AFA Music Individual Project Funding 2026

The Music Individual Project is designed to support the creative, professional, and promotional development of Alberta-based musicians, arts administrators, or ensembles. The program provides funding for clearly defined music projects, including artistic production, marketing, research, and training or career development.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: 2 March, 2026
2. Value: Up to $18,000 per project
3. Category: Grant
4. Sponsor: Alberta Foundation for the Arts
5. Eligible Country: Canada

Eligibility Criteria for AFA Music Individual Project Funding 2026

Individual eligibility criteria

The AFA celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible programs for all, free of barriers and discrimination. We recognize the unique contributions all artists make towards our community and encourage applicants representing diverse communities, including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, women, people with disabilities, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

To be eligible for individual project funding, you must be a resident of Alberta. This means you:

1. are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or Protected Person with an open work or study permit from inside Canada
2. have had your primary residence in Alberta for at least one full year before applying
3. ordinarily live in Alberta for a least six months of each year with the exception of attending a formal program of study

You must be in good standing with the AFA with no open or outstanding projects or reporting to apply. Previous grant recipients must ensure all final reporting has been approved by the AFA before new applications are accepted.

Applicants, including ensembles or collectives, must not be incorporated under either provincial or federal legislation.

Collaborating artists, ensembles, and collectives

Collaborating artists, ensembles, and collectives are eligible to apply to this program if all project co-owners meet the individual eligibility criteria as defined above.

The AFA defines project co-owners as:

1. those who share in the ownership or copyright of the created work
2. those who have a significant financial stake in the project

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, in addition to the lead applicant, co-owners include, but may not be limited to, the following:

1. ensemble and band members
2. song writers

Unless identified as retaining ownership or copyright of the work, contributors who are not normally considered co-owners include, but may not be limited to, the following:

1. session musicians
2. producers
3. arrangers
4. Mentors, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers

Project co-owners must select a lead applicant to submit the application. The lead applicant must ensure all co-owners are listed in the application and is responsible for submitting the complete application before the program deadline.

If the project is approved for funding, the lead applicant is also responsible for receiving and managing any funds and completing any related reporting for the project.

If you are unsure whether an artist should be listed as a co-owner in your application, please contact your Arts Development Consultant as listed below.

Benefits of AFA Music Individual Project Funding 2026

Please note AFA funding is not assured for any project.

Types of projects

Through this opportunity, you may apply for project funding to support artistic activities in:

1. art production
2. marketing
3. research
4. training and career development

Art Production includes the development, creation and production of any music work. Projects should be confined to a distinct phase of a work, such as:

1. composition projects (including commissioned work)
2. demo recording projects not intended for sale, including full production and basic press kit expenses
3. commercial recording projects intended for sale, including support for pre-production and song development (basic recording)

Alberta individual artists that have been contracted by commissioners to create a specific work (such as a composition) are eligible to apply for project support through this funding opportunity.

A commercial recording officially begins with pre-production of the album in a recording studio and is completed when the final manufactured recording is submitted to the AFA. If a recording is only intended for digital release, you must clearly state this in your application.

For any recording project, the AFA gives preference to projects recorded in an Alberta-based recording facility.

Marketing includes a program of activity for a specific period that promotes, advertises, or disseminates work created by Alberta music artists, and/or develops audiences for the artist's work.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

1. marketing and promotion of a commercial release
2. costs associated with performances at special events by invitation
3. promotional tours

Research includes a program of activity for a specific period of time that supports or results in the development of a music project.

Training and career development includes a course or program of study to develop an artist's training in music or arts administrator’s training in music administration.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

1. workshops
2. master classes
3. retreats
4. mentorship programs
5. professional courses of study in performance, recording arts, or composition

Eligible expenses

You can receive up to $18,000 to support your project. You may apply for up to 100% of eligible expenses that are directly related to carrying out your proposed project.

These expenses may include, but are not limited to the following:

For art production projects:

1. session musician fees
2. commission fees
3. production
4. royalties

For marketing projects:

1. promotion and publicity

For training and career development projects:

1. tuition or training fees

For all project categories:

1. transportation and accommodation
2. administration and contract fees
3. basic living/subsistence expenses (housing, local transport, food, childcare, dependent care) up to $3,000/month
4. other expenses and supplies considered by the AFA to be reasonable and necessary

Ineligible expenses

Additional expenses and activities that are ineligible for AFA project funding include:

1. expenses for capital purchases, such as buildings or property, or for capital development, and studio construction or renovations
2. recreational training projects
3. artistic activities or projects undertaken in order to fulfill credit or thesis requirements
4. artist, producer, and engineer fees for principal ensemble members
5. recording studio rental fees for studios owned by principal ensemble members
6. manufacturing expenses (CD pressing and artwork)
7. contracts for ongoing activities or artists pursuing projects similar in scope to usual activities with commissioner
8. expenses already incurred prior to the application submission, including grant writer fees

How to Apply

We only accept applications through the Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation (GATE) Front Office online application system. We must receive your online application through GATE Front Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date, unless the deadline falls on a statutory holiday or a weekend when it will be extended until the next working day. Please give the system time to process your application so that we receive notification of your submission before the deadline falls.

1. applicants may submit only one application to the AFA each deadline across all disciplines
2. the AFA does not accept incomplete applications
3. applications must be received prior to the commencement of the project
4. projects involving more than one artist must be submitted by one individual on behalf of the ensemble or group

We do not accept separate applications for the same project.

GATE Front Office username registration

First-time applicants will require a GATE Front Office username and password. Email us at registrationafa@gov.ab.ca to get your login information at least five business days prior to the application deadline.

Please include:

1. your legal name
2. the funding opportunity to which you are applying
3. your email address

Your username and password will be sent to the email address provided.

What to include in your application

For detailed step-by-step instructions, please download the GATE Front Office user guide.

GATE Front Office online formlets:

1. Applicant Information: Legal name and confirmation of your status (minor/Albertan)
2. if you are under the age of 18 years at the time of application, a parent or legal guardian must e-sign the Individual Applicant Agreement as the designate for the funding, and be responsible for:
3. the completeness and accuracy of the application in full
4. receipt and use of funding
5. reporting on the use of funds
6. serving as contact person for any inquiries relating to the funding
7. Contact Information for primary applicant
8. ensembles must designate one contact person for all requirements of the grant as the primary applicant
9. this designated individual must e-sign the Individual Applicant Agreement
10. Address: Street and mailing address for the primary applicant
11. General Information: Confirmation of the application category (art production, marketing, research, or training/career development) and applicant status (individual/ensemble)
12. Project Description: A brief project title (20 words) and project start and end dates
13. Project Co-owners: A listing of the project co-owners involved in the project, their position or role, and confirmation of Alberta Residence
14. Individual Applicant Agreement: A declaration of agreement with the statement of conditions e-signed by the primary applicant or designate
15. Project Expenses: A listing of project expenditures in Canadian dollars
16. Project Revenue: A listing of non-AFA revenues in Canadian dollars
17. the difference between expenditures and revenues will comprise the grant request to the AFA with the funding not exceeding $18,000

Attachments:

The GATE Front Office attachment section indicates that not all attachments are required for submission. This is because they are only required for certain types of projects (e.g. marketing plan for a marketing project). It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all attachments noted in the guidelines are submitted with their application according to project type.

Please submit the following mandatory attachments for all project types. Wherever possible, written support material should be uploaded in PDF format and limited to 4 MB in size:

1. Artist resume of no more than four pages
2. applicants should submit music-related activities, which may include: past training, most recent performances and performance highlights, compositions, discography, and/or ensemble experience
3. list activities in reverse chronological order, with most recent activity listed first
4. resumes of all project co-owners involved in the project
5. Detailed project description, including an outline of the objectives, planned activities, timelines, and expected results and impact on the applicant's artistic development
6. in keeping with oral traditions, Indigenous project descriptions are welcome as oral submissions no longer than 3 minutes in length
7. for more information on how to submit oral project descriptions, contact the Arts Development Consultant for this program, prior to the application deadline, at the contact information below.
8. Two musical selections such as a scratch demo from the proposed project, high-quality demo, past commercial recording, recordings of previous compositions or scores, or two other representative past works
9. each audio file must be no longer than 5 minutes in length, , in mp3 or aac format, and no larger than 8 MB in size per file
10. please see Format section below for detailed submission instructions, including how to submit video files if appropriate to your project

Include the following attachments according to your application category, or when applicable to your proposed project:

1. Music scores of previous compositions
2. Lyric sheets from past works
3. Commission contract and/or signed agreement with the commissioner, outlining a plan for the exhibition, presentation, display publication, screening or performance of the commissioned work(s) (mandatory for commission projects)
4. Proof of acceptance for applicants who have been accepted into a specific course of study, with a detailed description, schedule, and budget for course of study (mandatory for training projects)
5. Alternate training choices for applicants who have not already been accepted into a course a course of study, with a detailed description, schedule, and budget for the preferred choice and two alternate programs
6. Official invitations, confirmations, or itineraries
7. Marketing plan with detailed touring, marketing, and/or promotional details and strategies
8. Manufacturing budget outlining the applicant's ability to fund manufacturing expenses (CD pressing and artwork) when applicable
9. Letter of reference when applicable
10. Resumes for other project co-owners when applicable
11. Additional support materials that may assist in the assessment process

Format

1. audio files and music selections must be limited to 5 minutes in length for each file
2. audio files must be in MP3 or AAC format
3. audio files must be no larger than 8 MB in size
4. Applicants are welcome to use any editing software of their choice to prepare their audio files; recording software such as Pro Tools, Reaper, Gargageband, or Audacity are often free and can be used to edit audio files into the required format and length as described above
5. although video files cannot be included as attachments in Front Office, if relevant to your proposal, you may submit one video file of up to 5 minutes in length via email to musicAFA@gov.ab.ca
6. video files must be in avi, mov, mpeg, mp4, or WMV format
7. video files must be no larger than 400 MB in size
8. files must be submitted as an email attachment or as a link to an accessible file that can be directly downloaded
9. files must be submitted prior to the application deadline; support materials received after the deadline will not be reviewed or considered
10. download Video Support Material Technical Requirements for more information on preparing video support material.
11. alternatively, you may mail a hard copy saved on a USB stick to 10708 – 105 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5H 0A1
12. please include your first initial, last name and project number on the USB
13. support material must be submitted or postmarked no later than 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline date

For more Information visit, AFA Music Individual Project Funding

Application Deadline

2 March, 2026

Application Link(s)

• Apply for AFA Music Individual Project Funding 2026