- OCL STUDIOS
PLANNING YOUR PROJECT: RESOURCES
So, you have a project ready to record. You've written the songs, you've picked the players. Now you need to start thinking about what can potentially be one of the biggest challenges your project will face: funding. Luckily, here in Canada and in Alberta, there are a ton of resources out there to help you along the way. Here are a few of the major ones, but remember that there's always new things popping up. Keep your eyes and your ears open, and opportunities will present themselves.
ALBERTA MUSIC MEMBERSHIP
The very first thing we would suggest to anyone hoping to make music their full-time career is to become a member of Alberta Music. A membership for one person costs $45.00 annually, and membership for a band is $100.00 annually. Becoming a member has more benefits than we could list, but a few big ones: professional development workshops, eligible to perform at showcases hosted by Alberta Music, member discounts, an industry newsletter that you can submit stories too, and extensive networking events. They also have a member directory that you can use to find the contacts you need.
Even if you aren't interested in becoming a member of Alberta Music, you can head over to their website and see a long list of grants, with all the deadlines and descriptions of each grant. They also tell you exactly where to apply. They also host grant writing seminars for those interested in writing better grants themselves without using a grant writer. Keep an eye on the calendar of events for those workshops.
There are two main grants for general artists to look into for recording:
JURIED SOUND RECORDING | $30,000 (PLUS $15,000 FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURS AND SHOWCASES)
What it funds: the production cost of a full-length* album, as well as the marketing and promotion of that album.
What you need to apply: two original, unreleased* recordings (called 'assessment tracks') + lyric sheet, as well as project goals, a detailed marketing plan, an artist biography.
What you should know: this is a juried application, and the truth is the majority of people who apply do not get their funding. Try again (and again), because the chances of you getting the same jury the second time are very slim.
* at least six songs, or twenty minutes of music. * unreleased = commercially released, like iTunes or Google Play, etc.
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT | $2000 What it funds: a subsidy towards a year of artist development activities, including recording, touring, and showcasing. What you need to apply: one original, unreleased* recording + lyric sheet, as well as an artist biography and an artist development plan. What you should know: this is a juried application, and the truth is the majority of people who apply do not get their funding. Try again (and again), because the chances of you getting the same jury the second time are very slim.
* unreleased = commercially released, like iTunes or Google Play, etc. ** tip: this funding can be used to record two tracks that can then be used to apply for the Juried Sound Recording grant, so long as they are original and unreleased.
ALBERTA FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
MUSIC INDIVIDUAL PROJECT FUNDING | (UP TO) $15,000
What it funds: can support recording, marketing, and career development. What you need to apply: demo recording of two songs from the proposed project + two records from previous projects, as well as an artist resume, a detailed project description, and a budget. There are specific requirements for certain types of applications, and more details are on the website. What you should know: this is a juried application, and the truth is the majority of people who apply do not get their funding. Try again (and again), because the chances of you getting the same jury the second time are very slim.
ARTIST OPPORTUNITY GRANT PROGRAM | (UP TO) $2500
What it funds: covers expenses related to a professional opportunity that develops your artist practice or career.
What you need to apply: resume, description of the opportunity, and budget for the opportunity. What you should know: artists who do not receive the funding can request feedback on their application, and apply again next round.