Objective

Theatre Engaging Communities (TEC) was created in 2011 to encourage and support the emergence of artists through their transition from artistic training to the creative workplace.

Background Information

The Cultural and Artistic Leadership Program (CALP) was created in 2005 and ended with a final application process in April 2011. CALP was established to finance innovative projects initiated by students or recent graduates of the NTS. These projects had to combine a quest for artistic excellence with a will to reinforce the social impact of theatre. The CALP endeavoured to encourage the emergence, renewal and recognition of artistic and cultural leadership, with the assumption that this would have an impact in the short, medium and long term – not only on the performing arts, but also on the Canadian cultural scene. After more than 100 funded CALP projects that brought value to communities across Canada and beyond our shores, and in recognition of the milestone year of the NTS' 50th Anniversary, the TEC was designed and private funding secured.

TEC–NTS funding is now established in seven community foundations across Canada in endowments that will continue to grow. Each year, interest will be paid out to the NTS which will, in turn, provide grants to new and emerging artists.

As noted by Tim Brodhead, past President and CEO of the J. W. McConnell Family Foundation — a major donor to TEC, "The Foundation is delighted to join with others in supporting, in perpetuity and on a national scale, theatrical productions that are social and/or community-driven and created by emerging theatre professionals."

Criteria for evaluation of submitted projects

TEC will support projects, submitted by NTS students and recent graduates (up to 3 years after graduation), which best demonstrate:

1. An ability to articulate a vision and to inspire and bring together fellow artists, cultural workers and citizens around an innovative theatrical project;
2. A practical proposal that identifies the necessary funding, logistics and partnerships secured in order to bring the project to fruition;
3. Authentic engagement with a community — whether it be regional, ethnic, gender specific, generational or other.

Competition and availability of funds

Projects are evaluated within a competitive context and supported according to available funds. With few exceptions, the maximum amount awarded is $5,000.

Who is eligible?

TEC is for projects led by students of the NTS and graduates of all programs, during the three years following their graduation.

Proposal process

Requests for funding to the TEC have two annual deadlines: October 1 and April 1.

All requests for funding within the TEC are assessed by the TEC Assessment Jury which includes the members of the NTS Management Committee as well as at least one regional representative.

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 TEC objectives and identify the lessons drawn from this experience. A final budget, digital photos and a video of two minutes will be attached to the report. Upon receipt and review of this report, the holdback of 20% of grant will be released.

An assessment of the TEC will be undertaken by an outside evaluator in 2014. All recipients will be requested to be a part of this process.

Projects must be completed within 12 months of confirmation of TEC funding.

Submission of proposal

There is no prescribed TEC 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 eight weeks of the corresponding submission deadline — plan accordingly.

Download the cover page (PDF document)

Upcoming requests for funding from the TEC are due no later than:

October 1, 2011
(for projects that will be completed no later than September 30, 2012)

April 1, 2012
(for projects that will be completed no later than March 31, 2013)

Checklist for TEC Proposal

• Completed TEC cover page;
• Brief overview and description of the project;
• Explanation of the ways and means the project demonstrates the TEC criteria for evaluation;
• Detailed budget indicating all other sources of revenue and projected revenue, including box office (TEC should not be your only source of funding);
• Timelines and venue (where applicable);
• Name and signature of all NTS students/graduates involved in the project.

Submit original proposal to:

Tiffanie Guffroy
TEC
National Theatre School of Canada
5030 St. Denis Street
Montreal QC H2J 2L8

You can reach Tiffanie with questions about the application process, documentation or checklist by telephone at either 1-866-547-7328, ext. 149 or 514-842-7954, ext. 149; or by e-mail at
tiffanieguffroy@ent-nts.ca

Some of the reasons why a project submitted to the TEC will not be 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 TEC criteria;
• Request seeking complementary funds for a conventional theatre production;
• Unrealistic budget, no other sources of revenue or funding for the project.