Where is the WAC office located and what are your office hours?
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The Winnipeg Arts Council office is located in the ground floor
of the Fairchilds Lofts building on the west side of Princess
Street between William and Bannatyne Avenues.
Our mailing address is: 103 - 110 Princess Street, Winnipeg, MB R3B 1K7.
T 204.943.7668
F 204.942.8669
E .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Our standard office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Where do I find the program guidelines, application forms and criteria?
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Can I email or fax in my application?
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The application requires an original signature; therefore it can only be accepted by
mail or in person.
Do you allow deadline extensions?
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Applications MUST be received by 4pm on the deadline indicated in the program guidelines.
Do you have an after-hours drop box?
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No.
How do I know who was awarded grants in the various categories?
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Under Grant Programs in the menu to the right, click on Grants Awarded.
How do I get information on the peer assessment process?
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Information concerning the peer assessment process and how grants are
awarded is available
here.
Can I nominate a peer assessor?
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Arts professionals may nominate themselves or others. The nomination
form can be downloaded
here.
Where can I get a copy of the WAC logo for my publication and/or promotional materials?
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Various versions of the logo are available for you to download
here.
Does WAC have a newsletter?
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The Winnipeg Arts Council distributes information every Thursday via email. The Winnipeg
Arts e-Billboard includes information about WAC programs, application deadline
reminders, local arts events and news listings; calls for artist submissions; and
professional opportunities for artists and cultural workers. If you would like to
sign-up for the weekly email use the Arts e-Billboard sign-up form found under the menus
to the right.
What are the application deadline dates?
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Application deadlines vary from program to program are published in the program
guidelines and in with the program descriptions on this web site. Deadlines
vary from year to year and are generally scheduled on Tuesdays.
Who is eligible for a grant?
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Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, who are currently
and have lived in the City of Winnipeg for at least one year immediately prior to
applying. Some programs require that arts organizations be operating in Winnipeg
for a longer period. Applicants must be recognized by their peers as professionals
in an artistic discipline. This means they are beyond the level of basic training
and have had work published, produced, or shown in a professionally recognized venue.
Specific programs have other eligibility criteria that must be met by applicants.
There are restrictions about the number of times applicants may receive a grant within
a certain time period, and the number of programs to which applicants may apply. The
program guidelines provide basic information regarding eligibility. Even if applicants
have met all the criteria to apply for a program, they are not automatically entitled
to a grant. Grants are allocated on the basis of artistic merit, Council priorities
and available budget.
Where does the money for grants come from?
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The Winnipeg Arts Council is an arm's-length agency of the City of Winnipeg. The Council
receives an annual allocation from the City's Operating Budget, and sets priorities for
the funds in the context of Council policies.
What do I have to do if I am awarded a grant?
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Successful applicants are required to agree to the terms of the grant by signing
a Funding Agreement and to report on the progress of their projects. Reporting
requirements vary from program to program. Some grants are released in instalments,
which are tied to specific requirements. Upon project completion all grant recipients
are required to submit a Final Report, which usually includes a narrative description
of the project undertaken, a financial statement, samples of printed materials
related to the project and images for Winnipeg Arts Council public relations uses.
Specific guidelines are available
here on this website.
How much are the grants? How many are awarded in a year? Who has received them?
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The amount of the grants for each program, and the number awarded in a year, vary
according to the type of program and the available budget in that program. Both individual
artists and arts organizations receive grants. The Winnipeg Arts Council publishes the
names of award recipients, and the amount of the awards,
here and in its Annual Report.
Do I need to talk to the Program Officer before applying?
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First time applicants are advised to carefully review the program guidelines, which
include the program goals, eligibility and evaluation criteria and then consult with
the Program Officer well in advance of the deadline. The Officer can assist you by
clarifying the information required, and assess if you and your project are eligible
and if you are applying to the appropriate program.
How do I apply for a grant?
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Applications requirements vary from program to program but usually include a written project
proposal and corresponding budget, background information on your artistic practice (including
your arts resume and statement of recent artistic activities) and examples of the your work.
To be considered for a grant, you must complete and submit the appropriate, signed, original
registration form, and all the required materials listed in the program guidelines.
The granting process is competitive and you should submit an application that has
sufficient information, is clear, concise and easy to handle.
Please note that only one application may be submitted to each grant program at a time.
Can I get help preparing my application?
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The Officer cannot help you complete your application or define your project, but can
clarify the information required; respond to your questions; let you know if you and your
project are eligible and applying to the appropriate program; and if you have included all
of the required materials. It is also recommended that you seek feedback from colleagues
on your project proposal.
How do you decide who gets a grant?
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Applications are assessed by an independent panel of qualified artistic professionals
selected on the basis of their familiarity with and expertise in a broad spectrum of
artistic practices, and to reflect the range of applicants at any one deadline.
Panels make assessments based on the published program criteria and the applicant's
past and proposed work within the context of each competition.
How and when will I find out if I am awarded a grant?
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You will be informed of the results of your application, in writing, within
approximately three months of the application deadline. Results are never released
over the telephone.
If my application is not successful, can I find out why?
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Assessment panel comments are not provided. Only feedback on technical aspects of your
application will be provided as necessary (if, for example, your images are out of focus,
or the text of your application is unclear).
Winnipeg Arts Council programs are competitive, and sometimes applications are unsuccessful
because of the high number of excellent projects submitted and the limited funds available
at a particular deadline. Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply. Please
note however that same proposal may not be submitted for consideration more than twice.
Do you have any tips on applying for a grant?
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There are many reasons why a grant application might be successful or unsuccessful. While it
is impossible to determine in advance whether or not a particular assessment panel will
recommend a grant be awarded to support your project, there are a number of steps that
you can take to ensure you submit the best possible application:
1) Contact the Program Officer well in advance of the deadline. Since Officers do not make
the decision about awarding grants, they can assist you by clarifying the information required,
and assessing if you and your project are eligible and if you are applying to the appropriate
program.
2) Read the guidelines carefully. Before making an application to the Winnipeg Arts Council,
please make sure you have the most up-to-date guidelines, which include all of the application
requirements, program goals, and eligibility and evaluation criteria.
3) Make a clear presentation. The "look" of the application is important when assessment
panels have many applications to review. Your application should be clean, concise, and
easy to read. It must be submitted on white, 8 1/2 x 11 paper, in a simple 12 pt font,
in the order indicated in the program guidelines.
4) Tell the panel what they need to know. Your grant information should be properly
organized (as detailed in the program guidelines) and easy to understand. Whether you
are a senior artist with a long list of credits, or an emerging artist with little
experience, don't assume the panel is familiar with your artistic practice. Follow
the guidelines and be sure to provide the following information: Who are you? What
kind of art do you produce? What has been your track record? What is the project?
How will the project be completed? When will it start and finish? Why is this
project important? Giving the assessors context for your application allows them
to focus on the merit of the project.
5) Choose your Support Material strategically. If your application requires examples of
your work, pick ones that best reflect your project. Ask people you trust: Which of these
samples has the fastest/best/greatest impact? Which shows off my abilities in this genre?
Which sample best reflects the project I am applying for? If you are supplying references,
make sure they are from recognized people/organizations that can speak to both the merit of
your artistic practice and your ability to carry out the project.
6) Be hopeful, but never count on a grant. The granting process is competitive. No single
piece of advice will guarantee success on a grant application. The number of successful
applications varies from deadline to deadline and from program to program. Assessors come
from varied backgrounds, reflecting different cultural traditions, forms of expression and
art practices. They have to make difficult decisions based on the information you provide them.
