Program Guidelines
Grants encouraging Calgary’s do-it-yourself ingenuity
It’s the citizens of Calgary who inspire the city’s cultural vigor and energy and shape its communities and neighbourhoods. Grassroots Inspired Grants (GIGs) invites all Calgarians to apply for grants of $1,200 to support celebratory projects in their communities during Calgary’s year as Cultural Capital of Canada (ending March 31, 2013). A toolkit is available on the main page of this website to assist you in your celebration.
GIGs are small grants designed to encourage and support grassroots, do-it-yourself arts, culture and heritage initiatives in communities throughout Calgary. We encourage you to bring people in your community together to share cultural experiences and celebrate Calgary’s year as Cultural Capital of Canada. GIGs will support projects across the city that align with the themes of the cultural capital year and create connections within and between communities to form lasting relationships that have creative benefits. GIGs will start to pop-up in every corner of the city. Make sure that you apply and tell us about your GIG!
What you can apply for
You can apply for celebrations, initiatives and projects that use arts, culture or heritage to bring people together, benefit neighbourhoods, communities or groups of Calgarians and occur within Calgary’s city limits (See project examples). Projects must start no earlier than 5 work days after the announcement date (See Key dates) and end before March 31, 2013. Funding cannot be prorated retroactively. Applicants are allowed only one active application at any given point throughout the duration of this program.
Who can apply
GIGs are open to Calgary residents; and charitable or registered non-profit organizations, ad hoc groups and committees who are based in Calgary. Youth are encouraged to apply, but they must apply in partnership with someone 18 years of age or older who can act as the fiscal agent for the project. Fiscal agents are not eligible to support more than one active application at any given point throughout the duration of this program. Examples of fiscal agents include, but are not limited to, parents, teachers, community leaders, community associations and schools.
Applications will not be accepted from the following types of organizations, individuals, and activity:
- Political, trade union or fraternal lodge organizations;
- Activities whose primary purpose is to support a political campaign or party;
- Activities whose primary purpose is to raise funds;
- Trade shows and/or consumer fairs; and
- For-profit organizations.
Additionally, capital costs and liquor will not be funded through this program.
How to apply (see Key dates)
1. Anytime before 9:00am on the Wednesday before the first Thursday of the month
Create a GIG profile and submit your project by going to GIGYYC.com. The earlier you submit your project, the more time you have to gather votes. Voting closes at 9:00am on the Wednesday before the First Thursday of the month. Your project profile:
- Must include a description of project outlining how it uses arts, culture or heritage to connect citizens in your community;
- Must include a description of how you intend to use the $1,200;
- Has an option to include photos; and
- Must connect to one of the following themes:
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- Looking Back – Connecting to our heritage.
- Calgary Now – Celebrating our contemporary, diverse, creative identity.
- Looking Forward – Creating an active, age-inclusive, evolving city.
- Wildcards – Every month Calgary 2012’s Curator and Creative Producer will select 3 additional grants that align with the following themes:
- Heritage – projects occurring in July and August
- Harvest Festival – projects occurring in September and October
- All Ages – projects occurring in November and December
After you submit your project, a Calgary 2012 staff member will review the project for content and eligibility. Once your project is posted, encourage your friends, family, neighbours and community to vote for your project online. During this time, Calgary 2012’s Cultural Ambassadors will also be voting for the projects that they like best.
2. On the first Thursday of the month
We will announce the GIG recipients. The top 12 projects voted on by Cultural Ambassadors, the top 12 voted on by the Public and 3 selected by Calgary 2012’s Curator and Creative Producer that align with the Wildcard theme of the month will receive a grant of $1,200. In addition, First Calgary Financial employees will select one successful project to receive a $612 top-up to its $1,200 grant. A total of 26 $1,200 grants and one $1,812 per month!
How do Cultural Ambassadors select projects
Cultural Ambassadors and members of the public have the ability to vote for a project once a day, and can vote for multiple projects. When voting, Cultural Ambassadors are asked to consider the project’s ability to bring people together, benefit neighbourhoods, communities or groups of Calgarians through arts, culture and heritage celebrations or initiatives and demonstrate excellent creative merit.
What happens if I don’t receive a grant
On the condition that your project start date is eligible, your application will remain posted on GIGYYC.com. We’ll reset your Cultural Ambassador votes, but you’ll get to keep your Public votes, giving you an added advantage in the next round of GIGs.
What happens if I receive a grant
If you receive a GIG you will be required to sign an agreement and acknowledge Calgary 2012 as a sponsor of the project. Once you’ve completed your project, you’ll also be required to upload photos onto your online GIG profile.
What happens if there is a tie
In the result of a tie, Calgary 2012’s Curator and Creative Producer will have the final vote.
Who to contact with questions
For more information about GIGs and how to apply, contact the Calgary 2012 office by phone 403-476-4341 or email Info@Calgary2012.com.
Key Dates
| GIG Round | Create your GIG profile | Gather your votes by | GIG results announced |
| 1 | June 8, 2012 | July 4, 2012 | July 5, 2012 |
| 2 | July 6, 2012 | August 1, 2012 | August 2, 2012 |
| 3 | August 3, 2012 | September 5, 2012 | September 6, 2012 |
| 4 | September 7, 2012 | October 3, 2012 | October 4, 2012 |
| 5 | October 5, 2012 | October 31, 2012 | November 1, 2012 |
| 6 | November 2, 2012 | December 5, 2012 | December 6, 2012 |
GIG Examples
Example 1:
Project title: School Mural Project
Location of project: Local Elementary School
Project dates: September 12th – 21st, 2012
Project description: Our school encourages student-driven, collaborative and creative projects. As part of our annual book fair, we want our students to have the opportunity to design and create a mural on one wall of the school. The theme of the mural will be “celebrating reading in our community”. Our Grade 6 class will collaborate with their reading buddies from the Grade 1 class. Teachers from each class will also be involved and supervise the project. The mural will be 12’x24’ and will be visible to the surrounding homes. The students will learn teamwork and leadership skills by coming together to create a piece of public art for the school that also promotes literacy to the residents of the neighbourhood. A $1,200 grant will help our school pay for paint, brushes and snacks. Below are some drawings that our Grade 6 students have created with their reading buddies illustrating some of the imagery that could make up part of the mural.
Example 2:
Project title: My Street’s Theatre Project
Location of project: My Street
Project dates: July 16th – 28th, 2012
Project description: I want to engage my street in a neighbourhood theatre project. However, this is not your typical play. Up to 6 households will register to participate. Every household that registers gets an invitation to select one person from their home to play a role. The script for that role is included as part of the invitation and the play will be suitable for all ages. Households will be asked to keep the role that they are playing secret. Additionally, participants will be responsible for gathering their own props and costuming for their role. Participants will have 12 days to practice their part. On July 28th, all the participants will come together and perform the play in front of the community at the local park. There will be no dress rehearsal. The performers will be a surprise, even to one another. Imagine the fun a community can have when it asks its residents to spontaneously come together to perform in front of their neighbours. $1,200 will enable us to promote the performance throughout the neighbourhood, offer $50 to each participating household to go to the thrift store for props and costuming and have a community picnic after the performance. My hope is that this will be the first annual My Street’s Theatre Project. Our neighbourhood will continue this project year after year creating a lasting legacy for our community.
Example 3:
Project title: Midwinter Clothing Swap and Fashion Show
Location of project: Local Community Centre
Project dates: February 9th and 10th, 2013
Project description: Are you in a midwinter fashion freeze? Not motivated by snow pants and thermal socks? Get inspired by our community’s Midwinter Clothing Swap and Fashion Show. See an eclectic array of winter fashion trends from your neighbours on your neighbours! We’re interested in hosting a clothing swap and fashion show at our community centre. Participants interested in the clothing swap will be asked to bring their winter fashions to the community hall at 9am. From 9am to 5pm, we’ll have volunteers ready to help coordinate clothing exchanges. Participants who find a hip, midwinter outfit will be asked sign-up to strut-their-stuff and show-off their stellar winter fashions on February 10th. The entire community is welcome to attend the show! We’ll use the $1,200 for promotion and prizing for the 5 best midwinter outfits.
Definitions
Arts, as defined by Canadian Heritage:
“The arts refer to the expression of ideas and experiences through the fine arts. These include visual art such as painting and sculpture, crafts such as pottery and drum-making, live performance such as dance, theatre, comedy, storytelling, circus, music, opera, and literary readings, and media arts such as art films and multimedia installations. Arts also refer to commercial products derived from artistic expression, such as music recordings, film and television, books and magazines.”
Culture, as defined by Canadian Heritage:
“Culture is the expression of ideas, experiences, and customs of Canadians or groups of Canadians through the arts, heritage, and festivals. [Libraries, amateur sport, and recreation are often considered to fall within the domain of culture. This program, however, does not support projects relating to these elements.]
Heritage, as defined by Canadian Heritage:
“Heritage refers to the ideas, experiences, and customs of Canadians or groups of Canadians that are passed on to future generations, and to the means of their preservation and recollection. Traditional cuisine, dress, religion, and language are examples of elements of heritage. Museums, art galleries, and historic sites are some of the means used to preserve the elements.”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The guidelines above are subject to change without notice.
By applying, applicants grant Creative Connected Calgary 2012 Society (Calgary 2012) and its partner organizations the right to use their photographs, video recordings, names and project locations in promotion of Calgary’s year as Cultural Capital of Canada without further notice or compensation.
Funding is subject to a confirmation of eligibility as outlined in the Program Guidelines and Funding Agreement. Funding is conditional on the applicant’s ability to adhere to the terms outlined in the Funding Agreement. Calgary 2012 reserves the right to deny grants to applicants who are, or who Calgary 2012 has good reason to believe are unable to adhere to the terms outlined in the Funding Agreement.
Calgary 2012 will use personal information for the purposes of administering this program in accordance with this privacy policy.
