Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Grant payments will be made according to the project start date. You will receive the payment for your grant on the 1^st of the month if your project starts between the 1^st and the 14^th of the month. You will receive the payment for your grant on the 15^th of the month if your project starts between the 15^th and the last day of the month. In all cases, your social insurance number (S.I.N.) is required to receive a payment.

Yes. On April 27^th, a new temporary measure This link will open in a new window to allow for remote meetings and sessions to be held where laws or regulations would normally prohibit it was announced by the Ministère de la Justice. This new measure will ensure that meetings held remotely through technological means are considered valid in the above-mentioned instances. This measure will remain in effect for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Applications to the new grant program will be evaluated by a jury of peers. Applications submitted to Exploration and Digital Deployment will first be screened by CALQ program officers based on each section’s eligibility requirements and general objectives. Applications that are deemed eligible will then be reviewed by an internal committee on the basis of the objectives and evaluation criteria described in the program. The CALQ may, if necessary, call upon one or more resource persons or form an advisory committee to analyze the projects.

In 2021, the Exploration and Digital Deployment measure is available at all times to artists and at fixed dates to organizations. Artists can therefore submit a project to the CALQ whenever they are ready and receive support to help them stay actively connected to their audiences. Organizations have until September 9 to develop their project and prepare their application, which will be evaluated by an advisory committee.

Among other things, projects that increase the amount of online Québec content and its dissemination, such as adaptations of existing works for digital presentation, the production of podcasts or the taping of live performances, are eligible. Projects that increase the discoverability of content or help artists and arts organizations take ownership of the digital space also qualify. See some of the projects funded last year (in French). This link will open in a new window

It isn’t a condition of eligibility for applications but long-term projects will be given priority.

No, the purpose of this measure is not to finance a website update. However, if part of your website needs to be redesigned in connection with the project for which you are applying for a grant, that expense is eligible. You must demonstrate that the project will use technology for creation, production, promotion and presentation.

If the project involves only training in the discipline, then no. If the project aims to promote digital literacy, it may be eligible. Digital literacy is defined as “the ability to understand and use information and communication technologies in daily life, at home, at work and in the community to achieve personal goals and to expand one's knowledge and skills.”

Updating obsolete office equipment is not eligible. However, if the expense is justified for purposes of creation, production, promotion and presentation, it may be eligible. It is preferable to lease digital equipment for a project unless it can be demonstrated that buying is more advantageous. If the project involves the purchase of equipment, a quote should be attached to the application to allow for a full analysis of the file.

If your organization purchases new equipment needed for a project involving creation, production, promotion and presentation, and you need training to use it, those expenses are eligible. But if the equipment acquisition was funded by the Ministère de la Culture et des communications or another source and you want to fund only the training, your project is not eligible for this measure.

It is recommended that amounts requested from other public funding agencies be included in the budget forecast and you should indicate whether the funding has been confirmed. This will give the evaluation committee a full picture of your financing.

It isn’t possible to combine these two sources of funding for the same project. However, you can submit a project that has already received funding by, for example, developing a new component of the project.

We cannot guarantee that funding will still be available in a few months.

We are asking applicants to define their objectives before the project starts in order to be able to determine whether the project was a success. The objectives may consist of performance indicators or targets that can be measured quantitatively, or more qualitative goals that the organization sets for itself within a formal framework.

There is no budget template for this measure. You must provide a balanced budget showing revenues and expenses.

A performance indicator is a quantitative or qualitative measure, or set of measures, that can be used to assess the results of an action or actions, the achievement of a project’s objectives, and its impacts. These indicators can be shown on a dashboard or any other type of tracking tool.

Performance indicators will vary from one project to another.

Discuss the appropriateness of the technologies or digital tools you will use to achieve your project’s objectives and those of the measure.

Yes. Since the pandemic began, the CALQ has expanded the eligibility criteria for some programs to include graduating students of institutions of higher education enrolled in an art program.

Yes, the measure is still adapted to take into account the decisions of government authorities regarding performance venues, whether the closure of venues ordered on December 20, 2021 or a possible resumption of activities during the period covered by the current phase of the measure. The grant enables organizations to obtain compensation for a portion of losses in box office revenue caused by the pandemic and to facilitate the management of resulting operational constraints.

The parties must make all the arrangements necessary for the performance to be able to take place. However, the producer and the presenter must have a reasonable timeframe for the performance to be held under suitable conditions.

If there is still uncertainty and the parties cannot ensure that the performance can go ahead, the CALQ will offer a grace period of four weeks before the scheduled date of the performance and of four weeks after the announcement of changes to public health rules. During these periods, the CALQ will provide compensation for cancelled performances.

For performances between January 1 and March 31, 2022, compensation will be calculated as follows:

For each of the venues used (shows presented)

(Average number of tickets sold per performance in a reference year

–

Number of tickets corresponding to 50% of the usual capacity)

X

Average price per ticket in the reference year

(or in the current year, if lower)

X75%

For each venue used (eligible cancelled shows)

(Average number of tickets sold per performance in a reference year

X

Average price per ticket in the reference year

(or in the current year, if lower)

X75%

The current cap of $75,000 per performance is maintained.

For performances scheduled or given between January 1 and March 31, 2022:

The maximum grant amount is limited as follows: the sum of the average compensation and the average box office revenue per performance may not exceed 100% of the average box office revenue per performance in the reference year.

Yes, because of the changes affecting the situation of performance venues, you need to submit a new application for your programming for the period from January 1 to March 31, 2022.

Forms for the period from January 1 to March 31, 2022 collect the same sort of data as for the previous period. However, changes have been made to the grant calculation form. You therefore must use the new form.

- Answers to questions on the Venue Identification page to better understand the parameters that determine your potential audience size with social distancing are needed to calculate the grant if venues reopen.

- The presentation plan has three tabs: Public scolaire, Public familial and Public adulte.

- Series of performances of the same show must be presented in periods of no more than seven days.

- Column R: Number of tickets sold at the time of the application. For the closing period, indicate 0.

- On the Organization Identification form, it is important to answer the questions in section 4 to facilitate the validation of the average ticket price by the CALQ.

In order to have actual data for grant calculation and to facilitate reporting, the CALQ continues to request the following documents:

- Documents corroborating the average ticket price listed in the presentation plan (column AC) for five performances or for the entire program if it includes fewer than five performances. Please note that the average ticket price must be consistent with the information contained in these documents.

Organizations using the Reference Year Form must also attach documentation showing the average ticket price for the first five shows in the broadcast report.

- Ticket sales reports for all previous performances.

- Floor plan of the venue(s) you are using.

You will still be eligible for compensation if you have to cancel a performance for one of the following reasons:

– closing of venues by the Government of Québec;

– performer diagnosed with COVID-19 or members of the show team or the venue’s technical crew placed in quarantine;

– suspension of school outings by the Government of Québec;

– closing of classes or schools due to the pandemic;

Grace period

If there is uncertainty about whether a performance can go ahead, the CALQ will offer a grace period to compensate for the cancellation of performances. This period is four weeks before the scheduled date of the performance and four weeks after the announcement of changes to public health rules.

Presenters, festivals, and events that have previously received support under this program do not have to re-submit the data for their reference year if they are using the same venues. However, they will have to re-submit this data if they are using different venues. In this case, the reference fiscal year must be the same as that used for the other venues.

Production organizations that have previously received support under this program must re-submit their reference data.

Yes. Presenters, events and festivals must include with their application:

- All signed contracts binding the presenter and producer for the period covered in the application.

In addition, the application must contain the following:

– signed Producer Commitment (In French) (46 KB) forms for performances scheduled and cancelled during the period covered by the application;

– documents confirming the ticket price shown in the presentation plan for five performances, or for the entire program if it consists of fewer than five performances (contract specifying the ticket price, advertising brochure, box office report, screenshot of online ticket site, etc.);

– documents confirming the average ticket price for the first five performances in the reference year;

- ticket sales reports for all performances scheduled or presented at the time of application;

- floor plan of the venue(s) used.

Yes, self-presenting organizations must submit contracts with their application:

- All signed contracts with artists, copyright holders and other entertainment workers for the period covered by the application.

In addition, the application must contain the following:

– documents confirming the ticket price shown in the presentation plan for five performances, or for the entire program if it consists of fewer than five performances (contract specifying the ticket price, advertising brochure, box office report, screenshot of online ticket site, etc.);

– documents confirming the average ticket price for the first five performances in the reference year;

- ticket sales reports for all performances scheduled or presented at the time of application;

- floor plan of the venue(s) used.

If changes must be made subsequently, they should be included in your grant utilization report. The CALQ will use this information to adjust the final amount of financial assistance given to your organization.

The purpose of this program is to keep all the links in the production chain active, and to provide work and fair remuneration for all artists and performing-arts workers. This is why the CALQ requires that the artists, designers, stage crew, technicians and other workers directly involved in the show’s production and presentation be paid, and that all fees related to the use of copyrighted works be paid, whether or not the performance takes place. If you regularly work with, for example, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) or the Society of Authors and Composers of Dramatic Works (SACD), you must continue to pay your royalties even if the show is not presented.

No, this program is not retroactive.

Financial aid will be granted to all eligible applicants within the limits of the allotted budget.

No. This program is intended for creation and production organizations that present their own works in Québec and that, as of March 1, 2020, had been in existence for at least one year and had at least one year of achievements related to the presentation of shows in Québec.

Yes, if you can provide the contracts that were signed with the producers or artists for those performances.

No, you do not have to have received support from the CALQ before to be eligible for this program.

No. If the applying organization and the show are eligible, the CALQ will simply determine the amount to which the organization is entitled.

No, only Québec productions are eligible.

No. The CALQ will be monitoring the situation closely and will adjust the amount of financial aid according to the prevailing situation at the scheduled time of the presentation.

Artists and other performing-arts workers will benefit from this program through the presenters and producers who employ them. The CALQ requires that all organizations receiving support commit to making sure the grant benefits everyone in the performance chain: artists, copyright holders and show workers.

No. The program is only for show presenters and creation/production organizations that present their own works. In your case, the presenters who buy your shows are the ones who must submit the application.

The reference season is chosen by the organization submitting the application. It should be a fiscal year between 2016 and 2020.

When submitting the application, the applicant must make a commitment that the shows in the presentation plan will comply with the Workplace Sanitary Standards Guide for the Performing Acts Sector, Performance Halls and Movie Theatres – COVID-19 This link will open in a new window at the time they are presented.

Yes, if the show was originally planned and announced for a live audience (provide contract).

Yes, but the grant will be paid out only after the signed agreements have been received by the CALQ.

Doing your own calculation can give you a good idea of the grant that will be awarded and allow you to plan your programming. However, the exact amount that you receive may be different; it depends on the CALQ’s analysis.

No.

No. Only shows that are cancelled for the reasons listed in the program rules are eligible for this assistance.

Performances for school audiences and family audiences will be considered separately. There will therefore be different calculations for performances intended for adult audiences, school audiences and family audiences. You should fill out the appropriate tabs on the form.

Yes, they will be counted in calculating the presenter’s average.

Yes. It is the presenter who must include it in their application.

In accepting the grant, presenters and producers must provide a commitment from the producer to pay the artists, copyright holders and performing-arts workers, even if a show is cancelled or postponed. The artists’ fees should reflect the fact that the Québec government is supporting the programming and wants everyone to benefit from this support. The CALQ requires proof of payment for all cancelled performances.

Only once.

Any organization that receives support under this measure will have to provide a grant utilization report within two months after the project ends. This report will show the total amounts paid to artists, copyright holders and other performing-arts workers for the supported show(s), including proof of such payments in the event of a show’s cancellation. This will enable the CALQ to determine whether the presenters and producers have honoured their commitment to pay everyone involved in the performance. The CALQ reserves the right to demand, at any time, any other information or document that it deems relevant and reasonable to require for purposes of applying and verifying this provision.

Yes, service fees are included in box office receipts.

You should provide the presentation report for just the venue you are using.

Institutions that offer full degree programs for future professional artists, such as public and private institutions recognized by the Ministère de l’éducation et de l’enseignement supérieur.

There isn’t a special form for final-year art students. You should use the form for the grant you’re applying for.

No, on the contrary. Additional funding has been allocated to the grants program in order to be able to support a larger number of projects.

To enable post-secondary art students in their final year to enter the profession under these challenging circumstances, they will be eligible, on an exceptional basis, for all sections of the grants program as well as the Vivacité and Recognition programs, even if they don’t meet all the regular requirements. School works may be taken into account in the evaluation.

No. The CALQ is sensitive to the problems of final-year students and emerging artists in the field of humour. We have therefore set up a pilot project to support the creation of quality texts and help young artists enter the profession. For this purpose, emerging comedians will be able to submit applications to three sections of the grants program: Research and Exploration, Creation and Professional Development. Submissions from emerging artists in the field of humour will be evaluated by their peers in humour.

They are eligible for the CALQ’s grants program, which was enhanced in the winter of 2020 in recognition of needs relating to artist-entrepreneurs’ multiple skills and to improve their financial situation. The program provides support at every stage of the creation – production – presentation process, throughout the artist’s career.

The additional funding for the CALQ will allow us to respond to increased demand in the various programs and sections, including Vivacité, which is intended to provide an entry point into our programs for culturally diverse artists. Culturally diverse artists always sit on our juries and these applications are given careful attention.

Like Vivacité, Recognition will have a larger envelope and we will be able to support more Indigenous artists. The additional amounts available will be injected equitably for all artists.

See the FAQ on the various sections of the grant program.

In the exceptional situation we currently face, we are devoting all our energies to reducing the time it takes to process your applications. Our priority is to give you prompt access to any financial support you are granted. Unfortunately, under the circumstances, we cannot respond to requests for information within the usual timeframe or provide you with the evaluation scores. We realize this situation is not ideal but we are doing all we can to offer you the best possible service.

You must include insurance costs. Otherwise, your application will be deemed ineligible by the CALQ. Travellers outside Québec must have travel insurance covering emergency medical care, including risks associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19), for the entire duration of the trip.

In this regard:

All applications for funding or a grant must include insurance costs in the budget. Otherwise, the application will be deemed ineligible.

For organizations, the Diffusion d’œuvres à l’extérieur du Québec, Développement des organismes à l’extérieur du Québec and Prospection programs are open again.

Artists can also submit applications for projects involvement travel outside Québec and for the Circulation of Works Outside Québec and Travel section, which are available again.

Refer to the program's "Presentation of the application" section for COVID-related instructions.

Yes, it is possible to submit an application for international travel or a tour again.

Note however that travellers outside Québec must have travel insurance covering emergency medical care, including risks associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19), for the entire duration of the trip. All applications for funding or a grant must include insurance costs in the budget. Otherwise, the application will be deemed ineligible.

By submitting an application for financial aid, you accept the following responsibilities:

1. Travellers to another Canadian province or another country:

- have consulted the COVID-19 information website of the destination province our country and are able to comply with the travel rules in force at the time of their trip;

- are aware that they must conduct their professional activities in accordance with the workplace rules, standards and protocols in force at the time of the activities;

- understand that they will have to cover any unexpected expenses in the event of sudden changes arising during the trip (expenses related to quarantine, emergency return, closing of borders, etc.);

2. Travellers returning to Canada understand that they must follow the rules established under the emergency orders, particularly those described on the official Government of Canada site This link will open in a new window;

3. Any costs arising from a quarantine are not eligible expenses.