On June 27, 2022, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pablo Rodriguez, announced details of the Canada Arts and Culture Recovery Program (CACRP), which aims to provide targeted support for cultural organizations that still face significant financial challenges in the third year of the pandemic. According to the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA), the CACRP recovery fund will help organizations ease the financial risks of organizing activities in an unpredictable operating environment, and will help offset declines in a broad range of self-generated income. Background information can be found here. “Canada’s cultural sector has shown incredible resilience in the face of COVID-19. We can’t wait for arts organizations and workers to stage more performances and events, welcome back audiences and rebuild revenues,” explained Pablo Rodriguez in an official statement. “Our arts, culture and heritage organizations contribute to our economy in important ways, especially in drawing tourists and creating jobs in communities big and small throughout the country. We will always be there to support the arts.”

Funding details

The fund allocates $14 million in 2022-23 to support specific Canadian-owned music venues, concert promoters and concert producers facing continued pandemic-related financial challenges. The program is focused on ensuring Canadian artists continue to have access to stages, and the live sector infrastructure needed to build and grow their careers beyond the pandemic. FACTOR and Musicaction, will deliver the Canada Music Fund funding to the Anglophone and Francophone music markets. Likewise through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, $4 million will be provided in 2022-23 to existing program recipients that own or operate indoor facilities as presentation venues, whether purpose-built or adapted, as well as other non-profit organizations that can demonstrate they regularly provide indoor presentation venues, whether purpose-built or adapted, for the live performing arts. (The launch of this funding component is scheduled for early September 2022.)

FACTOR accepting applications until July 25, 2022

The FACTOR-administered funding program information and application guide are now available here. The deadline to apply is July 25, 2022, at 5:00pm Eastern Time. The link to apply for Support to Music Venues and Concert Promoters is contained within the program guidelines. According to FACTOR, this initiative aims to keep Canadian-owned music venues and concert promoters operating during this time of socio-economic uncertainty, ensuring Canadian artists may continue to perform to audiences across Canada. Questions about FACTOR's Support to Music Venues and Concert Promoters applications can be submitted via email here.

New AID: #ForTheLoveOfLive program supports smaller venues

In partnership with SOCAN, the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) has launched AID: #ForTheLoveOfLIVE, a relief initiative in support of Canadian independently owned and operated live music venues with a capacity of 500 or fewer that are struggling due to devastating losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through AID: #ForTheLoveOfLIVE, a total of $30,000 will go to eligible music venues that have experienced significant financial challenges due to the pandemic. The last two years have been especially devastating to small, independent live music businesses who are vital contributors to our Canadian culture and economy. The program is now accepting support applications online here. Posted: May 3, 2023 Originally Published: Jun 28, 2022