Apply for a Grant

  • Grants are for projects within the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia only.
  • We do not fund individual artists, art programs or art camps.
  • Grant recipients must be a charitable organization.

4Cs Projects must have these elements:
1) The project brings children/youth and community members together  to work side-by-side in creative, arts-based activities.

2) The activities result in the creation of artworks through the collaborative efforts of the group, and often reflect the stories, interests, issues or concerns of the "community of participants".

3) There is enough "side by side" time to allow meaningful connections to develop between the children/youth and the community members.

4)  The arts activities are lead by an artist (or artists) who has the skills to encourage creative collaboration across ages, abilities, and other barriers to participation while fostering a sense of connection between participants.

4Cs likes to see projects that:

1) Originate within a social or geographically community.

2) Result in the creation of public art.

Visual Art, Dance, Performance, Music, Film, Video, Theatre, Integrated Arts, Time-based and new practises are all art practices of interest to 4Cs.

Applying for a Grant

Strong applications and projects involve solid planning. Do not expect to be considered for funding if you are still at the idea stage one month or less before a deadline date.

Deadlines are October 15, January 15 and May 15 of each year.
We encourage you to apply to the October deadline, even if your project is does not start until the following spring or summer.

Step One
Prepare Your Idea

  • Ideally, you will have met with members of your community to develop the project idea and will have already gained their interest and involvement.
  • Prepare by reading the 4Cs Foundation website. Pay close attention to the mandate of the foundation, to the information on this page, and on the "FAQ" page.
  • Make a list of how your project idea contains the "essential elements for funding" (see above) and how it meets or aligns with the mandate of the 4Cs Foundation.
  • Make a list of your existing connections to the children and the community members that will be participants in the project.

If you are an artist with an idea for a project, try to find a compatible organization to partner with before contacting the 4Cs Foundation. Or if you would like to be on our roster of interested community artists, submit a cv outlining your art experience and practice, community engagement experience and facilitation, teaching or community leadership experience.

Contact the 4Cs Foundation

  • Email or telephone the 4Cs office to set up a time to discuss your project idea. You will receive feedback on your idea based on its likelihood to achieve the goals of the foundation as expressed through its mandate. If there is clear potential that the project will build creative connections between children and their communities, you will be asked to submit a Letter of Interest, or if a school-based project, to complete an application form. Applications are not available on the website and have been updated from previous years.

Remember:

4Cs does not fund
1) Projects that do not have an expressed goal and a plan for fostering connections between children and the other participants.

2) Projects where children/youth and community members are not  equal participants working side-by-side over the course of the activities and project.

 3) Individual artists to create a work of art, even if this relies on community volunteers contributing to the creation of the artwork.

Step Two: Letter of Interest
(NOTE: school-based projects will be sent an application form after completing Step 1 if 4Cs staff determine there is potential for the idea to receive a grant)

  • This letter should briefly outline the project including who will be involved, how you will bring children/youth and community members together to collaborate on an art work, what the art activities will be, the timeframe, the artist(s) who will be involved in the project, an approximate budget, and the funding amount being requested. You may use the "Essential Elements" (above) as the framework to explain your project.
  • This letter should not exceed three pages.
  • Within a month after an application deadline, 4Cs Foundation staff and Trustees will review letters of interest, identifying compelling and appropriate proposals for further consideration. You will be contacted after this meeting has taken place.

Step Three: Full Application
Based on the letters of interest, we invite applicants whose projects have the Essential Elements and are aligned with the 4Cs mandate, to submit full applications. This is not a guarantee of funding. Those invited to submit full proposals should develop a typed application, not to exceed 8 pages, containing:

  • A short (one paragraph) summary of the organization's history, mandate and goals in terms of collaborative, community-based arts activities.
  • Project Vision and Goals and how these align with the 4Cs mandate.
  • Participant Engagement: outline of what steps will be taken to get participants involved with the project - both children/youth and participants from the broader community.
  • Outcomes: the steps the project will take to foster creative connections between children/youth and their communities.
  • Evaluation: how you will know you are making progress; how you will know the project has met its goals / built creative connections between children and their communities.
  • Partners & Roles: A description of the all other groups or partners that will be involved in the project. This should include but is not limited to an outline of your current working relationship with these groups or partners; evidence of support for the project from them; and how they will be involved in the project.
  • Work Plan and Timeline that includes anticipated milestones.
  • Detailed Budget (template can be requested from the Foundation)
  • Team: Brief biographies of key project team members, including the artist or artists.

In addition, full proposal applicants must also submit:

  • Artist(s) cv's
  • Letters from support from partners
  • A list of current Board members and proof that the organization is a registered non-profit organization in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia.

A separate letter of introduction may be included. Additional printed material, e.g. newsletters can also be attached as background information if relevant.

 Please note that we are unable to consider incomplete applications for funding.

Please submit an electronic version as an attachment in Microsoft Word to info@4csfoundation.com

At any time you may call the 4Cs office for help or feedback in developing your application.

The review and decision making process may take up to two months after a deadline date. Please plan accordingly. You will be contacted by the Director once a funding decision is made.