Dance is used as an inclusive term to welcome formal and artistic dance practices, including customary and traditional dance, and other practices that use the movement of bodies as the primary mode for expression.

ARTISTS (INDIVIDUAL ARTIST OR ARTISTS PART OF A COLLECTIVE) MUST:

• Have an existing and committed practice in dance. This may include, but is not limited to, Indigenous and other cultural customary and contemporary works and practices.
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Be a resident of Edmonton / amiskwaciy-waskâhikan at the time of the application and for the duration of the residency. This includes the City of Edmonton, and the communities of Enoch Cree Nation, Alexander First Nation, Paul First Nation, and Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation (artists may be asked to provide proof of residency).
• Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) – funding is considered taxable income.

Collectives also must:

• Have eligible individuals as described above; and
• Have one individual (the primary applicant) apply on behalf of the collective.

Individuals or collectives who have overdue Edmonton Arts Council final reports will not be eligible.

COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATIONS MUST:

• Be a legal entity in good standing in the jurisdiction of corporate registration (i.e., Alberta or Canada).
• Be located within the City of Edmonton.
• Not be in arrears with the City of Edmonton. 
• Be identified on only one (1) application per intake.

The EAC seeks to provide the individual artist or collective with a defined, ongoing financial stipend to support their work throughout the residency, while the collaborative organization shall be compensated for expenses, up to a maximum of 25% of the total residency budget. All expenses, including additional anticipated fees for artists, supplies and services must be clearly outlined in the application budget. 

For the purposes of this residency program, a collaborative organization will enter into an agreement with the individual artist or collective to provide them with resources and supports for the duration of the residency term. The scope of resources and supports will be determined by the applicant and the organization collaboratively and must be clearly outlined in the application. These resources and supports may include one or more of the following: space, mentorship, community connections, financial support, collaboration, or other infrastructure. 

The collaborative organization supports the artistic vision of the individual or collective, where the individual or collective directs the artistic work during the residency. Both the artists and the collaborative organization should benefit from the creative journey and shared experiences of the residency. The collaborative organization does not necessarily have to be an identified dance specialist, if it fulfills the need(s) and requirement(s) of the residency artists and aligns with the eligibility stated in these guidelines.

AN ELIGIBLE RESIDENCY MUST:

• Have a defined start and end date.
  • Be up to the equivalent of 6 months’ full-time work.

Clearly benefit the development of the artist(s). Describe the intended activities, including:

• How the applicant plans to benefit from the residency, measured by specific growth in skills, abilities, or other measurable indicators. 
• How mentorship will be provided, whether from the collaborative organization, or other individual(s).
• The level and scope of engagement from other dancers, artists, and/​or community members. 
• A public-facing component during or at the completion of the residency.

• Describe the collaborative organization’s commitment to the residency by:
  • Providing resources and supports for the artist for the duration of the residency. Resources and support could include (but are not limited to):
    
     — Appropriate space for the activities proposed for the duration of the residency
     — Mentors, Elders and/​or Knowledge Keepers
     — Community relationships
     — Technical support
     — Logistical support
     — Financial support
     — Office space
     — Administrative and/​or research resources
  • Collaborating with the artist to support the residency, specifically providing appropriate guidance and other advice related to managing the logistical and financial aspects. 
  • Defining how the collaborative organization plans to benefit from the residency, measured by growth in presentation, production, community engagement, programming, or other measurable indicators.

Below are a few examples of potential residency proposals:

• An individual contemporary dance artist is collaborating with local technicians and designers to explore the integration of multimedia projections within their movement practice. The residency will focus on experimenting with new techniques and expanding the artist’s creative process. They have identified a local theatre company with performance spaces and technicians who, while not specialized in movement-based arts, will provide mentorship and support throughout this exploratory phase.
  
  
• A local street dance collective will use this residency to explore collaborative processes with sound/​music artists, focusing on experimenting with new styles and techniques in street dance, in preparation for a future Western Canadian tour. The residency will provide an opportunity for the collective to engage in creative exploration and expand their artistic practice while preparing for live performances. They have partnered with a private dance studio as their collaborative organization, which, despite its limited experience with street dance, will offer its instructors and facilities to support the collective’s artistic growth and experimentation.
  
  
• An East Indian Bharatanatyam dancer and Indigenous Jingle dancer will engage in this residency to explore and deepen their understanding of the similarities and differences between their dance forms, focusing on movement and sound. The residency will emphasize the process of research, reflection, and experimentation, allowing the artists to expand their practices in a supportive environment. They have partnered with a non-profit agency focused on intercultural relations as their collaborative organization, which will provide connections and resources to facilitate community engagement and support the artists’ exploration during the residency.

To facilitate the success of the residency, the EAC will enter into a contract with the successful Primary Artist and the Collaborative Organization. Eligible expenses of the Collaborative Organization could include fair-market rates for use of space, technical, logistical, administrative, and research support, up to a maximum of 25% of the total project budget. For assistance determining acceptable expenses, contact an EAC Program Advisor at grants@​edmontonarts.​ca or call 780−424−2787 for assistance. 

Funds will be distributed across the period of the residency, by the EAC, to the Primary Artist and Collaborative Organization in alignment with the details of the contract and application.

APPLICATION RESOURCES

Please visit the Resources section of our website for more information on profile and application expectations:

• Workshops: https://​www​.edmon​tonarts​.ca/​r​e​s​o​u​r​c​e​s​/​w​o​r​k​shops
• Funding FAQ: https://​www​.edmon​tonarts​.ca/​r​e​s​o​u​r​c​e​s​/​f​u​n​d​i​n​g-faq

DANCE RESOURCES

To increase the capacity of Edmonton dance artists and organizations, the EAC has compiled the following resources to assist artist(s) in determining your space needs, collaborative organization needs and/​or other supports for planning your residency and completing the application. The EAC does not recommend any space or organization over another. 

Artists are required to connect with collaborative organizations, in advance of applying, to identify their needs, supports and resources to complete the residency. 

Space Finding Document

A Space Finding resource document may assist you in determining your space and/​or collaborative organization needs. The document provides a comprehensive (but not exhaustive) list of considerations, which may or may not be applicable for your residency. Email grants@​edmontonarts.​ca or call 780−424−2787 for access to the resource. 

EAC Consultation

The EAC has compiled a list of potential organizations and spaces that may be suitable for the residency. If you wish to discuss potential collaborations and/​or spaces with an EAC Program Advisor, email grants@​edmontonarts.​ca or call 780−424−2787 for assistance. 

Additional Resources

You may also find useful information about standard rates of pay, contracts, etc., at: 

Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists/​West Chapter, Alberta Dance Alliance

DEFINITIONS

All definitions below are used for the purpose of this residency program and are not applicable to other programs offered by the EAC. 

Collaborative Organization: An Edmonton-based organization that enters into an agreement with the individual artist or collective to provide them with resources and supports for the duration of the residency term. Resources and supports provided by the collaborative organization may include one or more of the following: space, mentorship, community connections, financial support, collaboration or other infrastructure. The collaborative organization supports the artistic vision and work of the individual or collective, while the individual or collective directs the artistic work (in-progress or to completion). The collaborative organization does not necessarily have to be an identified dance organization, if it fulfills the need(s) and requirement(s) of the residency artists and the eligibility stated in these guidelines.

ACCESS SUPPORT

Those facing barriers while completing their application may be eligible for Access Support. A barrier can include but is not limited to, language, culture, physical or cognitive limitations, or any inequity that may complicate completing an application. This support provides funding for specialized assistance in conveying the artists’ ideas. This could include hiring a typist, interpreter, translator, or other type of support worker to help with submitting a clear application that accurately reflects the artist’s ideas and intentions.

Normally, professional grant writers are not supported by this program unless they are assisting the artist with a specific barrier. Eligible assistance will be supported up to $500.

DRAFT APPLICATION ASSISTANCE 

The EAC offers the opportunity for applicants to have their draft application reviewed before the application deadline. The review process could include:

• Clarifying which collaborative organization best aligns with the artist’s residency goals.
• Help to define the intentions of your residency.
• Reviewing budgets and support materials.

If you would like someone to review your draft application with you, please email no later than 10 business days before the application deadline. Requests for review made after this time may not be possible.

FEEDBACK

Applicants can request feedback on their applications after the assessment process is complete and decisions are finalized. Feedback can be provided at any time for any applications submitted using the SmartSimple portal. We encourage all applicants, successful or not, to get feedback, especially if you are working on an application for a similar project. 

Email grants@​edmontonarts.​ca and ask for assistance about any of our supports for applicants.

The deadline for submissions is 11:59 AM (noon) on November 15, 2024. 

Apply through the EAC’s online portal SmartSimple:

For the artist (individuals and collectives):

Complete (or update) an individual profile in the online portal eac​.smart​sim​ple​.ca. This is required by whomever is submitting the application (the primary applicant).

If the application is for a collective, all named members of the collective based in the City of Edmonton and/​or one of the four identified Indigenous communities are required to have individual profiles in SmartSimple by the application deadline.

Once a profile has been made, the residency program application form is made available in SmartSimple under the ​“Open Opportunities” icon. If the applicant already has a profile, the Dance Residency application will be visible a minimum of 30 days before the application deadline.

To enter your Collaborative Organization’s information, follow these directions:

1. Download the Excel form from SmartSimple.
2. Have your Collaborative Organization complete the digital Excel form.
3. Once returned to you completed, save the Excel form.
4. Upload the completed and saved Excel form into your SmartSimple application.

Your Collaborative Organization’s information will be automatically updated in the system and visible upon saving or refreshing the application. If you need to modify this information later, deleted the uploaded completed Excel form and upload an updated Excel form.

Once a residency application has been submitted, EAC will internally review the proposal to examine: 

• The eligibility of the artist and collaborative organization. 
• The completeness of mandatory elements of the application. 
• The residency’s potential overall impact on the Edmonton dance sector.
• The proposal’s alignment with the aims of this program. 

The success of the residency will be measured by the depth of engagement in the artistic process. An Advisory Committee of subject matter experts will provide assessment, context and recommendations to the EAC. 

ASSESSMENT PROCESS

An Advisory Committee of diverse, knowledgeable members from the dance community and broader Edmonton arts ecosystem will review the applications and conduct an assessment. Applications are evaluated by the criteria listed in the guidelines for each opportunity. The selection and support of a residency and Collaborative Organizations are at the sole discretion of the EAC. 

This process will take 6 to 12 weeks. Thank you for your patience!

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Assessment will be based on what is outlined in these guidelines: 

• Merit and Clarity: The residency should have clearly defined, measurable goals and demonstrate a clear impact related to the proposed activities.
• Feasibility: The residency plan, timeline, and budget must be realistic and attainable.
• Alignment: The proposal should align with the residency program’s intentions, highlighting potential growth and learning opportunities for both the artist(s) and the collaborative organization.

Artists will be evaluated on their ability to:

• Use the residency to advance their movement-based arts practice. 
• Contribute to the Edmonton arts community over time, leveraging insights and developments gained during the residency.

Collaborative Organizations will be assessed through this process as having:

• The relevance and effectiveness of the support and resources provided to the artist(s).
• Their commitment to fostering the artist(s)’ growth through mutual learning and development.
• The potential impact of their involvement in strengthening and expanding movement-based arts in Edmonton.

REPORTING

Artists who receive funding through the residency program will be required to submit a report once their proposed timeframe has ended. The final report must also include a final report or other summative evaluation of the residency from the perspective of the collaborative organization. The artist will be expected to assess their experiences during the residency in respect to the goals that they articulated in their application, articulate what work has been completed to date, and confirm that the budget was spent as submitted in their application.

Final reports are under the My Action Item section of your SmartSimple homepage are due six (6) months after the stated residency end date. 

GENERAL INFORMATION REQUIRED
(all references to ​“Project” in the application are defined as ​“Residency”)

• A project title;
• A short description of the project (30 words);
• Project start and end date.*

* Residency start date must be after the application deadline and timelines may not exceed 6 months (or the equivalent of 6 months full-time work). 

ARTIST BACKGROUND

The information in this section will be directly imported into your application from the Primary Applicant’s individual profile in SmartSimple. Please ensure your profile is up-to-date and submitted before completing your application.

• Artist name – the name that you use publicly as an artist if different than your preferred name;
• Artist primary and secondary practice – these will be the primary applicants’ main artistic practices in which they have the most experience. This may be different than the artistic practice(s) of the residency that this application is for; 
• Artist statement – a description of your existing artistic practice which may include major influences, disciplines, cultural practices and/​or lived experience;
• Artist biography – a summary of your life and career highlights, and education relevant to your practice;
• Artist CV/​Resume – artistic work history or comparable;
• Social media and/​or web links – these links are used by the assessors as additional information on your professional artistic practice. Please only include public links to information that will support your application.

COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

To enter your Collaborative Organization’s information, follow these directions:

1. Download the Excel form from SmartSimple.
2. Have your Collaborative Organization complete the digital Excel form.
3. Once returned to you completed, save the Excel form.
4. Upload the completed and saved Excel form into your SmartSimple application.

The following information will be collected in the Collaborative Organization Information Excel form:

- Legal & contact information

• The legal and operating names that are used by the organization. An operating name is only required if it differs from the organization’s legal name.
• Contact information, including the name, position title, email address, and phone number for the Primary Contact and a Signatory Contact. (The signatory contact must be someone with the organization legally permitted to enter into a contractual agreement).

- Mandate & objectives

• Purpose of the organization as defined in its mission, mandate goals or other strategic statements.
• Organization’s primary activities as defined by its operations (select one).

- Structure & capacity

• Provide the names, positions, and short biographical information of key administrative leaders in the organization who will support the artist in achieving their residency objectives.
• Provide details related to the collaborative organization’s supports and resources being provided to the artist(s) to complete the residency. This may include, but is not limited to space, mentorship, community connections, financial support, collaboration or other infrastructure.

PROJECT DETAILS
(all references to ​“Project” in the application are defined as ​“Residency”)

• Grant amount requested up to a maximum of $50,000;
• Project primary practice (drop down menu);
• Project secondary practice (check all that apply);
• Contact details for collective member(s) if applicable (fillable table);
• Collective member(s) artist CV/​resume* if applicable;
• Contact details of mentors, Elders, or Knowledge Keepers if applicable (fillable table);
• CV/​resume/​biography of the mentors, Elders, or Knowledge Keepers if applicable*;
• The names and roles of everyone involved in the project, including collective members, mentors, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and/​or other project collaborators (250 words).

* Which may include artistic work history, biography, personal narrative, or comparable (PDF, recommended 2 pages).

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
(all references to ​“Project” in the application are defined as ​“Residency”)

The residency is an opportunity for the artist to immerse themselves in creative exploration and development, allowing for shifts in direction, unexpected discoveries, and ongoing refinement of their practice. The outcome of the residency may be a deeper understanding of one’s work, new skills, a reimagined approach to artistic creation and/​or a completed work. The description should include:

• An outline of the artistic vision for the residency, emphasizing the learning, development, exploration, experimentation and/​or creation process the artist aims to pursue. Focus on how the residency will serve as a platform for creative growth and discovery within the activities proposed. 
• Describe the intended process-oriented goals of the residency, highlighting how the artist plans to engage in the activities proposed for the residency. This may include the plans for experimentation, research, new approaches to their practice and/​or working towards a final completed work. 
• Provide relevant technical and logistical details about the residency (e.g., location, space, and schedule), ensuring that these elements support the process proposed. Include information about the anticipated number of collaborators proposed, if applicable.
• A residency plan that includes a clear and feasible timeline, allowing for the development of ideas, exploration and/​or creation throughout the residency period. If the residency includes a public-facing component, please provide clear details on when and how this would be achieved. 
• Explain how the residency will positively influence the collaborative organization, as well as contribute to the broader arts ecosystem in Edmonton. Emphasize how the shared experiences and activities will lead to mutual growth.
• Any other relevant details that may assist in the decision-making process, focusing on how the residency will support artistic exploration, process and development.

PROJECT BUDGET
(all references to ​“Project” in the application are defined as ​“Residency”)

The budget should support the residency’s process, which may include (but not be limited to) exploration, research, rental fees, professional wages for artists, collaborators and/​or arts professionals, honorariums, rehearsal and/​or production expenses. A balanced budget shows: 

• Revenues (including the amount requested in this grant application);
• Expenses to pursue the residency.

This information will be entered directly into the online form. Use the ​“notes” section of each line to identify or explain each revenue and expense.

If you incorporate in-kind expenses and revenues, they should be labelled as such and must balance.

Allowable expenses:

An artist may request up to $50,000 in support through this program.

Expenses eligible in this opportunity may include:

• Paying the artists (individuals and collectives) at a professional rate.
• Paying dancers, mentors, collaborators and technical staff at professional rates.
• Production of the anticipated public presentation / performance / educational event, based on the work done during the residency.
• Expenses related to marketing, communications and dissemination of the anticipated public presentation / performance / educational event, based on the work done during the residency.
• Venue space as required.
• A maximum of 25% to compensate the collaborative organization for the supports/​resources.

Please also upload supporting documents for this budget in PDF form, including but not limited to: 

• Quotations from suppliers;
• Standard fee schedules;
• Correspondence that confirms rates;
• Confirmation of other grants or funding support for the initiative.

*Do not upload a spreadsheet of your complete budget – this must be filled in through the table in the application form. 

SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Supporting material is required and important for the accurate assessment of your application. Supporting material should reflect your ongoing creative journey and the creative processes inherent in your artistic practice. The materials should focus on demonstrating your capacity to complete the activities outlined for the residency. To support your residency application, you may upload up to 10 audio/​visual/​PDF files and up to 5 direct links to external websites related to your proposed residency.

• Materials may emphasize examples of past explorations, collaborations, in-progress creations and/​or completed and presented works. Select materials that best reflect your creative and artistic practice, as well as demonstrate your ability to complete the residency as proposed. 
• You may also include letters of support, reviews, interviews, or other documentation that provides context for your residency proposal.
• For each supporting material uploaded, provide a description that includes relevant details such as the creation date, location, participating artists (if applicable) the reason for why you want assessors to review this material in relation to your residency and application.
• Uploaded video or audio files should total no more than 10 minutes in length, and all files should be less than 2GB in size. Uploads are preferable to links whenever possible, so that access for accessors is as simple as possible.
• Links must be direct and public. These links should go directly to the support material specified, rather than to a landing page or home page requiring further navigation by assessors.
• It is encouraged that you do not provide links that go through file sharing sites, such as Spotify, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc., or online portals that require an account to access. Not all assessors may have access to these sites and may not be able to assess the materials you have provided. It is encouraged that you provide direct links or upload your materials directly to the application for all assessors to view.
• Please do not submit images as PDF files, rather directly upload images in JPEG or PNG format.