Noublood, an artistic entrepreneurship experience

Who is this program for?

This initiative by Carrefour jeunesse-emploi Montréal Centre-Ville, in partnership with the Conseil des arts de Montréal and the CALQ, is aimed at professional artists between the ages of 18 and 35.

What are the objectives?

Support and assist the development of international skills in young artists while opening up markets to them.

What type of assistance is provided? 

Noublood offers support grants to each participant for their participation in the course, the creation of their prototype as well as coaching sessions 

 What is the duration of the experience? 

The duration of the program is 10 weeks part-time. The course will take place from January 10 to March 27, 2025. 

• January 10, 2025: Welcome meeting 
• Week 1 (January 14 and 16) Present a project and its entrepreneur 
• Week 2 (January 21 and 23) Define the common “why”, the mission, values ​​and vision 
• Week 3 (January 28 and 30) The prototype and market study 
• Week 4 (week of February 3) Free team work + coaching 
  • Prototyping – Ideation 
• Week 5 (week of February 10) Free team work + coaching 
  • Prototyping – Production 
• Week 6 (February 18 and 20) Validation of hypotheses and value proposition 
• Week 7 (February 25 and 27) Discoverability and the business model 
• Week 8 (week of March 3) Free team work + coaching 
  • Prototyping – market testing 
• Week 9 (week of March 10) Free team work + coaching 
  • Prototyping – Adjustments and pitch 
• Week 10 (March 19 and 20) The Toolbox and legal forms 
•  Presentation and final: March 27, 2025 

What are the general conditions for eligibility?

Individuals

• Teams should consist of 2 to 5 participants.
• A waiting list will be drawn up for individual candidates.
• All participants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

When must the project be carried out?

The hybrid mode course will take place from January 10 to March 27, 2025, part-time. Training will take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Working time is to be expected outside of training. 

How many applications will be accepted?

Noublood is looking for the top 10 business ideas for the arts and culture sector.

What types of applicants, projects, activity sectors and proposals are ineligible?

Applications

• Incomplete applications
• Applications received after the deadline

The selection committee will not consider ineligible applications.

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 an application in English?

Yes, you can submit your application in English. Please note, however, that the questions on the form are provided in French only.

What information and documents must I include in my application?

Mandatory

• CV and cover letter (1 per participant) describing your reasons for and interests in taking part in the Noublood experience (maximum 500 words)
• A description of your team’s business idea (maximum 500 words)
• A brief description of the prototype/pilot to be carried out and a proposed budget estimated at $1,000 (200 words maximum)

What are the evaluation criteria?

• Evaluation of applications: The jury will take into account the match between the applicant’s profile and the Noublood experience, the suitability of the profile in relation to the Noublood objectives, the potential for the candidate’s knowledge and skills acquisition, the potential for the participant’s impact and reach in the cultural and artistic sector, and the commitment and complementarity of their skills within their team.
• Evaluation of business ideas: The jury will evaluate the clarity, merit and originality of the proposed business idea, its potential for professional development and commercialization, and the potential for partnerships and network development.
• Evaluation of prototypes: The jury will examine the prototype’s merit and feasibility in relation to the business idea.