The mission of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec is to support throughout Québec research and artistic and literary creation, experimentation, production and dissemination in the realms of the visual arts, the arts and crafts, literature, the performing arts, the multidisciplinary arts, the media arts and architectural research. It also seeks to enhance the influence of artists, writers and arts organizations and their works in Québec, the rest of Canada and abroad.

The Conseil's services are aimed primarily at Québec artists, writers and non-profit organizations working in the fields stipulated in its mandate. However, the Conseil believes that its initiatives benefit all Quebecers since the artistic activities that it supports contribute to the cultural development of the population throughout Québec.

Services offered to the public:

• immediate access to information on the CALQ Website
• information service
• publication of documents (newsletters and studies)
• networking through social networks

Services offered to our clienteles:

• financial support through an array of financial assistance programs adapted to each of the fields that falls under our mission:

  – grant programs for non-profit organizations;
  – grant program for artists and writers;

• financial support stemming from a partnership with regional bodies to create specific financial assistance programs;
• management of the process of awarding funds through the establishment of juries and peer committees;
• management at the request of the Minister of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women of the Placements Culture program;
• recognition of artists and writers through artistic creation awards accompanied by a cash prize in collaboration with regional partners or organizations that are representative of the arts community;
• the organization of initiatives to inform the clientele of the Conseil's activities (consultation meetings, press conferences and information sessions);
• the organization of activities to inform the clientele of the Conseil’s initiatives such as consultation meetings, press conferences and information sessions, and the dissemination of information through social networks.

1. Personalized services

1.1   We greet and serve you with courtesy, respect and fairness in our offices and offer you personalized telephone reception service, a toll-free telephone number and an e-mail contact address ( info@calq.gouv.qc.ca). 

1.2   We attempt to respond as quickly as possible to information requests, by telephone or by appointment. We undertake to respond to e-mail requests within 10 business days.

1.3   The Conseil relies on a single interlocutor when processing applications. Artists, writers and arts organizations can thus obtain information on the evaluation of their applications by contacting the person responsible for the application.

2. Accessibility of our services

2.1   Our programs are available at our offices, on our Website and from regional culture boards.

2.2   We assure you of the presence of a member of our staff to participate in requests for information meetings that we receive from artists, writers, organizations, professional schools and other groups or institutions in the arts community throughout Québec.

2.3   Our Website presents complete, regularly updated information on our initiatives and policies in an accessible format that is compatible with text recognition software.

2.4   Our offices are accessible to mobility-impaired individuals.

2.5   The Conseil’s head office is located in Québec City and it maintains a second office in Montréal. To better accommodate its clientele, the reception desk at the Montréal office is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Québec City office is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

3. Fairness and efficacy of processes to award financial assistance and results

3.1   Our criteria and evaluation process are clearly identified in each of our financial assistance programs. 

3.2   We seek to ensure the credibility of the evaluation of applications through the rigorous, constant application of our processes and procedures.

3.3   The juries and advisory committees that participate in evaluations comprise qualified individuals who have at their disposal the relevant tools to enable them to make recommendations.

3.4   We are concerned with ensuring diligent processing of our clienteles' applications. We intend to comply with the application processing deadlines set in each of our programs.

3.5   For the sake of transparency and clarity, we disseminate through various communication media the recipients of financial assistance and the attendant process by making available within six months of the registration date the names of the artists, writers and arts organizations receiving financial assistance; the names of jury members three months after the announcement to grant recipients of our financial support; the names of advisory committee members three months after the conclusion of their mandates, usually lasting one year; decisions concerning financial support in the regions through press releases and the names of selection committee members three months after the conclusion of their mandates, usually lasting one year.

3.6   We regularly consult our clienteles through our advisory boards and ad hoc meetings with representatives of the arts and literary communities and the regions.

3.7   Our presence on the two biggest networks in the social network field (Facebook, Twitter) enables us to reach clienteles that do not necessarily consult the media and receive comments likely to improve our services or clarify the orientation of our initiatives.

4. Guarantee of compliance with rules of ethics and confidentiality

We ensure compliance with rules governing ethics and conflicts of interest. Moreover, we guarantee the confidentiality of the information that we possess in keeping with the legislation in force in Québec.

5. Handling of complaints

If you deem the service that you have received to be unsatisfactory, you may contact the Secretary of the Conseil (secretaireduconseil @ calq.gouv.qc.ca), who undertakes to examine your complaint in complete confidentiality and to reply with diligence to it.