Funding for tours can come from various sources. The main ones are federal (Canada Council for the Arts) and provincial. Below is a list of options:
Canada Council for the Arts
With the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), you can apply for grants for residencies, co-productions, travel, and touring. While it is strongest to have a three or more stop tour when applying for touring funding, it isn't necessary. Sometimes International Presenters can apply for funds to support some of their costs associated with bringing you to their venue (these would be costs that your grant is not already covering).
The Canadian Actors Equity Association (CAEA) defines a tour stop in the Canadian Theatre Agreement when the theatre requires the Artist to be away from their Point of Origin (a forty (40) kilometre radius from the Theatre’s primary place of business address).
Canadian Heritage
Canadian Heritage works with presenters and supports seasons. They will help Canadian presenters bring in international colleagues, or support presenters when they travel. In short, they do not support tours by directly funding the artists, their support goes directly to the presenters.
Global Affairs Canada
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) supports artists who do tours through consulates. These artists are usually chosen by the consulates and represent core Canadian values. There is no application process for this. These tours are often very fulfilling but very tightly scheduled. They will often happen in regions that Canada is working to increase trade or cultural diplomacy.
Consulates
There are Canadian consulates and missions in countries all around the world. The people working in the consulates work in their countries, while the staff at GAC mainly work in Ottawa. They have different abilities and budgets, largely depending on if they deal with trade or policy (sometimes this can vary within a country, from region to region).
When planning an international tour or when travelling in order to network, always get in touch with the consulate of where you want to go. Sometimes they can provide support with receptions, or cover costs of travel, accomodation, etc.
Provincial Funding
Travel funding varies from province to province. Below is a non-exhaustive list of potential funding opportunities for provincial residents.
British Columbia
Tours within the province: In-Province Arts Touring & Circulation (B.C. residents only)
National & International: Touring Initiatives (B.C. resident for at least 12 months prior to application)
Alberta
Travel grants for travel outside of Alberta: Travel Grant for Individuals and Ensembles (Alberta resident for at least 12 months prior to application)
Saskatchewan
General tour support: Tour Support Grant (Individuals must have filed an income tax return in Saskatchewan in the year preceeding the year of requested funding)
Manitoba
Within Manitoba: Tour Program (for artists touring in Manitoba)
Ontario
Visit our Provincial Funding page for a full summary of Ontario funding streams.
Local, National & International: Touring Projects (for Ontario-based practitioners)
Québec
Travel outside of Québec: Circulation hors Québec
Within Québec: Bourse de circulation d'oeuvres au Québec
New Brunswisk
There doesn’t seem to be a specific touring program but for general arts grants visit this page: Grant Programs Archive (New Brunswick resident for at least 12 months prior to application)
Nova Scotia
There doesn’t seem to be a specific touring program but for general arts grants visit this page: Programs (Nova Scotia resident for at least 12 months prior to application)
Prince Edward Island
"Dissemination" grants available: Arts Grants program (Must have a PEI address as your primary residence for a minimum of 12 consecutive months)
Newfoundland and Labrador
Artists travel fund for Inside or Outside of the province: Professional Artists' Travel Fund (Supporting travel costs for artists or groups that have been invited to take part in unexpected activities that will enhance their careers)
Yukon
Touring Outside of Yukon: Touring Artist Fund (TAF) (Must have lived in Yukon for 1 continuous year before applying.)
Northwest Territories
General project funding, might indluce travel: NWT Arts Council Funding (You have been a resident of the NWT for at least 2 years prior to the deadline.)
Nunavut
This program can including touring: Community Tourism and Cultural Industries Program (Nunavut residents only)
Other funding resources
- International Funding Opportunities: On the Move has a listing for international funding opportunities world-wide
- Travel Funding: On the Move's page on 'Funding opportunities for cultural mobility' consolidats information and tips on how and where to find funding for your mobility as an artist, a cultural professional and/or a cultural organisation for countries around the globe.
- Resources for music funding: Canadian Association for the Advancement of Music & the Arts (C.A.A.M.A.)