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. Capital requirements or festival activities may be considered for additional investment through this program.

 26 per cent of total score

• There is evidence of a clear mandate, competent administration, a functional board and an appropriate administrative and governance structure.
• The organization is financially stable and accountable, and there is evidence of effective short- and long-term planning.
• Revenue sources are diverse and targets are achievable.
• There are appropriate outreach and marketing strategies in place.
• Management structure and staff professionalism are sufficient to serve the goals of the organization.
• The organization incorporates contingency plans, including strategies to alter program delivery (if necessary.)

 30 per cent of total score

• Activities are conducted primarily in St. Catharines and for the benefit of St. Catharines’ residents.
• Public access to the work is a priority. The organization reaches out to St. Catharines' diverse communities in new and creative ways.
• There is substantial public interest in and attendance at the activities or work. Memberships, audience levels and/or participation levels are steady and/or growing.
• The organization creates jobs and contracts professional artists as part of their regular programming.
• Engagement, collaboration and partnerships are actively pursued with local arts organizations, artists and other community groups, including distinct communities.
• Volunteerism is actively and successfully encouraged in the organization.

 19 per cent of total score

• The organization creates and / or programs innovative and /or new work, including work created by Niagara-based artists.
• Programming and activities demonstrate innovation, development and research in the field.
• Distinctive programming is leading the field at a local, if not provincial and / or national level.
• Diversity is reflected in the organization’s programming, leadership and audience.

 14 per cent of total score

• Activities and services contribute to making St. Catharines a livable city.
• The organization plays a leadership role in the development of the local arts sector.
• There is a breadth of services provided to both residents and to the arts sector, including but not limited to: educational, participation, leadership and mentorship, as well as technical support such as facilities, equipment, and expertise.
• Activities have potential to bring provincial, national or international recognition to St. Catharines as well as substantial audiences.

 11 per cent of total score

• The project serves the purpose and priorities of the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy. The St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy aims to serve long-term community sustainability by strengthening cultural vitality, economic diversity, environmental awareness and social inclusion with the following investment priorities:
  • cultivate the growth and development of a dynamic and robust creative sector;
  • support original, made-in-Niagara arts creation;
  • foster a range of cultural experiences for all of St. Catharines residents, including educational, participatory and audience-based programs;
  • stimulate innovation and creative enterprise;
  • celebrate and encourage cultural, social and artistic diversity.

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

 27 per cent of total score

• The organization is financially accountable, and there is evidence of effective short-term financial planning. Long-term financial planning is in development.
• There is a clear mandate and evidence of organizational strategic planning.
• There is competent administration and a clear organizational structure.
• There is a functional board and an appropriate governance structure.
• There are appropriate outreach and marketing strategies in place.
• The organization incorporates contingency plans, including strategies to alter program delivery (if necessary.)

 25 per cent of total score

• The organization creates and / or programs innovative and/or new work.
• A distinctive program and/or artform is under development and/or part of regular programming.
• There is growing public interest in and attendance at the activities or work.
• Opportunities are generated for Niagara-based artists.

 23 per cent of total score

• Activities are conducted primarily in St. Catharines and for the benefit of St. Catharines' residents.
• Public access to the work is a priority, including access by St. Catharines’ diverse communities.
• Engagement, collaboration and partnerships are actively pursued with local arts organizations, artists and community groups, including distinct communities.
• The organization contracts local professional artists as part of its regular programming.

 14 per cent of total score

• Activities and services contribute to making St. Catharines a livable city.
• Activities are unique in the community, distinct from other local government-supported organizations.

 11 per cent of total score

• The project serves the purpose and priorities of the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy. The St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy aims to serve long-term community sustainability by strengthening cultural vitality, economic diversity, environmental awareness and social inclusion with the following investment priorities:
  • cultivate the growth and development of a dynamic and robust creative sector;
  • support original, made-in-Niagara arts creation;
  • foster a range of cultural experiences for all of St. Catharines residents, including educational, participatory and audience-based programs;
  • stimulate innovation and creative enterprise;
  • celebrate and encourage cultural, social and artistic diversity.

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)