Support Fund for Accessibility Costs

Who is eligible to apply?

The purpose of the Support Fund for Accessibility Costs is to help artists, artists’ collectives and arts organizations ensure that people who are D/deaf or living with a disability have the same access to the Conseil’s programs and services as anyone else.

You can request financial support under any or all of the following program components:

Component 1 – Financial support to submit a grant application or apply for a Conseil award

For artists or cultural workers who self-identify as D/deaf or as living with a disability, the Conseil provides funding to cover the cost of services required to help prepare their application. Services may include creating an ORORA profile, help with preparing an application, reviewing and commenting on an application, etc.

Eligible individuals can apply for financial support of up to $500 for each application they wish to submit to the Conseil. Support for accessibility costs covering assistance needed to file your grant application will be paid four to six weeks after the deadline for the program to which the application was submitted and once payment terms and obligations have been fulfilled.

If the application receives a positive recommendation, an additional amount of up to $150 will be offered for writing the final activity report.

This support is not conditional on the outcome of the original application. However, you must submit the grant application for which you are requesting financial support under Component 1 of the Support Fund.

The application for Section 1 of the Access Fee may be made by the accompanying person, who will submit an invoice to the Conseil des arts de Montréal and obtain a supplier number from the city of Montreal’s registry.

Please note that individual artists and collective representatives will receive, in their name at the end of the year, the tax slips required by tax law for the amount of the grant obtained. To this end, they must provide the Council with the information required to issue the tax slips in good time.

Component 2 – Financial support for accessibility costs of a project funded by the Conseil

Financial support offered in addition to a grant from the Conseil. This additional support covers the accessibility costs that the artist, collective or organization must pay to complete the funded artistic project. Accessibility costs must be directly related to a project funded through one of the Conseil’s support programs, including operating support.

Priority will be given to applications for projects that directly support artists who are D/deaf or who are living with a disability.

The maximum amount granted may not exceed 50% of the proposed budget. The Board reserves the right to grant financial assistance below the amount requested, according to its own financial capacity.

Component 3 – Financial support for accessibility costs to receive audiences for a project funded by the Conseil

This funding is intended for presenting organizations service organizations, artists’ associations and groups that meet the eligibility requirements of the program for which an application is being submitted or has been submitted (in the current year), and that are presenting a work to an audience that is D/deaf or living with a disability.

The maximum amount granted to presenting organizations to receive audiences that self-identify as D/deaf or living with a disability is $2,000 per year.

What are the program objectives?

In accordance with its mission, the Conseil wishes to identify, acknowledge and support inclusive practices that promote the involvement and engagement of artists, cultural professionals and underrepresented, excluded or marginalized audiences.

The Conseil strives to ensure that culture is accessible to all Montrealers, respecting the dignity and autonomy of each individual.

What type of assistance is provided?

This support is a measure implemented to supplement funding awarded through the Conseil’s General Funding Program.

Accessibility costs refer to costs that certain individuals, specifically those who are D/deaf and/or living with a disability, must pay to take advantage, in the same way as others do, of the services and programs offered by an institution to create, produce or disseminate their art.

What is the duration of the support?

This is a one-time, non-recurring grant.

Can the Support Fund for Accessibility be entirely funded by the Conseil?

Accessibility costs can be fully covered by the Conseil, as long as they are within its financial capabilities. 

However, amount caps apply to artists, collectives and organizations seeking funding under Component 1 to submit a grant application or apply for a Conseil award ($​500​), as well as to presenters for Component 3 ($2,000). For Component 2, the Conseil’s support may not exceed 50% of the proposed budget.    

What types of projects are eligible?

Organizations

• creation/production
• specialized or multidisciplinary dissemination
• publication of cultural periodicals
• production of an event or festival
• production support
• a museum
• service organization, association or alliance

Collectives and individuals

• research
• creation/production

What are the general eligibility criteria?

The Conseil’s assistance is meant to ensure that artists, cultural workers and audiences who are D/deaf or living with a disability can take advantage of its programs and services to promote greater accessibility to arts and culture, while respecting the dignity and autonomy of everyone.

Are there any special eligibility conditions?

This fund is open to individual artists, artists’ collectives and arts organizations that meet the eligibility criteria of the program for which an application was submitted (in the current year), that have received funding from the Conseil, and that meet the following criteria:

Eligibility criteria for financial support to submit a grant application (Component 1):

• Be an individual artist who self-identifies as D/deaf and living with a disability or an authorized person, who accompanies the artist in the search for financing.
• Be an arts organization or artists’ collective that has at least one representative, main creator and/or director who self-identifies as D/deaf and living with a disability
• Be an arts organization whose mandate is to provide services to artists who self-identify as D/deaf and living with a disability, and that has at least one director who self-identifies as an artist or cultural worker who is D/deaf or living with a disability

Eligibility criteria for financial support to carry out a project or receive audiences for a project funded by the Conseil (components 2 and 3):

• Be an arts organization that has at least one representative, main creator and/or director who self-identifies as D/deaf and living with a disability
• Be an arts organization whose mandate is to provide services to artists who self-identify as D/deaf and are living with a disability, and that has at least one director who self-identifies as D/deaf and living with a disability
• Be an artist, artists’ collective or arts organization receiving funding from a Conseil program or initiative for a project that includes artists who self-identify as D/deaf and living with a disability
• Be an artists’ collective with one or more members who self-identify as D/deaf and living with a disability
• Be an organization that is presenting a work to an audience whose members self-identify as D/deaf and living with a disability
• Be an arts organization hosting an intern and/or mentor under an internship program funded by the Conseil who self-identifies as D/deaf and living with a disability

When must the project be carried out?

The artist, artists’ collective or arts organization may start the project prior to submitting the project application but must complete it after receiving the Conseil’s response.

How many applications will be accepted?

The number of project applications accepted by the Conseil varies depending on the number of applications it receives, its evaluation of the project’s merit and artistic interest, and the available budget.

Priority will be given to applications for projects that directly support artists who are D/deaf and living with a disability.

Who is ineligible to apply?

Ineligible applicants

• individuals, collectives or organizations that are ineligible for the program for which support for accessibility costs is requested or was requested within the current year
• artists’ collectives that are incorporated as a for-profit or not-for-profit company, as a general partnership or as an association
• cultural periodicals that have been published for less than one year, publish fewer than three issues per year or are distributed free of charge
• organizations dedicated to teaching, education, and professional training
• Public or para-public organizations representing governments or municipal corporations
• organization and collectives whose projects are not funded by the Conseil, unless support for accessibility costs is needed to write a grant application

Projects (components 2 and 3)

• projects that are ineligible for the program for which support for accessibility costs is requested
• projects specifically related to film or web film production
• projects that are primarily promotional
• projects that have already received support for accessibility costs

Activity sectors

• sector that is ineligible for the program for which support for accessibility costs is requested or has been requested in the current year
• organizations working exclusively in variety arts or comedy

Applications

• applications that are ineligible for the program for which support for accessibility costs   is requested or was requested within the current year
• applications involving accessibility costs that are not directly related to the funded project
• applications received after the deadline

Ineligible applications will not be considered by the Conseil.

What is the application deadline?

Individual artists, collectives or organizations that have obtained financial assistance from the Conseil to carry out a project can also apply for support for accessibility costs up to three months after the decisions related to the successful project have been sent out, provided the project is not completed before the deadline to send out decisions for accessibility cost support applications.

Can I submit more than one application in the same year?

Artists, collectives and organizations may submit only one application per component and per fiscal year (January to November) for financial support for access fees in Components 2 and 3. However, it is possible to use component 1 for each application submitted.

Who should submit the application?

The artist or the person responsible for the artists’ collective or arts organization (administrator or director mandated by the board of directors).

Can I submit an application in English?

Only individual artists and artists’ collectives may submit their applications in English. Please note, however, that the questions on the form are in French only.

What information and documents must I include in my application?

Required:

• project budget (required for components 2 and 3)
• accessibility specifications (optional)
• invoices and bids (optional)
• appendix (optional)

How are applications evaluated?

Applications are evaluated by the Conseil team and according to the following criteria:

• reasonable budget
• direct link between the funding provided and the successful completion of the project
• available funds

Please note that priority will be given to providing direct support to artists (components 2 and 3). 

What is the response time?

It will take eight to ten weeks from the date of the application for the Conseil to process it and reach a decision.

How will I be informed of the decision?

The individual artist or the representative for the collective will receive an email invitation to view the results on the ORORA platform. Decisions will not be communicated by phone.

Can I appeal the decision?

​​​The Conseil’s decisions are final and not subject to appeal. However, Conseil staff are available to answer any questions regarding decisions. Equity, ethics and proximity are an integral part of our values, and listening and empathy will always be a priority in our customer relations. With the aim of improving the way we work, we are now providing you with a feedback form, which you can find here.​​

​​​​​However, all organizations, collectives and artists wishing to share their concerns with us agree not to communicate with members of the evaluation committee or the Conseil’s Board of Directors about the management or evaluation of their application, or about decisions related to their application. ​​

How will the grant be paid?

The grant amount will be provided in one payment (100%) after the decision letter has been sent.

Payment terms and conditions are specified in the Orora response letters and can be found here.

Commitments

Accepting payment of the grant constitutes, for the artist, collective or organization, an undertaking to complete the activities covered by the grant and to comply with the accompanying conditions.

The artist, artists’ collective or arts organization agrees to:

• carry out the project as planned
• notify the Conseil as soon as possible if unable to carry out the project in the fiscal year for which the grant was awarded. In this situation, the recipient may be asked to reimburse the grant in full or in part.
• if requested, submit activity reports and financial statements at the required times
• if applicable, include in the report photographs, videos or any other relevant, royalty-free visuals that the Conseil may use for promotional or archival purposes

In addition, organizations, collectives, artists and their representatives agree at all times not to communicate with members of the evaluation committees or members of the Council’s Board of Directors in any matter relating to the management, evaluation or decisions related to their application. 

The Conseil des arts de Montréal staff are available to answer questions about the application evaluation process and decisions.