Cultural Capitals of Canada

2010 Cultural Capitals

Saguenay

Saint-John

Winnipeg

• Our objective, your results
• Who can apply?
• What is it?
• When to submit an application?
• Guidelines and Application Forms

The Government of Canada announced on May 31, 2002 the creation of Cultural Capitals of Canada, a national program to recognize and support Canadian municipalities for special activities that harness the many benefits of arts and culture in community life.

Our objective, your results

Our objective is to promote the arts and culture in Canadian municipalities, through recognition of excellence and support for special activities that celebrate the arts and culture and integrate them into overall community planning. Designation as a Cultural Capital of Canada will enable your community to invest more in arts and culture, increase and improve your cultural services, and strengthen connections with other communities through shared cultural experiences.

Who can apply?

Canadian municipalities can apply for an award, either individually or as partners in a joint project. For the purposes of this program a municipality is defined as a town, city, regional municipality or district with a duly constituted government, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit equivalent governments (such as Band Councils). (Aboriginal associations, such as Friendship Centres, are not eligible to apply.)

What is it?

Cultural Capitals of Canada Awards

Each year, Canadian municipalities compete to receive a designation under the Cultural Capitals of Canada Program. Up to five communities can receive this designation annually, which includes a contribution to support special activities that celebrate the arts and culture and build a cultural legacy for the community. The designated municipalities will also receive street banners, and a commemorative sign for outdoor display.

The annual Cultural Capital of Canada designations are awarded to single municipalities or groups of municipalities that submit a proposal to celebrate and build a legacy for the arts and culture. These are divided into three categories based on population.

• Level 1, total population of over 125,000, 1 per year, 75 percent of total eligible costs up to a maximum of $2,000,000
• Level 2, total population of 50,000-125,000, 1 per year, 75 percent of total eligible costs up to a maximum of $750,000
• Level 3, total population of under 50,000, 2 per year, 75 percent of total eligible costs up to a maximum of $500,000 each.

The Cultural Capital of Canada designation will be awarded to the municipality in each category with a good track record of past achievements, coupled with the best and most ambitious (while still realistic) program of proposed activities for a community its size.

Recognition for Innovative Cultural Bridges

Canadian communities can also be recognized for innovative cultural partnerships that focus on cultural exchanges. Each year, one prize can be given, in the form of a contribution, to a group of two or more municipalities (in at least two provinces or territories) submitting a joint application to develop innovative reciprocal cultural exchanges and partnerships that celebrate the community identity of each partner and help to build a legacy for the arts and culture in each. The contribution maximum is $500,000 or 75% of total eligible costs, whichever is less.

For both the Cultural Capitals of Canada Awards and the Innovative Cultural Bridges, municipalities must demonstrate their commitment to arts and culture through their past achievements and propose a series of activities to take place during the year for which the award or recognition is given.

When to submit an application?

Please note that the deadline for the 2011 awards has not yet been set. It will be publicized on our web site as soon as possible and at least six months before applications must be submitted. In the meantime, you may wish to consult the guidelines and applications for 2010 in anticipation of those for 2011 being made available. You may contact Program officials, at 1-866-661-0662, should you have any questions in this regard.

Guidelines and Application Forms

Cultural Capitals of Canada - Application Guidelines (Pages 1-8)
HTML Version | PDF Version, 86 KB

Cultural Capitals of Canada – Glossary (Pages 9-10)
HTML Version | PDF Version, 29 KB

Cultural Capitals of Canada – CCC Funding Application Form (Page A1)
PDF Version, 17 KB

Cultural of Capitals of Canada – Detailled form (Pages A2-A8)
PDF Version, 134 KB

Cultural of Capitals of Canada – Timeline Form (Page A9)
PDF Version, 13 KB | Excel Version, 21 KB

Cultural of Capitals of Canada – Municipal Contribution Form (Page A10)
PDF Version, 14 KB

Part I - Budget Form (Pages A11-A12)
Excel Version, 67 KB

• Cultural Capitals of Canada 2009
• Cultural Capitals of Canada 2008
• Cultural Capitals of Canada 2007

Note:

To access the Portable Document Format (PDF) version you must have a PDF reader installed. If you do not already have such a reader, there are numerous PDF readers available for free download or for purchase on the Internet:

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• Xpdf
• eXPert PDF Reader

Please note that all saveable and fillable PDF forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader version 8.1 or higher.