Tour Support Grant Guidelines

The Tour Support Grant supports commercially viable touring opportunities for eligible Saskatchewan musicians and theatre companies touring in Canada and abroad.

The Guidelines were approved on April 1, 2023 for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year. Any amendments made after the fact will be posted here:

• September 11, 2023: the third bullet under ‘Financial Participation’ was corrected to read:
  • “Applicants are eligible to receive a maximum of two Tour Support grants per fiscal year.”
  • Previously this bullet incorrectly stated that applicants are eligible to receive a maximum of three Tour Support grants per fiscal year.

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Eligible Applicants

• Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria defined in the Creative Saskatchewan Investment Fund General Program Guidelines.

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Eligible Projects and Expenses

There are two streams available to eligible applicants:

Music

• A minimum of six live public performances must be secured at the time of application. (Contracts do NOT have to be supplied at the time of application but will be required before any funds are released by Creative Saskatchewan).
• Performances must be for contracted performance fees (guaranteed fee or a percentage of the gross revenue from ticket sales).
• No more than five consecutive days off between performances (special consideration may be provided for tours with extensive travel between performances).
• Tour dates must take place in more than one city, and in different venues. Repeat performances in the same city in different venues may be considered as part of a multi-city tour.

Eligible Expenses:

• Project expenses directly related to touring and incurred during the project term.
• Projects must be in support of a new activity or release.
• Performance fees for musicians (both in-house and hired) and crew fees at industry standard rates.
• Booking fees and management commissions (either in-house or third party). The applicant must provide justification of the fee amount in the application.
• Tour manager fees (both in-house and third party). The applicant must provide justification of the fee amount in the application.
• Phone expenses are capped at a maximum of $100 for pre-tour expenses and $200 for expenses incurred during the supported tour. (Pre-tour phone expenses are only eligible when booking fees/commissions are not claimed).
• Marketing expenses directly related to the touring activities being applied for, no more than 25% of the total project budget.
• Per diems, accommodations, and travel expenses are eligible for Saskatchewan residents for travel, performance, and promotional dates.
• Activities must be in support of project(s) that would meet the criteria for Creative Saskatchewan production grants. See Appendix A for a list of production grants and criteria.

Live Performing Arts

• Tour dates must take place in more than one city, and in different venues. Repeat performances in the same city in different venues may be considered as part of a multi-city tour.
• A minimum of three tour venue bookings must be secured at the time of application. (Contracts do NOT have to be supplied at the time of application but will be required before any funds are released).
• Performances must be for contracted performance fees (guaranteed fee or a percentage of the gross revenues from ticket sales).
• No more than five consecutive days off between performances (special consideration may be provided for tours with extensive travel between performances).

Eligible Expenses:

• Project expenses directly related to touring and incurred during the project term.
• Projects must be in support of a new work and in a new market.
• Festival application fees and fringe festival site fees.
• Performance fees for performers (both in-house and non-company) at CAEA industry standard rates and crew fees for technical professionals.
• Phone expenses are capped at a maximum of $100 for pre-tour expenses and $200 for expenses incurred during the supported tour.
• Marketing expenses directly related to the touring activities being applied for, no more than 25% of the total project budget.
• Per diems, accommodations, and travel expenses are eligible for Saskatchewan residents for travel, performance, and promotional dates.
• Activities must be in support of project(s) that would meet the criteria for Creative Saskatchewan production grants. See Appendix A for a list of production grants and criteria.

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Ineligible Projects and Expenses

• Projects that do not have commercial intent as their primary purpose and focus.
• Showcase performances cannot be included as confirmed show dates.
• Residencies (regular scheduled performances at the same venue; contracted engagements longer than 10 performances at the same venue; recurring and repeat engagements over several weeks/months of time at the same venue).
• Expenses during non-travel days and non-working days.
• Please see the Creative Saskatchewan Investment Fund General Program Guidelines for a list of ineligible expenses.

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Financial Participation

• Funding will be in the form of a grant.
• Applicants may apply for a maximum of $15,000 or 50% of the total eligible expenses (whichever is the lesser).
• Applicants are eligible to receive a maximum of two Tour Support grants per fiscal year.

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Assessment

• An initial review of applications is conducted by Creative Saskatchewan program staff to ensure the project and applicant meet eligibility to the program.
• Eligible Music Tour Support applications with secured funding from FACTOR/Musicaction are considered to have been vetted and will be deemed “fast tracked” for approval.
• Eligible Live Performing Arts Tour Support applications with secured funding from the Canada Council for the Arts’ Circulation and Touring component of the Arts Across Canada fund are considered to have been vetted and will be deemed “fast tracked” for approval.
• Fast tracked applications may be submitted at any time the grant program is open, however they must meet Creative Saskatchewan’s criteria for this grant.
• Fast tracked applications will be funded in the order in which they are received, and as the availability of funds allows.
• Applications that do not qualify for fast tracked approval will be assessed by an external assessment process against the criteria defined here.

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Submission Requirements and Deadlines

• Please refer to the specific program page for application deadlines and instructions.
• Applications must be complete in order to be accepted.
• Creative Saskatchewan provides templates for each grant application.
• Applications to the Tour Support Grant will be accepted on a continuous intake basis and supported based on the availability of funds.
• By submitting an application for this grant, applicants confirm they have read the Creative Saskatchewan Investment Fund General Program Guidelines. If awarded a grant, they will be obligated by all criteria in the Creative Saskatchewan Investment Fund General Program Guidelines, as well as criteria specific to this grant as described herein.

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Required Acknowledgements

• Successful recipients of a Creative Saskatchewan Tour Support Grant must include the Creative Saskatchewan logo credit on all promotional material for the supported tour.
• The Creative Saskatchewan logo and guidelines for acknowledgement can be found here.

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Confidentiality of Information

• Please refer to the Creative Saskatchewan Investment Fund General Program Guidelines for details of Creative Saskatchewan’s Confidentiality Policy.
• If you are not awarded a grant, all information in and about your application is held in confidence.
• If you are awarded a grant, your name, a description of the project and the amount of funding will be made publicly available.

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Appendix A

Activities must be in support of project(s) that would meet the criteria for Creative Saskatchewan production grants.

The intent of this Appendix is to provide a snapshot of the production grant’s eligible and ineligible activities. It is the applicant’s responsibility to read complete grant guidelines before applying.

Book Publishing Production

The Book Publishing Production Grant assists eligible Saskatchewan book publishers in the production and marketing of titles intended for commercial release.

Eligible Projects:

• Applications must be in support of the production of book publication.

Ineligible Projects:

• Titles commissioned or paid for by an individual, group, political party or company where the publisher does not have complete and independent editorial control.
• Titles for which the author or illustrator does not receive compensation.
• Magazine, newspaper, industrial sales catalogues, calendars, maps or books of maps, loose-leaf updates, sticker books and activity books, games, agendas, sheet music and periodical publications.

Craft and Visual Arts Production Grant

The Craft & Visual Arts Production Grant supports craft persons and visual artists in the production of creative products intended for the commercial marketplace. (This criterion does not apply to eligible commercial galleries).

Eligible Applicants:

• Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria defined in the Creative Saskatchewan Investment Fund General Program Guidelines.

Eligible Projects and Expenses:

• Applications must be in support of the production or refinement of commercially viable, creative products.

Ineligible Projects and Expenses:

• Personal hygiene items (examples include bath bombs, perfume, and soap).
• Candles where the applicant is not creating their own molds.

Digital Game Development Grant Program

The Digital Game Development Grant provides eligible Saskatchewan applicants with financial investment in support of the production of innovative and original digital games and eLearning properties.

Eligible Projects and Expenses:

• This program supports expenses related to creating digital games and eLearning properties that are market-ready and aimed for commercial exploitation.
• eLearning projects must include gamification (game mechanics that add interactivity, engagement, and motivate the user in learning).
• The core product must be intended to entertain or educate the user.

Ineligible Projects and Expenses:

• Projects developed exclusively for corporate use (where the applicant no longer owns the IP).
• Video content creation for streaming services, broadcast, or theatrical release.
• Games with real or simulated gambling.
• Projects primarily intended to sell products or services.
• Projects primarily intended for interpersonal communication.

Feature Film and Television Production Grant

The Feature Film Production Grant provides financial support to eligible applicants for feature film and television productions that have secured a relevant market trigger or distribution agreement of fair market value.

Eligible Projects:

• Applications must be in support of the production of feature films or television production.

Ineligible Projects and Expenses for Feature Film and Television Production Grant:

• Projects that have received funding through the Creative Saskatchewan Micro-Budget Production Grant or Web Series Grant programs.
• Genres of production NOT eligible for funding include:
  • News, current events or public affairs programming, or a program that includes weather or market reports.
  • Programming created for community cable providers (Access Communications, Shaw, SaskTel Max, etc.)
  • Talk shows.
  • Productions in respect of a game or contest (other than a production directed primarily at minors).
  • Sports event or activity.
  • Productions that solicit funds.
  • Pornography.
  • Advertising.
  • Productions produced primarily for industrial, corporate, or institutional purposes.
  • Productions, other than documentary, that consists of more than 25% stock footage.
  • Video distribution platforms or aggregators.

The Filmmaker’s Grant

The Filmmaker’s Grant supports emerging Saskatchewan filmmakers with mentorship and production funds to produce commercial screen content under ten minutes in length. Content can be in most genres, including dramatic, animation, and documentary, web series and music video. Ineligible genres include experimental, game shows, pornography, sports, news, and magazine-style content.

Live Performing Arts Production Grant

The Live Performing Arts Production Grant assists eligible Saskatchewan individuals and companies in the production of a series of performances intended for paying audiences.

Eligible Projects and Expenses:

• Applications must be in support of commercial productions.
• Production and streaming of live radio plays.

Ineligible Projects and Expenses:

• Applications to host fringe festivals or theatre festivals.
• Community theatre productions.
• Expenses related to script development, writing and workshopping.

Sound Recording Grant

The Sound Recording Grant supports the production of commercially viable sound recordings for commercial release.

Eligible Projects:

• Applications must be in support of the production of a commercial sound recording.

Ineligible Projects and Expenses:

• Projects that do not have commercial intent as their primary purpose and focus.
• Podcasts.