SCCIP Sustaining Programs

 To be eligible for the core program, you must:

• Have a mission to develop, create, produce, present and disseminate artistic work in any artistic discipline

• Have a mission that is clear and relevant with long-term goals and strategies
• Have well-established programs and services that are developed and delivered with consistency
• Be artistically strong with proven impact in the community
• Have full-time paid professional leadership (artistic or administrative)
• Have well-developed administrative structures
• Have stable financial resources and planning
• Have an active board of directors with a clear governance role
• Be in existence for at least five years, operate on a year-round basis and be a Federally or Provincially incorporated not-for-profit
• Have full-time paid professional artistic, curatorial or administrative staff
• Have operating revenues of no less than $250,000 per year
• Produce a full season of programming as per industry standards
• Have significant resources that serve the local arts sector; e.g. facility, equipment, and people
• Pay principal artistic contributors for their services that follow professional industry standards

If you receive the core program funds, you will be ineligible for any other SCCIP program stream. This excludes the Culture Days Activity Program. Capital requirements or festival activities may be considered for additional investment through this program.

For more information, view our Sustaining Core Program Guidelines.

To be eligible for the Sustaining Midsized Program, you must:

• Have a mission to develop, create, produce, present and disseminate artistic work in any artistic discipline
• Have impactful annual programs or services that are delivered with consistency and are artistically strong
• Have a paid professional leadership
• Have developing or stabilizing administrative structures and financial resources
• Have emerging long-term planning
• Have engaged Board of Directors

• Be in existence for at least two years and be a Federally or Provincially incorporated not-for-profit
• Have ongoing paid professional artistic, curatorial or administrative staff
• Produce a minimum of three public activities per year
• Have operating revenues of no less than $30,000 per year
• Pay principal artistic contributors for their services that follow professional industry standards

For more information, view our Sustaining Midsized Program guidelines.

The Festival Program is for professional festivals that:

• Generate cultural tourism or significant economic impact
• Contribute to the cultural vitality and diversity of St. Catharines

To be eligible for the Festival Program, the Festival must:

• Offer unique programming which includes a significant component that takes place in St. Catharines
• Attract audiences from within and beyond Niagara
• Engage local artists and businesses in festival activities
• Be professionally managed with paid staff resources or a dedicated volunteer management team
• Provide evidence of effective marketing and business planning
• Have stabilizing administrative structures and financial resources
• Have grant support from other government sources
• Have an engaged Board of Directors

You must also meet these eligibility requirements for the Festival Program:

• Be in existence for a minimum of two years and be a federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organization or a non-incorporated organization that confirms it operates on a not-for-profit basis
• Meet the definition of a festival. As per the SCCIP Policy, festivals are defined as: '...a series of publicly-held, theme-related events, predominantly cultural in nature, held annually for two or more consecutive days and possessing city-wide and regional appeal.'
• Provide programming or services that are continuous, open or otherwise accessible to the public
• Have paid staff, a contracted festival coordinator or a dedicated volunteer management team
• Have completed two successful festivals prior to application
• Pay principal artistic contributors for their services that follow professional industry standards
• Have a revenue base of no less than $30,000
• Gather funding from other provincial or federal government sources

• You may be able to apply if you are a club, community centre, social service, religious or sports organization that has a significant festival that substantially engages broader audiences and meets all other program eligibility criteria. However, the festival cannot be a fundraiser.

31 per cent of total score

• Activities are conducted primarily in St. Catharines and serve residents and visitors.
• Activities have potential to bring provincial, national or international recognition to
  St. Catharines and attract visitors from outside of St. Catharines.
• Public access to the work is a priority: events may be ticketed but are open to all members of the public.
• There is substantial and / or growing public interest and attendance.
• Volunteerism is actively and successfully encouraged in the organization.

24 per cent of total score

• There is evidence of a clear mandate, competent administration, functional board and an appropriate administrative and governance structure.
• The organization can deliver all programmed activities related to the proposed event or has hired expertise to ensure quality management and delivery of the festival’s content and program.
• The organization can manage and deliver all non-program related aspects of the festival. This may include, but is not limited to security, waste management, hospitality services, relevant licensing and permits, etc.
• The organization is financially stable and accountable, and there is evidence of effective short and long-term planning, including contingencies in the possible event of budget shortfalls.
• A realistic revenue generation plan is in place, including other grants, sponsorships and earned revenues.
• There is an overall quality and consistency in the applicant’s recent activities.
• There is a demonstrated need for financial assistance from the City.
• The festival has received funding from at least one other government granting program, such as Reconnect Ontario or the Department of Canadian Heritage Festival program.
• The organization incorporates contingency plans to alter program delivery, if necessary.

20 per cent of total score

• The festival is distinct and innovative in the context of other events in St. Catharines and Niagara.
• Activities and services are of a quality to merit public support.
• Program goals are clear and activities demonstrate innovation, development and research in the field.
• General public appeal is in evidence.
• Local partnerships – with artists, vendors, community groups, and local businesses – are an integral part of the event.
• The festival animates the streetscape with performances, activities, etc. attracting audiences and business engagement.

16 per cent of total score

• The marketing plan has a clearly articulated target market and marketing approach.
• Systems of marketing and outreach are effective at attracting target audiences.
• There is evidence of past success in audience attraction from the region and beyond or a realistic plan to achieve this.
• Applicant has collected and documented visitation and / or relevant economic impact information or has a plan in place to do so.
• Data documenting patron and visitor numbers is available, and economic and other beneficial impacts are in evidence.

Nine per cent of total score

• The project serves the purpose and priorities of the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy (see page 1)