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Funding (Alberta): AFA Launches New Covid Recovery Funding Program

Brave Girl – Lunchbox Theatre
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Funding (Alberta): AFA Launches New Covid Recovery Funding Program

Starting October 1, arts organizations can apply to the AFA for project funding that supports COVID-19 relaunch and recovery initiatives.

This funding is targeted to help activate Alberta arts organizations. Funding is intended to assist arts organizations with COVID-19 strategies for reopening and/or new models of service delivery.

The Organization Activation Projects program replaces the Organizations: Arts Projects grant, which was placed on hold for review in the AFA’s 2021-22 spending plan.

Program highlights

The program is responsive to feedback AFA received during engagement in April 2021 related to relaunch and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights of the program include:

  • Arts organizations can apply for projects that support capacity building, strategic planning, audience development, or one-time partnerships that fall outside of regular or ongoing administrative practices or programming.
  • Two or more arts organizations can form a partnership to apply for a larger maximum eligible amount:
    • Up to $20,000 for a single applicant organization; or
    • Up to $50,000 for partnership applications.

What does this grant support?

Eligible COVID-19 reactivation projects may be in one of the following areas:

  • Audience development, retention, and accessibility; may include diversity and inclusion practices.
  • Communications strategies; may include marketing.
  • Redefining sponsor, donor, and fundraising relationships.
  • Revamping online presence; may include restructure or new capabilities, excluding capital purchases.
  • Adapting technical capacity, excluding capital purchases.
  • Staff and board training on new competencies or post COVID-19 competencies.
  • Organizational restructuring.

How to apply

Read the Organization Activation Projects program guidelines.

  • Anticipated Frequently Asked Questions about this program are available in Help and Resources.
  • After reading the guidelines, questions can be directed to Paul Reich, Arts Development Consultant responsible for this program at Paul.Reich@gov.ab.ca.
  • Please note that all our staff are working remotely. Please email any questions. Videoconferencing can be arranged to facilitate discussion.
  • The deadline to apply is December 1.

The AFA only accepts applications through the GATE Front Office online application system.

The deadline to apply is December 1.

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