Burlington Arts and Culture Fund

• An individual artist or arts and cultural collective (defined as three or more individuals) that exhibit high achievement in arts and culture programming;
• An incorporated not-for-profit arts and culture organization or a charitable arts and culture organization;
• A multicultural group that fulfills a significant role in the Burlington community through the arts and culture.

Exclusions from Eligibility

• Academic units of educational institutions;
• Schools, conservatories and other organizations, the primary mission of which is training or education. The presence of education or training as an ancillary part of an organization's mandate will not result in an exclusion from eligibility;
• Churches and other religious institutions;
• Applicants that have received any form of city funding in the same calendar year.

Exclusions from Eligible Costs

• Land,
• Equipment and fixtures,
• Operating costs,
• Physical facilities,
• Furthering a for-profit venture or creating an advantage for a for-profit partner.

The BACF grant program will not support:

• Any cost or reimbursement associated with ongoing or annual operating or administration costs;
• Retroactive funding for projects/events that have already occurred;
• Any expenses or financial commitments made prior to receiving official written grant approval;
• Alcohol, tobacco/cannabis related products or gambling expenses;
• Infrastructure, construction, renovation, major purchases and equipment such as capital, property, etc.; 
• Contingency or unexplained miscellaneous costs;
• Any other expenditure that does not directly relate to the project.

Objective:

To nurture the capacity of the arts and cultural sector in Burlington, while fostering creativity, encouraging social cohesion, enhancing quality of life and stimulating cultural and economic development through direct investment.

Project Grants - Overview:

The BACF is intended to support the creation and presentation of arts and cultural projects that reflect BACF objectives. Project grants are awarded for a term of one year and each applicant may apply for support for one project per year. BACF applicants are responsible for all aspects of their project which includes securing the appropriate venue and insurance.

BACF projects must adhere to all Municipal, Regional and Provincial COVID-19 health and safety guidelines at the time of project implementation. Projects must also adhere to Municipal, Provincial and Federal regulatory compliance standards such as building codes, City bylaws, Fire Regulations, etc.

For organizations, groups or individuals that receive BACF funding in any year and reapply to the grant program the following year, a final project report must be integrated as part of the subsequent application form. Applications for projects that recur must be submitted annually and will be adjudicated based on assessment criteria as outlined in the criteria and guidelines document and on the following:

• Success of the project in the previous year;
• Innovation within the project;
• Availability of funds in the context of funding priorities. 

For Project Grants the following assessment criteria will be considered:

Artistic Merit (30%) as determined by:

• A comprehensive work plan that is ready for implementation;
• Quality or value of the project and the implementation team/program;
• Distinctiveness of the applicant's activities in relation to comparable activities in Burlington. Does the project provide unique and innovative opportunities for artists, other arts and cultural organizations and the public?
• Qualified, professional leadership;
• Contributions to the development of arts and culture in Burlington;
• Evidence of planning in place to support the proposal and/or ongoing organizational capacity (as per realistic schedules, timelines, planning practices, etc.).

Peer assessment jury members evaluate the artistic merit criteria of BACF applications. Jury members are comprised of representatives from the arts and culture sector. This includes: arts and cultural professionals, practitioners and/or individuals who are knowledgeable in the arts and culture and maintain high standing in the arts and cultural community. BACF peer assessment jury members are selected and approved by the Arts and Culture Council of Burlington (ACCOB).

Program Merit and Strategic Initiative (30%) as determined by:

Clearly articulated outcomes expected from the project. Outcomes should align with the City of Burlington's Strategic Plan for community building through arts and culture via community activities. Does the project:

1. Encourage better collaboration and co-ordination among existing and new cultural partners;
2. Reach out to new and diverse communities to expand Burlington's cultural fabric;
3. Encourage targeted cultural programming that engages newcomers and a more diverse audience with the goal of promoting cultural diversity;
4. Encourage multiculturalism and inclusion;
5. Support new and existing cultural celebrations and initiatives.

Citywide and Community Impact (20%) as determined by:

• Level of public access to the work, activities or services, evidence of growing interest and attendance;
• Level of engagement with other arts and cultural organizations, artists and community groups in Burlington. Evidence of promotional and/or outreach strategies in place to encourage wide public participation, awareness and engagement;
• Demonstrated support from the community as determined by partnerships, collaborations, sponsorship support, in-kind support, volunteers, etc;
• The applicant conducts its activities primarily in Burlington and for the benefit of Burlington residents. The applicant encourages the participation of all citizens of Burlington;
• The applicant measures the success of the activities and programs of its organization on an ongoing basis and shares the results of these measures with the city and other interested stakeholders.

Economic Impact (20%) as determined by:

• Employment and training opportunities for Burlington artists, cultural workers and contractors;
• Direct and indirect spending in Burlington. Attraction of tourists to Burlington;
• The applicant demonstrates initiative and success in generating revenue outside of the Burlington Arts and Culture Fund;
• Evidence of financial stability and accountability as demonstrated through prior financial performance, achievable and balanced budgets and fiscal management;
• Strong and successful relationships and partnerships with the local business and not-for-profit community;
• The ability to demonstrate how grant funding will directly support the project.

• The maximum amount awarded for each project grant is $7,000. The city has discretion with regard to the amount awarded and all decisions are final.
• Project grants are intended to support a specific activity or event taking place between April 2022 and March 2023.
• Awarded applicants are required to sign an agreement, recognizing their obligations. Once the agreement is signed, the City will issue a cheque for 80 percent of the grant.
• The remaining 20 percent will be issued upon receipt of the final report, remaining invoices and other documents as outlined in the agreement.
• Applicants will not be eligible to receive further BACF funding until all required reports have been submitted to and accepted by the City of Burlington.
• A grant recipient in default of their grant agreement may be required to return funds to the City of Burlington and may be judged as ineligible for future grants.

Arts and Culture Collective: Three or more artists or cultural professionals whose project is focused primarily on artistic/cultural creation and presentation. 

Charitable Arts and Culture Organization: A charitable organization whose mandate or mission is focused primarily on artistic/cultural creation and presentation.

Charitable Organization: To be considered charitable, an organization's purpose must be exclusively and legally charitable and it must be established for the benefit of the public or a sufficient segment of the public. It must also be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency as having charitable status under the Income Tax Act. Organizations so registered are able to issue tax receipts for charitable donations.

Community Arts and Culture Project: Broadly defined, a community arts and culture project involves a collaborative creative process between a professional practicing artist and the community. It is a collective method of art-making, engaging professional artists and self-defined communities through collaborative, artistic expression. It is as much about process as it is about the artistic product or outcome. A community arts and culture project provides a unique way for communities to express themselves and enables artists, through financial and other support, to engage in creative activity with communities.

Not-for-Profit Arts and Culture Organization: A not-for-profit organization whose mandate or mission is focused primarily on artistic/cultural creation and presentation.

Not-for-Profit Organization: An organization not conducted or maintained for the purpose of making a profit. Instead, it operates to serve a public good. Not-for-profit organizations are specifically incorporated as such. Any surplus generated by a not-for-profit organization is used by the organization for the purposes for which it was established.

Peer Assessment Jury: BACF jury members are arts and culture professionals, practitioners and/or individuals who are knowledgeable in the arts and culture with high standing in the arts and culture community. Jurors evaluate applications based on the artistic merit component of the application and provide feedback to city staff. Peer assessment ensures that the arts and culture community has a voice in how funds are distributed and that applications are evaluated by artists and other cultural experts with knowledge and experience of the specific art forms, art practices and communities involved. BACF peer assessment jury members are selected and approved by the Arts and Culture Council of Burlington (ACCOB).

Professional Artist: Someone who has developed skills through training and/or practice, is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic tradition, has a history of public presentation or publication, seeks payment for their work and actively practices their art. Short breaks in artistic history are allowed. The source of this definition is the Ontario Arts Council.

If you were unable to join us for our virtual information session on Jan. 17 and would like to view a recording of the meeting please email Adam Belovari, Arts and Culture Coordinator, at adam.belovari@burlington.ca.

Online information session material:

• BACF application template worksheet
• BACF information session PowerPoint presentation

1. Read the Criteria and Guidelines Document;
2. Download, save and complete the Program Budget Worksheet (this is a required document);
3. Download, save and complete the Project Work Plan Template (this is a required document);
4. Ensure that financial statements, the program budget worksheet and project work plan are included with your application form. These are required documents and can be uploaded as attachments in the appendices section at the end of the online application form;
5. Complete and submit the online application by noon on Feb. 4, 2022. A complete grant application including all required appendices must be submitted. No exceptions will be allowed and incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applicants can also complete the application questions template/worksheet prior to beginning the online application. 

2022 BACF Online Application Form

Burlington Arts and Culture Fund Approved Projects for 2020/2021

Project: The Artist’s Mark
Applicant: Burlington Fine Arts Association

The Burlington Fine Arts Association (BFAA) is a high achieving artist collective of approximately 170 local artists and is the largest of the seven guilds under the umbrella of Arts Burlington. The Artist’s Mark project will mark the third annual juried show at the Burlington Centre, a continued effort in building a relationship between the BFAA and the Burlington Centre. The exhibition brings original art out of the gallery and into a more accessible community venue and consumer space. Throughout the exhibition, participating BFAA and student artists interact with visitors by being on site, giving live demonstrations, and talking about their work and artistic process. The project provides the means for a continued celebration of the creativity of local artists from the BFAA and supports young artists from high schools within the Burlington community.

Project: Authors in Your Neighbourhood
Applicant: Sylvia McNicoll

Authors in Your Neighbourhood want students to have a positive interaction with local writers and illustrators to foster the love of reading and writing. This year the team is expanding to include three more Burlington authors, one also an illustrator, and five writing workshops at three branches of the Burlington Public Library. A school in each ward will be provided with a free presentation and following a discussion on the origins, characters and setting of the stories, the students will be inspired to read the work and it will be available for them to read. Approximately 600 students will learn more about the writing process, as well as cover design, editing and other publishing processes that will increase the depth of their reading enjoyment. Students will also be encouraged to enter the Burlington Public Library’s WriteOn writing contest and to attend the five writing and illustrating workshops at the Burlington Public Library.

Project: Burlington Symphony Orchestra Youth and Senior Outreach
Applicant: Burlington Symphony Orchestra

The Burlington Symphony Orchestra (BSO) produces interesting, exciting orchestral and small ensemble performances that engage and inspire large, diverse audiences. Through concerts, community educational programs, and other community activities, BSO delivers music programs for youth and seniors promoting the health benefits of music. This project supports the BSO’s youth and senior outreach initiatives. Youth outreach remains an important priority of the BSO and the Young Artists’ Competition (YAC) features young artists from the region as soloists in main-stage performances with the orchestra as part of its regular concert series. BSO Senior and Community Outreach involves small ensembles from the orchestra visiting senior residences in the community, interacting with the residents and performing chamber works. Performance locations include the Burlington Seniors Centre, seniors’ residences and wellness centres, the Art Gallery of Burlington, and the Burlington Public Library.

Project: Dreams of Peace
Applicant: Burlington Civic Chorale

The Burlington Civic Chorale is led by artistic director Dr. Gary Fisher and consists of approximately forty amateur singers. The Dreams of Peace Project will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and highlight Burlington’s role in WWII. The event will include the performance of Canadian works, one commissioned and initially performed in 2018 for the commemoration of the armistice of World War I, and another choral piece featuring dancers, a community choir, and displays depicting Burlington’s role in the World Wars. Dreams of Peace will bring together amateur singers from Burlington and surrounding communities to celebrate the peace commemoration with contemporary and historic peace selections. The project will combine diverse elements including amateur singers, young semi-professional dancers, a professional choreographer, professional instrumentalists, and historians.

Project: Emerging Artist Showcase Series
Applicant: Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore

The Emerging Artist Showcase (EAS) is designed to foster the continued development of Burlington’s music scene and aims to further add to the impressive list of Canadian bands from Burlington that have become international stars. The EAS aims to grant three rising artists with an opportunity to launch their careers on a professional-level platform. The series offers exposure to new and diverse audiences, networking and connection opportunities, artist relations, hospitality, stage management experience, and knowledge to support the career development of the city’s emerging artists. Through the Emerging Artists Showcase, Rotary’s aspirations are to add three more artists to the ranks of Burlington-based artists like Finger Eleven, Walk off the Earth and Silverstein. The artists will take to the West stage at the Labour Day weekend festival in Spencer Smith Park.

Project: Engaging the Community with Song
Applicant: Burlington Welsh Ladies Chorus

The Burlington Welsh Ladies Chorus (BWLC) aims to foster creativity, stimulate culture and encourage social cohesion by involving the community in learning songs and singing in different languages without songbooks (as in the Welsh tradition) to entertain the public. To succeed in their vision of creating an atmosphere of collaboration, BWLC looks forward to connecting with other musical groups to promote cultural diversity. The chorus is unique to the area in terms of its composition and delivery and aims to encourage women in Burlington to join the troupe in learning the aesthetics of singing and how to sing in a different language. The main goal of the chorus is to provide entertainment in the community, for the community. Retirement and nursing homes present a wonderful opportunity to entertain Burlington residents demonstrating the power of music therapy. The BWLC will provide free concerts in various retirement and nursing homes throughout Burlington during their 2020/2021 performing season.

Project: From Levant - Arabian Night Festival
Applicant: Mosaic Foundation for Women and Children

Diversity is our strength. At Mosaic, our objective is to approach and connect diverse communities and cultures with the intention of cultivating awareness to help immigrants and Burlington residents fuse with their surroundings while preserving their own identity, culture, and language. The From Levant festival will consist of diverse cultural exhibitors from different community organizations, feature cultural booths and stage productions, provide hands-on art workshops, and dance performances produced by local cultural organizations. The festival will provide opportunities for positive interaction among the participating communities by providing an inter-cultural experience for learning about various cultural communities. The objectives of this project are to develop a cultural and artistic exhibition and to preserve the Middle Eastern heritage handicrafts and arts in Canada including mother of pearl marquetry, mosaic, Arabic calligraphy, fabric and textiles, engraving, sculpture and painting.

Project: The Gratitude Project
Applicant: Effusion Collective

The Gratitude Project aims to unite diverse elements of our community through the simple act of giving thanks for what we have around us: nature, family, friendship, health and life itself. The project will curate poems by recognized poets, in English or translated into English; the poetry will draw from various cultures including: Indigenous, Persian, Chinese, European, as well as Canadian, American and British. The poems will focus on appreciation for specific aspects of life and will be read by professional Burlington actors. Effusion will perform various musical compositions to allow the listeners to reflect upon the meaning of the poems. Musical selections will stem from various cultures around the world. Through music and poetry, the project aims to help the community see the unity in our complicated life and to find value in the arts as a source of mental health and well-being. The performance will be held at Port Nelson United Church with a total of five musicians, one tenor and four instrumentalists playing piano, clarinet, violin and guitar, and two professional actors.

Project: Halton Freedom Celebration Festival
Applicant: Halton Black History Awareness Society

The free one-day Halton Freedom Celebration Festival at Spencer Smith Park brings together musical acts, children’s and youth activities, cultural art, food, crafts, heritage, historical, and genealogical vendors promoting inclusivity and community integration. Family venues include basketball competitions, youth art and drum workshops. The multi-cultural ambience will be infused with cultural crafts, art in the park, cultural designer fashions and accessories, food, and exceptional ambience complimenting the best in R&B, Reggae, Soul, Funk, African, Cuban, Jazz Fusion, Ska, Soca and Pop. The festival brings an increased awareness of Canada's diversity, community interactions and service establishments and increases self-knowledge and confidence in appreciating collective diversities, heritage and culture. The Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) is a passionate group of multiculturals, dedicated to implementing cultural education into the public and institutional mindset towards appreciating the values of inclusivity, equality, and self-development. HBHAS develops programs to erode racism, prejudice and stereotyping towards marginalized communities while increasing knowledge of Canadian history and its cultural landscape.

Project: IA - Between Ethnicity and Fashion
Applicant: Arts4People Movement

Arts4People movement is a community organization that aims to provide cultural awareness using community arts, arts education and community engagement. Every year, around the world on June 24, we celebrate the Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse. Our project is built on this day of special significance for both Romanians and all those who appreciate the beauty and meaning of the traditional folk costume. Every summer, Romanians gather all over the world to celebrate “IA”, one of our national identity symbols. During past years, we have organized and celebrated this day in Burlington, but our 2020 project aims to reach a broader community over a longer period of time. A main goal of the project is to create cultural awareness. In terms of learning opportunities the event strives to educate the community about the cultural benefits each newcomer brings to the city’s canvas, engage the community to take action and promote cultural diversity, and encourages the participants to interact with others in an attempt to build bridges, trust, respect, and understanding across cultures.

Project: Lowville Festival - Rockin’ at Mount Nemo - Opera Gone Wild
Applicant: Lowville Festival

The Lowville Festival is launching an exciting new attraction as the cornerstone of its festival programming. Opera Gone Wild, as the name suggests, will take the time-honoured art form of opera and stand it on its ear. Major Canadian operatic singers who have a facility with both opera and various non-operatic genres will join forces with non-operatic singers, performers with a background in musical theatre, jazz and pop music, in an evening that will combine all of these genres in a crazy quilt of operatic, musical theatre hit songs, pop, jazz, country, folk and world selections. To make things even wilder, the concert will be presented in an awesome abandoned quarry in the Mount Nemo Conservation Authority. Representing the world of opera will be the great dramatic soprano, Burlington-born Adrianne Pieczonka, Verdi/Puccini tenor Richard Margison, and lyric soprano Lauren Margison. From the world of musical theatre, jazz, cabaret and television come two great Afro-Canadian artists, Jackie Richardson and Thom Allison. To complete the vocal artistic component, the festival will feature three local choirs, all of which have a solid multicultural base.

Project: Lunar New Year Celebration Gala
Applicant: Redleaf Cultural Integration

The Lunar New Year Celebration Gala is an event to celebrate the starting of the new Lunar Year, which is one of the most important festivals in Asian countries. The purpose of this event is to connect people, share diverse cultures and celebrate the Lunar New Year. The event will consist of two parts. One is a half-day free culture exhibition, which includes multicultural displays of Chinese watercolour painting, calligraphy demonstrations, traditional Chinese edible art - sugar painting, a tea ceremony, Indian Henna painting, a Korean culture display, and a cultural fashion show. The main event will include professional and amateur performances, a Lion and Dragon dance, a variety of singing and dance from various cultures, a professional magic show, and a comedy show. Redleaf Cultural Integration (RCI) is a non-profit cultural organization that works together with people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and ages to enhance the quality of life in Burlington. RCI creates opportunities to develop meaningful relationships, provides community social events, and promotes healthy lifestyles with a focus on newcomers to Canada and Burlington specifically.

Project: Nature Tales
Applicant: Telling Tales

The annual Telling Tales Festival will conclude in Burlington at the Royal Botanical Gardens with the newest addition of Nature Tales, presented at the Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Gardens. The event is free, and participants can explore the grounds and participate in numerous educational activities. The entire program is strong on Indigenous themes, culturally diverse and committed to showcasing fresh, local talent alongside internationally renowned luminaries. Guests can hear the stories behind a book’s creation, learn writing tips and meet the authors at the autographing tent. Attendees can also explore a story walk, express their creativity in the craft tent with story-based art, explore the sculpture collection and take part in art tours, or find a quiet moment in the gardens. The festival has been recognized as a Top 100 Festival Ontario since 2012.

Project: One Burlington Festival - Building Bridges
Applicant: One Burlington

The One Burlington Festival is an annual celebration of Burlington’s local faith and cultural communities. It is a free and open event that encourages dialogue and the building of bridges through the sharing of cultural foods, activities for children, stage presentations and performances, and information booths where traditions can be explained by local Muslim, Sikh, Bahai, Hindu, Jewish, Christian and other various community leaders in a relaxed, casual, family-oriented environment that stimulates understanding, respect and appreciation of the unity in the diversity of our neighbours. The celebration is unique to Burlington and the sharing of cultural and ethnic foods is a popular component of the interfaith and multicultural celebration. The process of sharing cultural foods, art, music and dance performances, facilitates a dialogue and builds relationships between individuals and communities within our inclusive city. The festival features culture-based performances by local and regional, professional and community artists.

Project: PROSPECTS - An Evening of Dance and Discussion
Applicant: Aeris Kőrper Contemporary Dance

PROSPECTS: An Evening of Dance and Discussion is a Burlington event hosted and produced by Aeris Kőrper Contemporary Dance. It is the only opportunity of its kind for professional dance in Burlington. PROSPECTS is a local community initiative designed to develop the diversity of professional dance performances for Burlington artists and dancers. The event brings original choreography created by local choreographers to the Burlington arts community, giving the artists a chance to share new and in-progress works, and also gives audiences the opportunity to enter into a dialogue to better understand and connect to the art of dance. The design of this event is a cultural celebration and exchange of dance as it includes diverse multicultural dance works paired with audience discussion. The conversation between choreographer and audience immerses the audience into the creative process and act of crafting choreography. Audiences are visibly engaged, vocal and reflective. Each choreographer also receives written feedback from the audience and video footage to use for future grant or performance applications.

Project: Sleigh Ride
Applicant: Burlington New Millennium Orchestra

The mission of the Burlington New Millennium Orchestra (BNMO) is to present unique high caliber concerts to the residents of Burlington featuring gifted performing artists from the local, national and international arts communities. Sleigh Ride is the title for the BNMO’s vibrant annual Christmas Holiday Concert. The program is symphonic and features two guest vocalists and a full choir. The repertoire ranges from traditional to contemporary and there is something for everyone in this concert including a sing-a-long, a poetry reading with magical music underscore, and a visit from “you know who”. A concert for the entire family and programming includes over thirty professional musicians from the Burlington area. Christmas is a major celebration in the Christian calendar and by including secular and religious music and a visit from Santa Claus, the concert is a fun, family event for all ages and enjoyable for people from all backgrounds.

Project: Southern Ontario Lyric Opera - Carmen
Applicant: Southern Ontario Lyric Opera

Southern Ontario Lyric Opera (SOLO) is a young vibrant opera company founded in 2015 by Artistic Director and Conductor, Sabatino Vacca. SOLO’s dual vision is to provide high-caliber, affordable and accessible operas, while maintaining a strong commitment to the community through outreach efforts. SOLO reciprocates through many avenues of community outreach including gratis concerts and presentations at seniors’ residences, informative talks and presentations at local libraries and to interested groups, and participation in a variety of community events. SOLO will stage a production of Bizet’s opera Carmen featuring an all Canadian cast of established as well as emerging artists, members of the SOLO chorus, children's chorus, and orchestra. Carmen will be a fully staged production with sets and costumes. The orchestra will be drawn from professional musicians in the greater Burlington area and provides them with the unique opportunity to perform opera with a professional opera company.

Project: The Still Living Project
Applicant: Meraki Arts Collective

The main idea behind the Still Living Project is to open a creative space to diverse members of the Burlington community who have contended with different challenges in their lives. Participants will reflect on their life through the creation of a traditional Korean type of painting called Chaekgeori or Chaekkado taught by local artist and art educator, Sungmi Kong. Kong will set up a communal canvas where each participant will add one symbol that relates to their hopes for the community at large. Set in a group environment, the creation by participants will be captured on video and will describe what has driven each participant to create their specific painting and the meaning behind it. The video itself will be its own artwork and provide a window of reflection for participants and the public. The Still Living Project will host participants whose diverse experiences and perspectives come to life with their paintings. These diverse voices will come from within our community and the space will be open to anyone willing to share their hardships. The paintings will focus on the wisdom, courage, and strength of each person and how they can share that story with others.

Project: Sultans of String - Refugee - Concert and Cultural Fair
Applicant: Sultans of String

Three-time JUNO Award nominees and BILLBOARD charting band Sultans of String will present a performance of Refuge, their seventh album, free to the public with a full quintet band, up to eight guest performers, and a seven-piece string section. The concert will take place on the United Nations World Day of Social Justice on Feb. 20 and feature a multicultural fair with booths representing various cultures and faiths throughout Burlington. Sultans of String feels that it is important to highlight the extraordinary contributions of those who have arrived in Canada from around the world, as well as the global talents that have been ambassadors for peace. Each one of us has a remarkable story to tell, and this project will highlight the beauty of these collaborations with the Burlington community, featuring special guests from First Nations, Turkey, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Greece, Syria, Mexico, Portugal, Cuba, and Sudan. The  project is centered around the positive contributions of refugees and new immigrants to Canada. By telling our stories, we help shape our own understanding of what it means to be Canadian.

Burlington Arts and Culture Fund Approved Projects for 2019/2020

Project Name: Authors in Your Neighbourhood
Applicant: Sylvia McNicoll

Authors in Your Neighbourhood want students to have a positive interaction with local writers to foster the love of reading and writing. The project will provide two elementary schools in each of Burlington’s six wards with a free presentation between May 2019 and March 2020. Each school will be provided with an autographed set of the books that either Jennifer Maruno or Sylvia McNicoll will be speaking on. Following a discussion on the origins, characters and setting of the stories, the students will be inspired to read the work and it will be available for them to read. Approximately 1,200 students will learn more about the author’s writing process, as well as cover design, editing and other publishing processes that will increase the depth of their reading enjoyment. Over 40 teachers, librarian-techs, and other teaching assistants will learn pointers on inspiring proficient writing. New to Authors in Your Neighbourhood is the inclusion of high schools in the project.

Project Name: Birds Adapted Juried Exhibition
Applicant: Teresa Seaton

Birds Adapted for Flight or Fancy is a regional exhibition for both two and three-dimensional works of fine art and craft. The exhibition will run at Teresa Seaton Studio and Gallery from August to October 2019. A call for this exhibition will be sent out via Akimbo, various social media outlets, and through a direct email campaign. Prizes will be awarded for first place, second place and people’s choice. Teresa along with the award-winning artists will offer learning opportunities for both artists and the public through a series of artist talks. By basing the theme on birds and their influence or inspiration, the exhibition also challenges the traditional curatorial practice of separating fine art and craft. By opening the call to all media, the exhibition promotes a conversation to the general artistic community to look beyond the historical stereotypes of curatorial practices. 

Project Name: Bringing Music to the Community
Applicant: Burlington Welsh Ladies Chorus

The Burlington Welsh Ladies Chorus (BWLC) aims to foster creativity, stimulate culture and encourage social cohesion by involving the community in learning songs and singing in different languages without songbooks (as in the Welsh tradition) to entertain the public. To succeed in their vision of creating an atmosphere of collaboration, BWLC looks forward to connecting with other musical groups to promote cultural diversity. The chorus is unique to the area in terms of its composition and delivery and aims to encourage women in Burlington to join the troupe in learning the aesthetics of singing and how to sing in a different language. The main goal of the chorus is to provide entertainment in the community, for the community. Retirement and nursing homes present a wonderful opportunity to entertain Burlington residents demonstrating the power of music therapy. The BWLC will provide free concerts in various retirement and nursing homes throughout Burlington during their 2019/2020 performing season.

Project Name: Burlington Fine Arts Association Annual Juried Show - The Artist’s Mark     
Applicant: Burlington Fine Arts Association

The Burlington Fine Arts Association (BFAA) is a high achieving artists’ collective of approximately 170 local artists and is the largest of the seven guilds under the umbrella of Arts Burlington. This project will mark the second annual juried show at the Burlington Centre, a continued effort in building a relationship between the BFAA and the Burlington Centre. The exhibition brings original art out of the gallery and into a more accessible community venue and consumer space. The Artist’s Mark will take place from Jan. 17 to 26, 2020. In this second iteration of the juried show, the call will be open to all BFAA members as well as senior youth from Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School who elect to participate as part of their art programs curriculum. Throughout the exhibition, participating BFAA and student artists will interact with visitors to the mall by being on site, giving live demonstrations, and talking about their work and process. 

Project Name: Educational Diorama Exhibit
Applicant: Friends of Freeman Station

Friends of Freeman Station was formed in 2011 as a non-profit community group. The mission of the group is to locate, restore, and preserve the historic Freeman Train Station for the enjoyment of current and future generations. With the lower level of the Burlington Junction Station almost complete, a dedicated team of Friends of Freeman Station volunteers including local artists and craftsman have begun assembling a unique model railway and historic diorama depicting life in the village of Freeman in the early 1900’s. The exhibit will showcase a beautifully crafted 1/24 scale model of the Burlington Junction Station. Lighting and audio-visual effects will be used to tell individual interactive scenario stories and educational modules will be developed to include historic, economic, scientific, culturally significant, and technological topics. The project will see the creation of a permanent exhibit open to the public that educates residents and visitors, with a special focus on grade school student groups.

Project Name: Emerging Artist Showcase Series
Applicant: Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore 

The Emerging Artist Showcase Series is designed to foster the continued development of Burlington’s music scene and aims to further add to the impressive list of Canadian bands from Burlington that have become an international success. The showcase aims to grant three rising artists with the opportunity to launch their career on a professional-level platform. The Emerging Artist Series offers exposure to new and diverse audiences, networking and connection opportunities, artist relations, hospitality, stage management experience and knowledge to support the career development of the city’s emerging artists. The project fosters the career development of three of Burlington’s up and coming musicians, providing them with the opportunity to receive a total of six hours of featured space, professional-level airtime.

Project Name: Entertainment for Seniors
Applicant: KooGle Theatre Company 

KooGle Theatre Company will perform Broadway classics and songs from the golden age of movie musicals for retirement homes and senior centres in the Burlington community between April 2019 and March 2020. Co-Artistic Directors Leslie and Christopher Gray will collaborate with fellow members of Burlington's artistic community (performers/technicians) in order to reach out and make an artistic difference in the lives of Burlington's senior community. The project provides an opportunity for community outreach and the company aims to perform and sing numbers from movie musicals and Broadway classics from the Brant Inn era, while utilizing the visits at these various residences to communicate about their Brant Inn project and capture memories from the residents. Entertainment for Seniors allows KooGle Theatre Company to reach out to Burlington’s senior community and provide nostalgic entertainment that will be bring happiness, joy and healing. 

Project Name: The Gospel According to St. Nick.
Applicant: Burlington New Millennium Orchestra

The Burlington New Millennium Orchestra presents the Gospel According to St. Nick, a family-centric Christmas season concert with a gospel beat vibe. Audience participation will occur in the sing-along portion and St. Nick will make a special appearance. The concert will feature programming suitable for all age groups.The programming includes 35 professional musicians from the Burlington area, various performing artists from the Greater Hamilton Area and from the local business community. Christmas is a major celebration in the Christian calendar but by including secular and religious music and St. Nick, the concert is a fun, family event for all ages and backgrounds. The mission of the Burlington New Millennium Orchestra (BNMO) is to present unique high caliber concerts to the residents of Burlington featuring gifted performing artists from the local, national and international arts communities. BNMO will foster collaborations with other local arts groups and engage younger audiences through selective outreach programming.

Project Name: A Green I.D.E.A.
Applicant: A Green I.D.E.A Collective (Alison Dunford, Joan Urquhart and Yanting Zhao)

A Green I.D.E.A. is an arts-based collective of three artist-educators that partner with local organizations to collect waste materials and show children, educators, and families how to repurpose them in artful ways. A Green I.D.E.A. will partner with local businesses to collect high quality nontoxic surplus materials and high quality nontoxic defective materials to reduce the waste materials in Burlington by repurposing these materials into artworks. A Green I.D.E.A. will offer public workshops that showcase how to use these surplus materials for arts-based projects to children and families in Burlington. By saving these materials from being deposited in local landfills the project aligns with the City of Burlington's strategic direction of Building a Healthy and Green City. The project will offer a series of educational workshops on how to use solid waste materials that have been donated from local companies to create innovative and artistic projects as a fun way to educate residents on how to rethink the notion of waste and how to reuse discarded materials in artful ways.

Project Name: Halton Freedom Celebration Festival
Applicant: Halton Black History Awareness Society

The Halton Freedom Celebration Festival is a free outdoor music festival that will take place in Spencer Smith Park on Aug. 3, 2019 from noon to 11 p.m. The celebration includes musical and dance acts, youth and children's events, artistic, musical and historical forums, an extensive marketplace of cultural cuisine, community and cultural association partners, genealogists, historians, authors and cultural contributors. The festival offers multicultural music, food, crafts, and art for a diverse audience. 2019 enhancements include youth and children's activity centres and adding more diversity to the program including Cuban Jazz fusion led by two female Juno Award nominees.The Halton Black History Awareness Society is a passionate group of multiculturals, dedicated to implementing cultural education into the public and institutional mindset towards appreciating the values of inclusivity, equality, and self-development. 

Project Name: Lunar Year Culture Celebration          
Applicant: Redleaf Cultural Integration

The Lunar Year Culture Celebration is an event that celebrates the starting of a new lunar year, the most important festival in Asian countries. This cultural event, led by Redleaf Cultural Integration, lasts approximately four hours and includes a cultural show/display, and multicultural music and dance performances. To promote and foster multiculturalism, the celebration will include art and performances from various ethnic groups in order to showcase their culture to the community. Redleaf Cultural Integration (RCI) is a non-profit cultural organization that works together with people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and ages to enhance the quality of life in Burlington. RCI creates opportunities to develop meaningful relationships, provides community social events, and promotes healthy lifestyles with a focus on newcomers to Canada and Burlington specifically. 

Project Name: One Burlington Celebrating Faith and Culture
Applicant: One Burlington 

The One Burlington Celebrating Faith and Culture Festival is an annual celebration of Burlington’s local faith and cultural communities. It is a free and open event that encourages dialogue and the building of bridges through the sharing of cultural foods, activities for children, stage presentations and performances, and information booths where traditions can be explained by local Muslim, Sikh, Bahai, Hindu, Jewish, Christian and other various community leaders in a relaxed, casual, family-oriented environment that stimulates understanding, respect and appreciation of the unity in the diversity of our neighbours. The celebration is unique to Burlington and the sharing of cultural and ethnic foods is a popular component of the interfaith and multicultural celebration. The process of sharing cultural foods, art, music and dance performances facilitates a dialogue and builds relationships between individuals and communities within our inclusive city. 

Project Name: PROSPECTS an Evening of Dance and Discussion
Applicant: Aeris Korper Contemporary Dance

PROSPECTS: An Evening of Dance and Discussion is a series of three dance performances that take place at the Burlington Student Theatre. The performances are a mixed program of five pieces of choreography by five different choreographers around the same theme (social justice, identity, relationships and connection). All of the choreographers discuss their work and process in a post-performance discussion where the audience is invited to provide feedback. This allows the choreographers to learn from the audience and the audience to learn more about the art of dance. Providing an inclusive environment to showcase work where the choreographers are mentored and encouraged to engage directly with the audience allows for growth by understanding what each audience experiences. In addition, the audience will have an opportunity to develop their understanding and appreciation of dance as an art form. 

Project Name: Shawn Brush Country Jamboree
Applicant: Shawn Brush

Every October musician and Burlington native Shawn Brush, the Krooked Cowboy, organizes a local event that brings together some the industry’s finest musicians. Shawn is a singer songwriter that combines technical musicianship with impactful songwriting. The Shawn Brush Country Jamboree will feature performances by: Shawn Brush, Sarah Beatti, The Pistoletts, Chopped Liver, Barton Cats, Hayley Verrall, Caroline Wiles, and Judi Rideout and the X-Husbands. Shawn’s mission is to bring country music talent to veterans and residents living with mobility challenges. This year’s event will take place on Oct. 14 at the Burlington branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and will provide a day of family fun, food, and country music from local and regional performers. Expect music, laughter and dancing at this celebration of country music! "With guitar in hand, solo or backed by some of the industry’s finest musicians, the Krooked Cowboy is an artist that shines. He has appeared in national media and performed both in studio and live on stage. With a powerful presence, he is a must see."

Project Name: Southern Ontario Lyric Opera Special Gala Event
Applicant: Southern Ontario Lyric Opera 

Southern Ontario Lyric Opera (SOLO) is a young vibrant opera company founded in 2015 by Artistic Director and Conductor, Sabatino Vacca. SOLO’s dual vision is to provide high-caliber, affordable and accessible operas, while maintaining a strong commitment to the community through outreach efforts. SOLO reciprocates through many avenues of community outreach including: gratis concerts and presentations at seniors’ residences, informative talks and presentations at local libraries and to interested groups, and participation in a variety of community events. SOLO’s Special Gala Concert, featuring world-renowned Soprano (and Burlington native) Adrianne Pieczonka and renowned Canadian Baritone, Gregory Dahl joined and supported by the SOLO Chorus and Orchestra will take place on June 8, 2019. SOLO is especially keen to educate children and to foster an affinity with the excitement and fascination of this often-overlooked art form. The opera involves children and youth in their casts and chorus and invites local schools and youth groups to their dress rehearsal performances. 

Project Name: Symphony on the Bay Youth and Seniors’ Outreach
Applicant: Symphony on the Bay

Symphony on the Bay (SOTB) produces interesting, exciting orchestral and small ensemble performances that engage and inspire large and diverse audiences. Through concerts, community educational programs, and other community activities, SOTB delivers music programs for youth and seniors and promotes the health benefits of music to all residents while providing community musicians an opportunity to perform and develop their talent. This project supports Symphony on the Bay’s youth and seniors’ outreach initiatives. Youth outreach consists of a young artists competition featuring young artists from the region in solo performances with orchestra. The project also consists of youth arts groups collaboration which features performances by local community youth groups at all four concerts in the symphony’s season. SOTB’s seniors’ outreach involves small ensembles of volunteer orchestra members performing for seniors’ groups in the community. Performance locations include the Burlington Seniors Centre, seniors’ residences and wellness centres, the Art Gallery of Burlington, and the Burlington Public Library. 

• Actor's Fund of Canada
• Arts Access Fund
• Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Program
• Business for the Arts
• Canada Arts Training Fund
• Canada Council for the Arts
• Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
• Canada Cultural Investment Fund
• Canada History Fund
• Canada Music Fund
• Canada Post Community Foundation
• Canadian Art Writing Prize
• Canadian Heritage Funding and Assistance Programs
• Celebrate Ontario
• Charles H. Ivey Foundation
• Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program
• FACTOR (Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings)
• Harold Greenberg Script Development Program
• McLean Foundation
• National Gallery of Canada Fellowship
• Ontario Arts Council
• Ontario Association of Art Galleries
• Ontario Clay and Glass Association Fusion Awards
• Ontario Creates
• Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
• Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
• Ontario Trillium Foundation
• RBC Emerging Artists Project
• R. Howard Webster Foundation
• Scotiabank Photography Award
• Telefilm Canada Feature Film Fund
• Writer's Trust of Canada Awards