CultivART program – Intern component

Who is eligible to apply?

Indigenous artists and cultural workers who wish to take part in an internship.

This presentation is intended for interns, only if the organization/intern/mentor have not already been matched.

If the groups were formed before the submission of the application file (optional), Interns and mentors must create and/or complete an ORORA profile and then complete a simplified application, indicating the name of the host organization.

If the groups have not already been matched, mentors should refer to the presentation Indigenous Arts CultivART Internship Program – Component 3 – Mentor and organizations, Indigenous Arts CultivART Internship Program – Component 2 – Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Host Organization.

What are the program objectives?

Paid internships offer established arts and culture organizations an opportunity to host emerging Indigenous artists and cultural workers. Interns must want to work in an arts and culture setting. The objectives are:

• provide Indigenous people with a stimulating professional environment to learn about the real-world working conditions of a career in arts or culture
• provide the personal and professional guidance of an Indigenous or racialized mentor to ensure that the intern’s professional objectives are achieved in their host environment
• recognize the intern’s contribution to their host environment

This program aims to:

• build a new generation of Indigenous cultural workers in the arts and culture sector and contribute to the advancement of the Indigenous arts and culture sector
• foster fruitful two-way exchanges and intersectional dialogue on Indigenous realities
• bring more Indigenous perspectives within the Montreal arts and culture communities 
• build a professional support network between professional mentors and emerging cultural workers

What type of assistance is provided?

$12,500 will be paid to the host organization to pay the intern (equivalent to $19.23 per hour).

The organization will issue payments according to the pay schedule established in their agreement with the intern and upon submission of an invoice.

What is the duration of the internship?

The internship lasts for approximately six months, but can stretch over the year if it is more convenient for the interns.

Interns can work to develop such areas as:

•  management
• curation
• project development
• arts assistantship
• communications
• production
• market development, etc.

An Indigenous or racialized mentor will provide guidance to the emerging Indigenous artist or cultural worker.

The internship consists of 650 hours including meetings with the mentor.

The internship schedule is established between the intern and the host organization depending on the nature of the activities; hours may be regular or spread out over several months.

The mentor will be available to provide guidance for approximately 150 hours throughout the internship. These hours are flexible and defined according to a schedule established jointly with the intern.

How are mentors, interns and host organizations matched?

To ensure the best outcome for all those involved in the CultivART program, it is often advisable to match the host organization, the intern and the mentor together as a group before their submission is made.

Groups matched before the application (optional):

Interns and mentors must create and/or complete an ORORA profile and then complete a simplified application, indicating the name of the host organization.

Groups not matched before the application:

• the intern submits their application, indicating their objectives and the environment in which they wish to carry out their internship
• the organization submits an internship proposal
• the mentor applies and outlines their experience
• the Indigenous Arts Committee starts the process by matching an intern, an organization and a mentor
• the intern considers the options available and indicates their preferred choices
• the Conseil’s Cultural Advisor contacts the individuals involved and ensures that all parties are in agreement

What are the general eligibility conditions?

• be an Indigenous artist or cultural worker (First Nations, Inuit and Métis of Canada)
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

When must the project be carried out?

The internship lasts for approximately six months, but can stretch over the year.

How many internships are available?

The program provides for approximately five internships

Who is ineligible to apply?

Interns

• artists or cultural workers who have already worked with the organization on more than one project, with pay
• artists who wish to offer an individual internship

Activity sectors

• organizations working exclusively in variety arts or comedy

Applications

• incomplete applications
• applications received after the deadline

Ineligible applications will not be considered by the evaluation committee.

Can specific populations receive additional financial support to submit their application or complete their project (accessibility costs)?

Yes. Accessibility costs refer to costs that certain individuals, particularly 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 for research, to create, produce or disseminate their art. Reimbursement of part of these costs by the Conseil des arts de Montréal may offset the financial disadvantage.

The Support Fund for Accessibility Costs is a financial assistance measure that complements the Conseil’s other programs. The deadline to apply for support for accessibility costs is the same as that for the program being applied to.

Artists, collectives or organizations that have obtained financial assistance from the Conseil to carry out a project can also file an application for accessibility cost support 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.

Support is divided into three components:

• component 1 – Financial support to submit a grant application or to apply for one of the Conseil’s initiatives
• component 2 – Financial support for accessibility costs for a project funded by the Conseil
• component 3 – Financial support for presenter organizations for accessibility costs to welcome audiences for a project funded by the Conseil

For more details, please see this additional information on the Support Fund.

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

No

Can I submit a video application? If so, how do I proceed?

Yes, it is possible to submit a video application. If you choose to submit your application in video format, you must answer the questions on ORORA and ensure that your video does not exceed five minutes in length.

Who should submit the application?

Indigenous artists or cultural workers who are interested in an internship.

Can I submit an application in English?

Yes, you can submit your application 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?

Information:

Identify the type of internship you are interested in and the mentor you are looking for. Provide your description in written, video or audio format.

• the type of organization you are looking for and why
• the type of activities and context you are looking for
• Objectives and expected results

Documents to include:

• your curriculum vitae
• short press kit or review (optional)
• to support your application, a personal appendix (presented as a single PDF document) comprising any documents that you feel are relevant to include in your application (optional).

How are applications evaluated?

Four-step decision-making process:

• the Cultural Advisor – Indigenous Arts, under the authority of management, receives and confirms the application’s eligibility
• the Indigenous Arts Committee (peers) studies the applications and makes recommendations on the candidates and potential matches
• the Indigenous Arts Committee proposes the allocation of grant amounts and makes recommendations to the board of directors
• the board of directors meets to make a final decision and award the funding

What are the evaluation criteria?

The evaluation committee will take into account the program objectives and the following criteria:

• the quality of the application describing the proposed internship
• the applicant’s interest in the arts and culture community, as demonstrated through their experience

What is the response time?

It will take six to eight weeks from the deadline for the Conseil to process the application and the Board of Directors to reach its decision.

How will I be informed of the decision?

The artist, cultural worker and/or the organization’s designated representative will be invited by email to view the results in the ORORA portal. No decisions will 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 interns be paid?

$12,500 will be paid to the host organization to pay the intern (equivalent to $19.23 per hour).

Payment will be made according the schedule established in the agreement between the organization and the intern and upon presentation of an invoice.

Accepting payment of the grant constitutes, for the intern, an undertaking to complete the activities covered by the grant and to comply with the accompanying conditions, which will be communicated upon selection of the application.

The intern agrees to:

• complete the internship as planned
• promptly inform the Cultural Advisor – Indigenous Arts if the internship is interrupted or if the nature of the internship changes significantly
• promptly inform the Cultural Advisor– Indigenous Arts of any problems or issues that may arise during the internship
• submit a final project evaluation report no later than 4 weeks after the end of the internship
• 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 

If, for serious reasons, the intern is unable to complete their internship, they may be replaced by another participant, who must meet the eligibility criteria described above.