or full-time position, or similar increase in hours.
- One FTE job = 12 person months of employment. (In the case of seasonal or part time employment, person months of employment should be converted to FTE job).
- Inclusiveness sub-types include women, Indigenous Peoples and youth.
- Number of contributing partners engaged in advancing community-based projects (i.e. providing financial or in-kind support): *
Provide the number of partners, if applicable, who are contributing to the project either with financially or with in-kind support.
Note: In-kind contributions may include volunteer or staff time.
- Number of jobs maintained (combined highly qualified and non-highly qualified personnel): *
Provide the number of jobs maintained, if applicable, as a result of this project that would otherwise be at risk without PrairiesCan funding.
- Please provide information on any other significant economic benefits that your project could achieve (maximum 2,000 characters including spaces). *
Provide a detailed explanation as to how this project aligns with the primary activity identified above, explanation of the linkages to any other primary activities, how the economic outcomes listed above will be achieved and list any applicable economic outcomes not listed above.
Provide an explanation on what outcomes your project will achieve, such as improvements to your business operations, diversification/growth of your audience, and/or diversification/growth of your revenue streams. Also outline how the proposed project will assist to enhance the sustainability of your organization or sector.
Anticipated outcomes include:
- Revenue diversification (does the project increase the sources of revenue or proportion of the source);
- Projected revenue growth;
- Projected audience growth or diversification;
- Improvements in business practices (efficiencies gained, costs reduced, improved business models, such as through the adoption of technologies);
- Jobs created or maintained; and/or
- Benefits to the performing arts sector (sharing of best practices, expertise, and tools) outside of the applicant.
Provide numerical values measured year over year from the project funding start date to typically one year following the project completion date.
Provide an explanation as to how these economic outcomes will be achieved. Ensure to identify and detail all assumptions to support the reasonableness of your economic outcomes. All projects will be screened for significance of outcomes and the likelihood of them being achieved.
Identify and detail all assumptions to support the reasonableness of your economic outcomes. All projects will be screened for significance of outcomes and their likelihood of achievement. If none apply, simply write ‘not applicable’.
- Does your project have activities that will benefit Francophones? If your project includes activities that will directly benefit the Francophone community in the Prairie provinces or if you are willing to modify your project to extend its benefits to the Francophone community, choose yes.*
Select Yes or No.
- If yes, describe how the project activities will benefit Francophones (maximum of 1,500 characters including spaces). *
Explain how this project will or could benefit the Francophone community in the Prairie Provinces and what specific activity(ies) will or could be included. If Francophones will not benefit from the project, simply write ‘not applicable’.
For example:
- The project will hire bilingual staff.
- The project will ensure that any communication tools are produced in French (final report, exhibit, video, etc.)
- Clearly outline if the project aligns with other Government of Canada priorities, provincial government priorities, industry needs, and your organization’s long-term research, capital, and/or strategic plans (maximum of 1,500 characters including spaces).
Clearly outline if the project aligns with other Government of Canada priorities; provincial government priorities; industry needs; and your organization’s long-term research, capital, and/or strategic plans. This is not a mandatory field. If none apply, simply write ‘not applicable’.
For example:
- The project will advance the Government of Canada’s priority of … by …
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Timelines
- Full project description (maximum of 3,000 characters including spaces):
This description should provide a clear understanding of the following:
- objectives of the project;
- key activities of the project and how these activities will achieve the intended objectives of the project;
- outline the plan to achieve the objectives and key activities;
- describe the engagement and/or commitment from other partners (e.g., sector, other levels of government); and
- clearly address any project risks and mitigation measures to address these risks (e.g., project delays, staff turnover, other challenges) to secure confirmed funding.
- Project Timeline – Milestone *
A milestone is a project activity that can be clearly defined and measured. Provide a list of significant activities or project milestones than can be measured and tracked to ensure the project is proceeding as planned. These should be significant milestones that will be used to ensure your project’s performance over the course of the project, up to the stated completion date of the project.
Select ‘+Add New Project Timeline’ to enter information.
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- Date of expected completion *
This is the date that the milestone should be completed by.
- Timeline Comments (maximum of 1,000 characters including spaces). *
Add any information necessary to provide additional clarity regarding the milestones.
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Market
- Are other organizations currently providing a similar activity, service, or product?
Select Yes or No.
- Describe how your activity, service, or product is different or unique compared to others (maximum of 1000 characters including spaces).
Identify any similar or complementary initiatives in Canada or internationally. Does your project build upon or duplicate other initiatives or clearly illustrate that your project is not duplicating existing activities/services/products? Outline how your activity, service or product is different or unique.
- Provide the rationale for the project and the Regional Development Agency’s involvement in the project (maximum of 2,000 characters including spaces).
Fully explain how the project will fill a market gap or an industry need or take advantage of an opportunity.
- describe the opportunity, gap, or challenge and how your project is a solution;
- provide a rationale for government’s role in the project;
- provide details on how this project is incremental to the organization’s current operations or activities;
- clearly outline if the project aligns with other Government of Canada priorities; provincial government priorities; industry needs; and your organization’s long-term research, capital, and/or strategic plans;
- Which Prairie province(s) will directly benefit from this project? Select all that apply.
Select all provinces that will directly benefit.
- Will the project result in the generation of revenues?
Select yes or no.
- If yes, please explain (maximum of 1,000 characters including spaces):
Explain how much and what the revenues will be used for in the comment box.
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Management
- Clearly demonstrate that your organization has effective governance measures in place to execute this project. Indicate how oversight will be provided to the project (maximum of 2000 characters including spaces). *
Provide an explanation of how your organization is governed (e.g., board of directors, advisory board) and its structure along with a brief explanation of key executives’ credentials (e.g., indicate the level of experience of the board members, such as the number of years of experience each member has on the board of directors). Clearly demonstrate that your organization has effective governance measures in place to provide appropriate oversight of this project. Indicate how these individuals will specifically be involved in providing oversight on the project.
- Describe the qualifications and related experience of the key individuals that will be responsible for managing and implementing the project. (maximum of 2000 characters including spaces) *
Provide an explanation of how your project will be managed and its structure along with the qualifications and experience of those members of your organization who will be directly managing and implementing this project. Clearly demonstrate that your organization has the management skills and leadership to carry out this project.
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Documents
- Upload here the supporting documents to be provided with your application
Upload the following mandatory documents (marked *) and other supporting documents:
- financial statements for past 2 years (including the most current); *
- confirmation of other (non-RDA) sources of funding - funding will only be considered confirmed if written proof is provided; it is mandatory that you attach confirmation of other (non-RDA) sources of funding if “confirmed” funding has been selected; *
- detailed budget; and *
- supporting documents.
Please attach any supporting documents that you feel will support your application. There is no maximum number of attachments for additional documentation. Examples include:
- project plan;
- letters of support;
- regulatory approvals and resolutions;
- board minutes;
- list of the Board of Directors.
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Diversity and inclusion
- Is your organization majority (i.e. over 50%) owned or led by individuals who self-identify as:
The purpose of this question is to gather information related to the ownership/leadership of the organization to see which diverse groups PrairiesCan funds. Answer related sub-questions below. Please refer to the glossary for definition on “majority-owned” and any of the diverse groups.
- Will your project directly support any of the following diverse groups?
The purpose of this question is to gather information related to the benefits or targeted clients for the project to see which diverse groups directly benefit from PrairiesCan funding. Answer related sub-questions below. Please refer to the glossary for definitions.
- If yes is selected for any of the following diverse groups, please specify (maximum of 1,500 characters)
Provide an explanation on how your project will directly support the diverse group selected.
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Signing authority
The application form must be submitted by a member of your organization with signing power/authority to enter into a legal agreement.
- First name: *
Provide the first name of the member of the organization with signing power/the authority to enter into an agreement. This person should be either the primary or the secondary contact.
- Last name:
Provide the family name of the contact. *
- Title:
Provide the contact person’s job title (e.g., President, Executive Director). *
- Email address:
Provide a valid e-mail address.
- Telephone country code:
The telephone country code of where the contact person can be reached.
- Telephone:
Provide a phone number where the contact person can be reached. *
- Cellular country code:
The cellular country code of your organization.
- Cellular phone:
The cellular number of your organization. *
Attestation
Before you can complete and submit your application, it is necessary in this final step for you to affirm that you are aware of certain statutory obligations, that your organization meets the eligibility requirements for the program, and that the collected information may also be used for consideration under other government programs.
Please ensure the attestation is completed by the primary contact, who is also the member of your organization with signing power/authority to enter into the legal agreement with PrairiesCan.
Click off the check box to indicate you have read and agree with the acknowledgements.
Authorized official of the applicant organization acknowledgements
The application form must be submitted by a member of your organization with signing power/authority to enter into a legal agreement.
On behalf of the Applicant Organization, I hereby acknowledge and agree that:
- This application does not constitute a commitment from Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) for financial assistance.
- I have read and understand the application process, including the mandatory eligibility criteria located on PrairiesCan’s public website.
- Project costs incurred by the Applicant Organization in the absence of a signed funding agreement with PrairiesCan are incurred at the sole risk of the Applicant Organization and that any such costs may not be considered eligible for PrairiesCan assistance.
- Any person who has been lobbying on behalf of the Applicant Organization to obtain a contribution as a result of this application is registered pursuant to the Lobbying Act and was registered pursuant to that Act at the time the lobbying occurred.
- The Applicant Organization is under no obligation or prohibition, nor is it subject to, or threatened by any actions, suits or proceedings, which could or would affect its ability to implement this proposed project.
- The Applicant Organization has not, nor has any other person, corporation or organization, directly or indirectly paid or agreed to pay any person to solicit a contribution arising as a result of this application for a commission, contingency fee or any other consideration dependent on the execution of an Agreement or the payment of any contribution arising as a result of this application.
- Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) and Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) are government institutions as defined under the Access to Information (ATI) Act. Records in the custody and care of the institution are subject to disclosures under Part 1 and Part 2 of the ATI Act with limited exceptions and exclusions.
- Personal information collected by PrairiesCan is collected in accordance with section 4 of the Privacy Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. P-21). This information will be used to determine eligibility, administer grants and contributions, and evaluate program effectiveness. Personal information collected is described in the Personal Information Bank entitled “Grants and Contributions”, number PrairiesCan-PPU-055. Questions regarding the collection and use of your personal information may be directed to the ATIP Coordinator, PrairiesCan, Canada Place, 1500-9700 Jasper Avenue NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4H7, by telephone at 780-495-0162, or by email to atip-aiprp@prairiescan.gc.ca.
If you choose not to provide the personal information, your application may not be processed.
You have a right under section 12 of the Privacy Act to access to your personal information under the control of PrairiesCan as well as a right to request correction of personal information where there is an error or omission. You have the right to make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner under section 29(1) of the Privacy Act regarding PrairiesCan’s collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information, processing of your request for correction of personal information or processing of your access to personal information request.
I authorize PrairiesCan, its officials, employees, agents and contractors to make credit checks and enquiries of such persons, firms, corporations, federal, provincial and municipal government departments/ agencies, and non-profit, economic development or other organizations as may be appropriate, and to collect and share information with them, as PrairiesCan deems necessary in order to assess this application, to administer and monitor the implementation of the subject project, and to evaluate the results of the project and related Programs.
I have read and agree with the above acknowledgements and certify that all statements and information furnished in this application are true, complete, and correct to the best of my knowledge. *
Annex: Glossary
Below is a short glossary of terms used in this guide:
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Refers to those persons who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, two-spirit, non-binary or gender queer, questioning, asexual, pansexual, agender, bigender, gender variant, and pangender.
- Assessment
- Thorough review and analysis of all aspects of an application prior to entering into a contribution agreement. This includes scoping of the project to meet program and departmental objectives as well as Government of Canada guidelines for funding contributions.
- Black community(ies)
- This term is a designation used for people of full or partial descent from over 200 ethnic of cultural origins, including sub-Saharan African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The majority of "Black" Canadians are of Caribbean origin, though the population also consists of African-American immigrants and their descendants (including Black Nova Scotians), as well as many native African immigrants.
- Contribution
- A monetary payment to a successful Recipient that does not result in the acquisition by the Government of Canada of any goods, services, or assets. The payment(s) will be for assisted costs as identified in the Contribution Agreement with PrairiesCan. The successful Recipient must first pay the cost of the service or good and then submit a claim, which provides proof that the cost has been incurred and paid for by the Recipient. PrairiesCan then reimburses such costs on the percentage basis specified in the Contribution Agreement.
Contributions are subject to performance conditions specified in a Contribution Agreement and therefore a Recipient is required to report to PrairiesCan on results achieved. A contribution is to be accounted for, is subject to audit and, where profit is generated by the project, it may be subject to repayment conditions also specified in the contribution agreement. - Diverse groups
- Includes, but is not limited to people living with disabilities, Indigenous persons, youth, immigrants, persons from racialized communities, and people from Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs).
- Gender
- This refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and gender diverse people. It influences how people perceive themselves and each other, how they act and interact and the distribution of power and resources in society. Gender is usually conceptualized as a binary (girl/women and boy/man), yet there is considerable diversity in how individuals and groups understand, experience, and express it. Self-identifying gender is an expression of what a person internally feels and/or the gender a person publicly expresses in their daily life. A person’s current gender may differ from the sex a person was assigned at birth (male, female, or intersex) and may differ from what is indicated on their current legal documents. A person’s gender may change over time.
- Incremental
- Activities to be undertaken that are additional to the applicant’s current operations or activities.
- Indigenous peoples
- Refers to those persons who identify with at least one Indigenous group, that is First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. Aboriginal peoples of Canada (referred to here as Indigenous peoples) are defined in the Constitution Act, 1982, Section 35 (2) as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
- In-kind costs/contributions
- Contributions, such as goods and services, toward project costs that do not involve a cost incurred or paid for by the applicant. These types of contributions should be demonstrated in the application at fair market value.
- Majority-owned/led
- Majority owned or led is defined as an enterprise where one or more of the diverse groups has long-term control and management of the organization and an active role in both strategic and day to day decision making. In for-profit enterprises, this may include an equity stake.
- Long-term control and management of the organization – have been engaged in the operation, management and ownership of the organization for at least two years
- Active role in strategic decision making – involved in elements related to the establishment of priorities, objective and goals for the organization; overall operations of the organization
- Day to day decision making – involved in elements related to the financial management, human resources, supply management, logistics or customer services (for example)
- Equity stake — demonstrates an ownership in the company
- Newcomer to Canada or immigrant
- Person(s) who have landed in Canada within in the last ten years.
- OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), ‘science and technology-related jobs’
- This includes occupations beyond those typically associated with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) or merely the natural sciences. It includes physical, mathematical, and engineering science professionals, and other professionals in fields such as business, legal, information, social science, creative, religious, and public service administration.
- Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs)
- English-speaking communities in Quebec and French-speaking communities in provinces and territories other than Quebec.
- Person with a disability
- A person with long-term or recurring disabilities related to hearing, vision, mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain, learning, mental health, memory, and developmental impairment or functional limitation and who consider themselves to be disadvantaged by reason of that impairment.
- Project
- The group of activities and actions, which are cost-shared, that occur in the period between the Proposed Funding Start Date and the Proposed End Date.
- Project Start Date
- This is the date an agreement between a Recipient and the department comes into effect. Any costs incurred prior to this date are not eligible for reimbursement under the terms of the agreement and are outside of the scope of the project. It can be thought of as the start date for the project as defined by the contribution agreement.
- Proposed End Date
- The date it is anticipated that project activity will cease. (This does not include a repayment period when applicable.)
- Racialized communities
- Groups that have been socially constructed as races, other than an Indigenous Peoples, persons from Black communities, or persons who are Caucasian in race or white in colour, based on characteristics such as ethnicity, language, economics, religion, culture, and/or politics. For example, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, South Asian/East Indian, Southern Asian, non-white West Asian, North African or Arab, non-white Latin American, persons of mixed origin (with one parent in one of the visible minority or racialized groups in this list), or other racialized or visible minority group.
- Women
- The use of the word “women” is inclusive of cisgender and trans individuals.
- Youth
- Person(s) who are between the ages of 15 and 34.
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