Manitoba Arts Council – Present (Music)

This is the Manitoba Arts Council's presentation grant: money to put finished work in front of a Manitoba public, or to publish it. For a musician that means concerts, a series, a launch or a similar public presentation within the province, rather than writing or recording, which sit in other MAC programmes.

The ceiling is $15,000. The programme page does not break down eligible and ineligible costs, or say whether the grant is expected to cover a whole budget, so build your numbers conservatively and talk to programme staff first.

To apply you must be 18 or over, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and resident in Manitoba for at least a year. Professional standing is tested against five markers — peer recognition, specialised training, sustained commitment to the practice, a history of public presentation or publication, and pay comparable to others in your art form — and you need to satisfy four of them. Full-time students at recognised post-secondary institutions can apply if they already have some training or track record. Groups need a majority of professional members and a bank account in the group's name.

There are two deadlines a year, 25 February and 10 September, through MAC's Manipogo portal — register five to ten working days before you plan to submit, because approval is not instant. Accessible and offline forms are available, and MAC offers financial assistance with the cost of applying and reporting. Assessment criteria and the notification timeline are not published on the programme page.