Funding Programs

Market Access Fund

The purpose of this program is to support Manitoban artists and music industry professionals in expanding their network and team to export markets across Canada and around the world. 

These development opportunities can include having access to market consultants, attending virtual conferences, and developing new markets using web tools.  With the physical limitations imposed on the music industry for touring and showcasing because of COVID-19, the funding for this project will instead help artists and industry members develop these necessary assets and skills to enter new markets.

Visit manitobamusic.com/market-access for more info

Manitoba Film & Music

MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC offers a series of music funding programs to help expand the already impressive Manitoba music scene. As a government funding agency, they encourage music recording artists and songwriters in the Province of Manitoba to develop and promote their skills through funding the following programs:

This program is designed to support the production of culturally relevant and commercially viable music recording products by the Manitoba music recording industry. Applicants may apply under one of three different program levels.

This program is designed to encourage non-Manitoban artists to travel to Manitoba and utilize Manitoban recording studios, producers, and/or management. This program is also intended to increase business and experience for Manitoban music recording industry professionals.

This program is designed to assist in the marketing and promotion of Manitoba music recording products both domestically and abroad. In the past, this has included the manufacturing of merchandise, creation of a website, or development of an EPK.

The Touring Support program is intended to provide Manitoban artists/groups with the opportunity to reach audiences outside of their hometown. This includes traveling across Canada, through the United States, or internationally.

This program is designed to encourage the production of music and viral videos by the Manitoba recording industry and to support production by the Manitoba Film/Video Industry. In doing so, the Video program seeks to aid in the promotion and marketing of current album projects both nationally and internationally.

Visit Manitoba Film & Music for more information, deadlines, and application forms.

FACTOR

FACTOR a private non-profit dedicated to providing assistance toward the growth and development of the Canadian music industry. The foundation administers contributions from private radio broadcasters as well as two components of the Department of Canadian Heritage's Canada Music Fund. 

Support is provided to Canadian recording artists, songwriters, managers, labels, publishers, event producers and distributors through various programs. Whether an artist is looking to record a demo, full length sound recording, market and promote an already existing album or showcase and tour domestically and internationally, funding is available. FACTOR supports many facets of the infrastructure which must be in place in order for artists and music entrepreneurs to progress into the international arena.

The Artist Development Program offers a $2,000 subsidy toward a year of artist development activities such as recording, touring & showcasing, video production, and marketing.

The Comprehensive Artist program contributes toward the cost of acquiring, producing and marketing a full-length album.

The JSR program contributes toward the cost of acquiring, producing and marketing a full length album. Submissions are assessed by an independent jury of industry professionals.

The Live Performance program subsidizes the cost of domestic and international performances including showcases and tours.

Supports the marketing of commercially released sound recordings that were not acquired or produced with FACTOR funding. Must meet sales threshold to qualify for funding.

The Sponsorship program allows FACTOR to support worthy music-related events that are looking for a smaller amount of support, or that do not quite fit other program mandates.

The Video program contributes to the cost of producing music videos for eligible Canadian sound recordings by Artists rated 2 and 3.

For more information, head to FACTOR​ to find out if your project can become #FACTORfunded.

Musication/Fondation Musication

Ce programme est destiné à la production d’un album ou d’un DVD musical. L’album doit avoir un minimum de huit plages (d'au moins 60 secondes chacune) ou un contenu musical de 30 minutes.

Production d'un album

Manitoba Arts Council

The Manitoba Arts Council (MAC) offers a broad range of grants and services to professional artists and arts organizations in all art forms. The grants offered by MAC are housed in the 6 streams of activity listed below.

The Create program supports the creation of new work or development of works in progress in all disciplines by professional artists and arts groups.

The Tour program supports touring activities across Manitoba by professional artists, arts groups, and arts organizations in the performing arts.

The Present program supports the presentation of work in all disciplines by professional artists, arts groups, and arts organizations.

The Residencies program supports creation or research-based residency opportunities for professional artists in all disciplines. Applicants may apply for travel to have time and space in the Riding Mountain Artists’ Residency, the Churchill Artists’ Residency, or a residency opportunity of the artists’ choosing.

The Travel/Professional Development program supports professional artists and arts/cultural professionals in all disciplines for activities related to the development of their practice or careers.

The Indigenous 360 Create program supports the creation of new work or development of works in progress in all disciplines by professional Indigenous artists, art groups, and Knowledge Keepers.

The Indigenous 360 Share program supports the presentation of work in all disciplines by professional Indigenous artists, Knowledge Keepers, arts groups, and organizations.

The Indigenous 360 Learn program supports learning and artistic development activities in all disciplines for professional Indigenous artists, arts/cultural professionals, and Knowledge Keepers.

Visit Manitoba Arts Council for more information, deadlines, and application forms.

Canada Council for the Arts

The Canada Council for the Arts provides support for the development of individuals, groups, small ensembles, orchestras and other professionals working in the Canadian music community. In addition to tours, concert production and festival programming, the Music Section funds a variety of related activities such as residencies and the commissioning of Canadian compositions. Of particular interest to Manitoba Music members are the programs which support touring, festival travel, and audience and market development.

The Professional Development for Artists component of Explore and Create supports the career growth of Canadian artists and artistic groups by encouraging participation in a wide range of development opportunities. Grants fund activities that contribute to the professional advancement of Canadian artists working in all artistic disciplines.

The Research and Creation component of Explore and Create supports the initial stages of the creative process. Canadian artists, artistic groups and arts organizations can apply to develop and make creative works. Grants provide support for creative research, creation and project development.

The Concept to Realization component of Explore and Create supports the full creative cycle – from the initial idea through to presentation, at any stage of the creative continuum. Canadian artists, artistic groups and arts organizations can apply to create projects intended for presentation. Grants provide support for artistic research, creation, project development, remounts, production, post-production and presentation.

The Travel component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing funds First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists, arts/cultural professionals (including artists’ representatives), cultural carriers, artistic groups, collectives and organizations working in all disciplines. Grants support travel costs to attend significant events within Canada or abroad that advance your professional development, enable you or the artists you represent to access new markets or build national and international presence.

The Travel component of Arts Across Canada funds activities linked to Canadian presentation, exhibition, artistic collaboration, networking and building market opportunities for Canadian artists, arts professionals, artistic groups and arts organizations. Grants provide support to participate in significant events, build a national presence and for festivals and presenters to conduct research for Canadian artistic programming.

The Travel component of Arts Abroad funds travel linked to international presentation, exhibition, artistic collaboration, networking and new market opportunities for Canadian artists and arts professionals, artistic groups and arts organizations. Grants provide support to attend significant events outside of Canada and build international presence.

Visit Canada Arts Council for more information, deadlines, and application forms.

Winnipeg Arts Council

The Winnipeg Arts Council provides funding to professional Winnipeg artists through the following multidisciplinary grant programs:

The Winnipeg Arts Council recognizes the individual artist as the primary source of creative activity in all artistic disciplines. The Individual Artist Grant Program is intended to support the creation of new work in any art form, or the development, production, curation, or exhibition of works of art by Winnipeg artists. Artists working as part of a collective to produce non-individual works such as Fringe Festival or other theatre projects should apply to the Project Grant program rather than the Individual Artist Grant program. Collectives must contact the Program & Arts Development Manager before applying to confirm eligibility.

The Winnipeg Arts Council recognizes that the continued growth and development of arts professionals is essential to the cultural health of the community. The Professional Development Grant Program is designed to provide support to artists and arts administrators for activities that contribute to their professional development and enhance their careers in the arts. These activities may include: unique opportunities for short-term study (beyond basic training) in a formal or informal setting; attendance at events where the work of the applicant is to be presented or where the applicant is an invited speaker or resource person; or travel that is a component of such activities.

Socan Foundation

The SOCAN Foundation is dedicated to fostering musical creativity and promoting a better understanding of the role of music creators in today's society. The Foundation is an independent organization guided by its own board of directors, which consists of composers, songwriters and music publishers. Of particular interest to Manitoba Music members, is the International Showcasing program, which assists Canadian artists with a portion of travel and accommodation costs to perform at some foreign music conferences.

Grants are provided to SOCAN composers, writers, and music publishers across all genres of music to assist with travel-related costs for career-building or career defining activities in Canada or abroad. Priority for approval will be given to applications demonstrating the importance of the activity to the applicant’s career. Activities that receive compensation are not eligible.

Grants are provided to SOCAN composers, writers, and music publishers across all genres of music, for upgrading their skills and knowledge or acquiring new skills and knowledge to advance their careers.

Grants are provided to assist individuals, corporations, performers, ensembles, and presents in the commissioning of SOCAN members to create new works in all genres of music. The overall intent of this program it to reach beyond local, regional, provincial and federal arts council funding bodies, and encourage other members of our society (individual, organizations or companies) to commission new musical works.

Visit The SOCAN Foundation for more information, deadlines, and application forms.

RBC Emerging Arts Project Grants

Supporting the arts is a long-standing priority of RBC®. Funding plays an important role in building vibrant communities and strong economies. The struggle many artists go through to gain the recognition they need to become successful in their practice.

Support results-driven programming to help artists bridge the gap from emerging to established, in the early stages of their career, by providing exposure to new/diverse audiences, access to networks/connections and mentorship.

The Music Video Production Project

The MVP Project, with support from the RBC Foundation, was established to promote the intersection of emerging Canadian Recording Artists and Filmmakers through Music Video Production Grants valued between $5,000 and $15,000. The Music Video Production Project, a joint RBCxMusic & Prism Prize initiative, is committed to supporting emerging artists. The MVP Project is administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Visit The Music Video Production Project for more information, deadlines, and application forms.

Radio Starmaker Fund

The Radio Starmaker Fund supports emerging artists with star potential from every region of Canada. The aim is to allocate funding in such a way that it has a direct impact on artists and supports their marketing and touring initiatives both in Canada and abroad in a way that will make a difference. The Fund supports a variety of marketing and promotional initiatives related to eligible Canadian music recordings, including radio advertising, that are key to developing the star status of Canadian artists.

Artists must meet elligibility requirements including sales minimums. Visit Radio Starmaker Fund for more information, deadlines, and application forms.