Arts in communities program

The Arts in Communities Program is intended for new, emerging and established arts and cultural organizations and arts festivals. It supports specific arts-based projects and initiatives that:

• engage professional artists (can include emerging professionals and traditional knowledge-based practices)
• involve the public
• leverage partnerships with other arts organizations (where applicable) 

The objectives of the program are to:

• strengthen New Brunswick communities artistically, culturally and economically through vibrant arts and cultural activities
• support New Brunswick professional artists
• increase access to the arts for all New Brunswickers

Deadlines for this program are outlined in the program call on the Arts Culture NB Portal. Applicants should note that the date of their proposed project will impact which intake period they should apply for.

Category A: first-time applicants 

Eligible non-profit organizations which have been in existence for less than 12 months or have never received project funding from the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture. Projects should be arts-focused, engage a professional artist and a community. Events may either span a single day or extend over multiple days. 

Category B: established organizations and projects 

Established community arts and cultural organizations that have previously received department funding. Projects should be arts-focused, engage a professional artist and a community. 

Category C: Established arts and culture festivals and gatherings 

Arts and multi-disciplinary festivals and gatherings whose primary mandate and presentations are in the arts.

Eligible projects

Eligible activities in categories A and B might include (but not limited to): 

• cultural mediation projects whereby professional artists mobilize the community to participate in a collective art or creation project
• a performance, performance series or event that includes public engagement
• a workshop or series of workshops with a professional artist or arts organization (such as a dance company, a songwriter, a filmmaker, etc.) with a public presentation component
• projects that include opportunities for the public to learn from professional artists through talks, demonstrations, artists’ panels, etc. 

Eligible activities in category C might include (but not limited to): 

• dance, music, theatre, visual arts, craft and multidisciplinary multi-day festivals
• annual cultural events and gatherings, such as a First Nation communities Pow Wow and summer festivals 

Ineligible projects

• projects that take place prior to the application deadlines
• organizations currently receiving Core Funding from the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture
• for-profit organizations and foundations
• organizations and festivals whose primary mandate is not artistic or cultural in nature and/or which does not include a professional arts component
• one-day festivals
• schools, universities and hospitals
• recreational or religious organizations
• community arts groups, such as community choirs, theatre or dance groups
• community festivals like the Salmon Festival or Old Home Week
• private art schools 

Note: Community festivals may be eligible for Regional Development Corporation (RDC) grants. 

Applications submitted to this program are evaluated according to the program objectives and criteria, including general and contextual information about the organization, the nature and quality of the work outlined in the application and potential impacts.

Please refer to the guidelines on the Arts Culture NB Portal which contain essential information about the criteria of this program.

For Professional Artist & Compensated at Industry Standard: the department reflects its commitment to the status of the artist (publication) across programs, including by encouraging fair remuneration for the professional engagement of artists.

Please refer to the definition of a professional artist (publication) to determine if an individual's career activities meet the criteria.

For compensation, refer to the most suitable recommended minimum fee(s) featured in a fee scale maintained by an association on the Certification Register; if no scale is available, rationale is still encouraged.

In the case of disagreement concerning the interpretation of policies and programs, the department reserves the right to final interpretation of the intent and implementation of a program. The department reserves the right to revise programs at any time without notice. The Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture is subject to the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.