THE SCHOOL ANNOUNCES THAT THE CALP IS EXTENDED IN 2010.
The Cultural and Artistic Leadership Program (CALP) was created in 2005 to encourage and finance innovative projects, initiated by students or recent graduates of the NTS. These projects must combine a quest for artistic excellence and a will to reinforce the social impact of theatre.
The School is currently seeking donations for this program, which complements its training. Initial financing for the CALP was generously provided by the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation until 2009; the School is now looking to perpetuate it. It is one of the priorities of its private funding program.
In the short term, the School’s CEO, Simon Brault, is proud to announce that the CALP will be extended for another year, in a slightly modified format that accounts for the wishes expressed by the donors who make this temporary extension possible.
Raison d’être
Canadian society evolves constantly and, more than ever, needs strong leadership in all sectors of activity. The cultural sector as a whole and the world of theatre in particular require that we explore and invent new ways in which art can continue to be a catalyst for change and a path to emancipation for individuals and communities.
General objective
This NTS program endeavours to encourage the emergence, renewal and recognition of artistic and cultural leadership, which will have an impact in the short, medium and long term – not only on the performing arts, but also on the entire Canadian cultural scene.
"Leadership is first and foremost the result of a specific interaction between the motivation, intuition, talent, experience, skills of an individual and a group, a community or a given society. In art, just as in other fields, the nature of this interaction consists in influencing, creating, organizing, and mobilizing through action. In these circumstances, true leadership stands out and is recognized. It can manifest itself in the creation of artistic projects and concrete initiatives or in the direction of organizations or cultural movements."
Simon Brault, CEO of the School
Evaluation criteria of submitted projects
The CALP will support projects, submitted by NTS students and recent graduates up to 3 years after their graduation, which best demonstrate:
1. An ability to articulate a vision, to communicate, as well as to inspire and bring together fellow artists, cultural workers and citizens around a unique, cutting edge creative project that will have an impact on the community;
2. A sense of practicality translating into a precise operational plan coupled with the necessary funding, logistics and partnerships in place to bring the project to term;
3. A manifest desire to engage with a given community. Projects must include a clear performance proposal.
In 2010, the School will particularly favour projects that are in line with the following 3 dynamics:
• Promotion of cultural diversity (themes explored, creative team or target audiences);
• French creations that are then adapted, translated and presented in English;
• Creation and presentation of projects that enrich the cultural life of British Columbia.
Competition and availability of funds
Projects are evaluated within a competitive context and supported according to available funds. The maximum amount awarded for a project is $5,000.
Who is eligible?
1. Students enrolled at the School (including the summer period);
2. Graduates, during the three years following their graduation.
Proposal process
All requests, proposals and projects submitted for funding within the Cultural and Artistic Leadership Program will be assessed by the NTS Management Committee; the Committee will make the appropriate decisions on the basis of the previously mentioned objectives and considerations.
Every successful project applicant will be required to submit a final report in writing within 30 days of completion of the project. The aim of the report is to give an account of how the project evolved, explain how it met the CALP objectives and identify the lessons drawn from this experience. Pictures or audiovisual material related to the project can be added to the report and will be greatly appreciated.
An assessment of each project and of the full program will be undertaken by an outside evaluator. All recipients will be required to be a part of this process.
Submission of proposal:
There is no prescribed CALP application form other than a cover page which can be accessed by clicking here. Please print out and fill in the cover page and place it on the very top of your proposal which must not exceed 10 pages in length. Proposals will be reviewed within six weeks of the corresponding submission deadline — plan accordingly.
Download the cover page (PDF document)
Submission deadlines:
April 15, 2010
September 15, 2010
Proposal must include:
• Brief overview and description of the project;
• Explanation of the ways and means the project meets the CALP objectives;
• Detailed budget: you are obliged to indicate all other financial support. As a general rule, the CALP should not be your only source of funding. Please state the amount requested and justification (amount requested should not exceed $5,000);
• Name and signature of all NTS students/graduates involved (obligatory);
• Name and contact information of the person acting as Project Lead and who can be easily reached;
• Timelines and venue (if applicable).
Submit original proposal to:
Francine Picard
CALP – PLAC
National Theatre School of Canada
5030 Saint-Denis Street
Montreal QC H2J 2L8
You can reach Francine at either 1-866-547-7328, ext. 149 or 514-842-7954, ext. 149 or by e-mail at
francinepicard@ent-nts.ca
Some of the most frequent reasons why a project submitted to the CALP was not funded:
• Showed no real engagement with the community;
• Offered no intention to build on the social impact of theatre;
• Unidentified collaborators, mentors or team members;
• Budget limited to subsistence funding of participant (as if the request was for an individual bursary);
• Request was for professional improvement or travel expenses;
• Writing project which is not integrated into a broader project meeting the CALP criteria;
• Request seeking complementary funds for a conventional theatre production;
• Unrealistic budget, no other sources of revenue or funding for the project.