Let’s face it. Most artists starting out don’t have a lot of money to spend on advertising, promotions, touring, equipment, insurance, studio time, voice and music lessons, in addition to rehearsing, finding gigs and writing music. Fortunately, many government organizations promote music, video and art that are relevant to the community. Check out some of these sources:

CANADA

Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) — $16.1 million each year. The AFA also administers the Alberta Film Development Program’s annual budget of $5 million.

Tel: (780) 427-6315 Fax: (780) 422-9132
E-mail: carol.hanneman@gov.ab.ca

Alberta Music Industry Association AMIA’s mission is to foster the excellence, diversity and vitality of Alberta artists and the Alberta sound recording industry.

Tel: (780) 428-3372 Fax: (780) 426-0188
E-mail: info@amia.ca

Arts and Cultural Industries Promotion Division (ACA) The ACA provides grants to support and promote international activities for Canadian artists and arts organizations.

Tel: (613) 995-0668 Fax: (613) 992-5965
E-mail: claire.marson@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

British Columbia Arts Council (BCAC) An independent agency established by the province, the BCAC supports arts and culture in British Columbia through grants, public education, research and advocacy.

Tel: (250) 356-1718 Fax: (250) 387-4099
E-mail: bcartscouncil@gems2.gov.bc.ca

Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) This national arm’s-length agency fosters the development of the arts in Canada through grants, services and awards to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations.

Toll-Free: 1-800-263-5588 Fax: (613) 566-4390
E-mail: michelle.legault@canadacouncil.ca danielle.sarault@canadacouncil.calise.rochon@canadacouncil.ca

CANADA MUSIC FUND (CMF) The Canada Music Fund (CMF) seeks to strengthen the Canadian sound recording industry “from creator to audience” through various initiatives. Department of Canadian Heritage, Sound Recording Policy and Programs

Tel: (819) 997-5848 Fax: (819) 827-6083
E-mail: cmf-music@pch.gc.ca

1) Canadian Musical Diversity Program Designed to promote musical diversity, this program assists Canadian creators, artists, and entrepreneurs who produce, distribute, and promote specialized music sound recordings. c/o Canada Council for the Arts (see contact info above)

E-mail: gerri.trimble@canadacouncil.ca

2) New Musical Works Program Designed to assist Canadian creators, artists, record labels, and other entrepreneurs involved in various areas of sound recording, providing them with opportunities to produce and promote recordings and to develop their craft and expertise. In English c/o Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent On Record (FACTOR) (see contact info below) in French c/o MusicAction (see contact info below)

3) Collective Initiatives Program Designed to increase the presence of Canadian undertakings, companies, record labels, creators, and artists regionally, nationally, and internationally. In English c/o Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent On Record (FACTOR) (see contact info below) in French c/o MusicAction (see contact info below)

4) The Music Entrepreneur Program The program endeavours to promote cultural diversity, long-term artist development, a strong online presence, and the use of new technology in Canadian music through assistance to music entrepreneurs.

c/o Telefilm Canada Shelley Stein-Sacks Director, Music Entrepreneur Program

Tel: (514) 283-6363 Toll-Free: 1-800-567-0890 Fax: (514) 283-8212
E-mail: STEINSS@Telefilm.gc.ca Site: www.telefilm.gc.ca

5) Support to Sector Associations Program Designed to assist Canadian songwriters, music publishers, producers, marketers, and performers by enabling Canadian sound recording sector associations to provide their respective members with professional representation services and continued analysis of public policy initiatives, industry trends and issues.

The Department of Canadian Heritage Sound Recording Policy and Programs
Tel: (819) 997-5884 Fax: (819) 997-5709

E-mail: pierre_carpentier@pch.gc.ca

6) Canadian Music Memories Program The Audio Visual Preservation Trust of Canada (AV Trust) administers the Canadian Music Memories Program. This program provides funding to Canadian non-profit organizations to promote and preserve Canada’s musical recording heritage by transferring recordings to more accessible technologies, providing direct access to these recordings, producing new CD releases, and creating accompanying educational materials.

Tel: (613) 564-3232 Fax: (613) 564-3232
E-mail: info@avtrust.com

Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM) A dynamic partner in Montreal’s artistic and cultural development, CAM supports the creation, production and distribution of the arts in the Montreal metropolitan area.

Tel: (514) 280-3580 Fax: (514) 280-3789
E-mail: line.lampron@cum.qc.ca

Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) A government corporation that works to foster, develop and distribute the arts in Quebec by granting assistance to professional artists and non-profit cultural organizations.

Montreal office
Tel: (514) 864-3350 Toll-Free: 1-800-608-3350 Fax: (514) 864-4160

Québec office
Tel: (418) 643-1707 Toll-Free: 1-800-897-1707 Fax: (418) 643-4558
E-mail: sophie.galaise@calq.gouv.qc.ca

CMT Canada Video Advantage Program The program distributes funding to rights holders to create music videos featuring Canadian country music artists, thereby contributing to the growth of the industry.

Tel: (416) 530-5205 Fax: (416) 530-5206
E-mail: cclarke@cmt.ca

Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR) A private, non-profit organization and an industrial strategy, FACTOR is dedicated to providing assistance to independent recording artists, songwriters, lyricists, record labels, distributors, producers, engineers and video directors, thereby supporting the growth and development of the Canadian independent recording industry.

Tel: (416) 696-2215
E-mail : factor@factor.ca

Manitoba Music Manitoba Music provides information and resources about all aspects of the music industry to its members, as well as career development assistance and opportunities for networking, education, and promotion.

Tel: (204) 942-8650 Fax: (204) 942-6083
E-mail: info@manitobamusic.com

Manitoba Film & Music This not-for-profit corporation provides support for Manitoba’s film, video and sound recording industries, both at home and throughout the world.

Tel: (204) 947-2040 Fax: (204) 956-5261
E-mail: explore@mbfilmmusic.ca

MusicAction A non-profit organization created to foster the development of francophone vocal music by supporting the production, marketing and promotion of sound recordings.

Tel: (514) 861-8444 or 1-800-861-5561 Fax: (514) 861-4423
E-mail: fondation@musicaction.com

Music BC (Pacific Music Industry Association) A non-profit organization that supports and promotes the spirit, development, and growth of the BC music community provincially, nationally, and internationally. Music BC provides education, resources, advocacy, funding opportunities, and a forum for communication.

Tel: (604) 873-1914 Fax: (604) 873-9686
E-mail: info@musicbc.org

Music New Brunswick Music NB is the provincial music industry association of New Brunswick. Its mandate is to facilitate the growth and development of not only the musical talent in the province, but also the growth of the industry’s infrastructure.

Tel: (506) 383-4662
E-mail: jolene@musicnb.org

Music Newfoundland & Labrador The organization’s mandate is to represent the music industry of these two regions to government, business and the community; to increase awareness of the music produced there; and to create opportunities to stimulate growth.

Tel: (709) 754-2574 Fax: (709) 754-5758
E-mail: dparker@nfld.com

Music Nova Scotia A non-profit organization created to foster, develop and promote the full potential of the music industry in Nova Scotia.

Toll-Free: 1-888-343-6426 Fax: (902) 423-8841
E-mail: mians@istar.ca

Music Prince Edward Island Music PEI is a non-profit member services organization devoted to advancing the careers of Island musicians. Music PEI actively seeks ways to promote, foster and develop artists and the music industry on PEI.

Tel: (902) 620-2251
E-mail: music@musicpei.com

MusicYukon (Recording Arts Industry — Yukon Association) A not-for-profit organization created to advocate for the business training needs of its members, to develop the industry as a whole, and to develop educational programming and mentoring for its entry-level artists.

Tel: (867) 456-8742 Fax: (867) 668-3450
E-mail: info@raiya.ca

New Brunswick Arts Board (NBAB) An arts funding agency with a legislated mandate to facilitate and promote the creation of art; facilitate enjoyment, awareness, and understanding of the arts; advise the provincial government on arts policy; unify and speak for the regional arts community; and administer funding programs for professional artists.

Tel: (506) 460-5881 Fax: (506) 460-5880
E-mail: rbarriault@artsnb.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC) A non-profit organization fostering arts in the province by operating financial assistance programs; providing services and resources; and working with government and the community.

Tel: (709) 726-2212 Toll-Free: 1-866-726-2212 Fax: (709)726-0619
E-mail: nlacmail@newcomm.net

Ontario Arts Council (OAC) An independent agency of the Ontario Ministry of Culture that supports artists and organizations involved in the arts in Ontario through grants, awards and services.

Tel: (416) 961-1660 Fax: (416) 969-7796
E-mail: info@arts.on.ca

Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) The OMDC plays an important role in book publishing, music, interactive digital media, film, magazine publishing, and television industries, building the capacity and competitiveness of Ontario’s cultural media industry.

Tel: (416) 314-6858
E-mail: mail@omdc.on.ca

Prince Edward Island Council of the Arts (PEICA) Its mission: To make arts integral to the lives of all Prince Edward Islanders

Tel: (902) 368-6176 Fax: (902) 368-4418

Radio Starmaker Fund This private fund was created by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) to make a substantial difference to the careers of Canadian artists by investing in their future.

Toll-Free: 1-888-256-2211 Fax: (416) 597-2760
E-mail: info@starmaker.ca

Saskatchewan Arts Board (SAB) The SAB’s mission is to cultivate an environment in which the arts thrive for the benefit of everyone in Saskatchewan.

Tel: (306) 787-4019 Fax: (306) 787-4199
E-mail: jeremy@artsboard.sk.ca

Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association (SRIA) A non-profit organization that provides its members with information, national lobbying and access to industry associations across Canada, while working towards the continued economic growth of the industry.

Phone: (306) 347-0676 Fax: (306) 347-7735
E-mail: info@saskrecording.ca

SOCAN Foundation Dedicated to fostering musical creativity and promoting a greater understanding of the role of music creators, the SOCAN Foundation supports a wide range of creative artists and music presenters through various grant, residency, competition and award programs. Rick MacMillan, Manager

Tel: (416) 445-8700 Toll-free: 1 800 557-6226 Fax: (416) 442-3372
E-mail: macmillanr@socan.ca

La Société de développement des entreprises culturelles du Québec (SODEC) A Quebec government agency, SODEC provides assistance for those who create and develop cultural enterprises, ensuring that they fulfill their potential to contribute to the economy of the province.

Montreal Office Phone: (514) 841-2200 Toll-free: 1 800 363-0401 Fax: (514) 841-8606

Quebec Office Tel: (418) 643-2581 Fax: (418) 643-8918
E-mail: info@sodec.gouv.qc.ca

Toronto Arts Council (TAC) An arm’s-length body that supports the development, accessibility and excellence of the arts in Toronto, the TAC offers grants programs to a broad range of the city’s arts organizations and professional artists.

Tel: (416) 392-6800 Fax: (416) 392-6920
E-mail: mail@torontoartscouncil.org

VideoFACT VideoFACT offers a program of non-recoupable loans earmarked to produce Canadian music videos, funded entirely by the MuchMusic Network.

Tel: 416-596-8696 Fax: 416-596-6861
E-mail: videofac@passport.ca

Yukon Film & Sound Commission (YFSC) Funded by the Yukon Government, Department of Economic Development, the Sound Recording Program supports Yukon sound recording professionals to develop viable careers and businesses by making sound recordings in Yukon for broadcast and commercial release.

Tel: 867-667-5400 Fax: 867-393-7040
E-mail: info@reelyukon.com

Source: SOCAN

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