Shevchenko Foundation Film and Media Grant – Organizations (Canada)

Priority will be given to projects that can demonstrate their feasibility by providing a best-practice model for the delivery of all stages of the project, can provide evidence of realistic budgets, and can provide evidence of financial and/or in-kind supports from other sources. Project grant support is not provided for industry defined ongoing annual operating programming nor yearly overhead expenses of an arts organization.

The Shevchenko Foundation is a national, chartered philanthropic institution dedicated to the preservation, promotion and development of Ukrainian Canadian cultural heritage, and to the advancement of a flourishing Ukrainian community for the enrichment of Canada. The Foundation respects the past, celebrates the present and promotes the future of the Ukrainian community in Canada with inclusiveness, integrity, sustainability, spirit, excellence, creativity and innovation as its core values.

Priorities

• The Shevchenko Foundation’s grant-giving stewardship extends priority to projects and programs that:
  • Contribute to enriching the Canadian experience with the beauty, passion, and diversity of Ukrainian Canadian culture;
  • Contribute to strengthening the Ukrainian community in Canada;
  • Share Ukrainian Canadian cultural contributions with a broad and diverse public on a community, regional or national level;
  • Exhibit financial capability to undertake and sustain the project and/or program within the boundaries of a business plan, either as an organization or an individual;
  • Employ new technologies and partnership models on how Ukrainian Canadian cultural heritage is created, produced, disseminated, and preserved.

Funding Information

• The Shevchenko Foundation funds up to 50% of total project or program costs of successful applications contingent upon budget resources for the given grant deadline.
• Grants can be used to cover costs and expenses associated with the project, but cannot be used to cover expenses for general living allowances for project participants.

Eligible Projects 

• The Film and Media Arts Sector of the Arts Pillar funds:
  • Film project writing and development costs for adaptations or translations of existing published works.
  • Creation of “pitch” package of pre-visualization images or filmed sequences, and other marketing materials for original works and adaptations or translations of existing published works.
  • Production and post-production costs.
  • Subsistence costs dedicated to realizing the project.
  • Travel and subsistence expenses directly relevant to realizing the project.
  • Dissemination (launches, industry-related festivals, cultural cinema settings, digital marketing costs).
  • Professional development (travel and fees for training, workshops, mentorships, or master classes).
  • Not eligible through this Program are:
  • Research and original script-writing development.
  • Biographic treatments of artists, historical figures, or individuals, unless applicant demonstrates an approach that is distinctive and conceived for engagement of broad audiences.
  • Industry-defined, ongoing operating programming or yearly overhead expenses of an arts organization or business.
  • Funding for operational costs related to ongoing film and media education programming.

Who is eligible?         

• Organizations:
  • Canadian not-for-profit community organizations, artist collectives, Canadian registered private businesses whose activities occur primarily in Canada, and Canadian chartered educational institutions.
  • Canadian not-for-profit professional, semi-professional and amateur groups governed by a board of directors or a body responsible for the organization.
  • Note: It is the responsibility of organizations working with children under the age of 18, who are funded by the Shevchenko Foundation, to ensure that they follow youth protection policies and procedures in their jurisdictions.
• No new application will be accepted if a Final Report has not been submitted from a previous grant.
• Applicants who are applying for more than one grant in the calendar year can do so only when the Final Report on the first project has been approved by the Shevchenko Foundation.
• Applications for projects that are phased over more than one year will be accepted. Funding will be granted in phases, subject to meeting annual reporting requirements.

Assessment Criteria

• The Shevchenko Foundation’s assessment for grant-giving is guided by integrity, sustainability, excellence, innovation, and inclusiveness of all Canadians who support the mandate of the Shevchenko Foundation. When assessing applications, the Foundation uses the following questions.
  • Are the goals for the project well-articulated?
  • Are the skills of those undertaking the project to completion well-articulated?
  • Are the goals for the project within the scope and mission of the Shevchenko Foundation?
  • How does the project advance the relevancy of Ukrainian cultural heritage to the enrichment of Canada?
  • How well does the project demonstrate an understanding of present-day industry standards of excellence and public engagement in corresponding to the appropriate pillar of Arts, Heritage, Community Development, or Education?
  • What is the value-added contribution of this project that distinguishes it beyond existing Ukrainian cultural heritage content and similar activities?
  • Is there a sound marketing and distribution plan that articulates accommodating changing demographics, changing patterns of consumption, changing forms of dissemination?
  • Are the indicators for success of the project within the organizational and human resources capacity of the applicant?
  • How convincing is the financial viability of the project?
    • What are the consequences and contingencies for project shortfalls?
    • How will the project still be viable if it does not receive the projected revenues in grant support and public support?
    • Is there evidence of sound fiscal management, a track record of fiscal responsibility, and sound budgeting?
    • How realistic are budget revenue projections? Are cost estimates well researched?
    • Are ticket sales and fundraising targets within the scope of past performance and similar market realities?
    • What is the demonstrated value of funding a project application if it does not generate earned revenue from ticket sales or other earned revenue streams?

For more information, visit Shevchenko Foundation.