Deadline: February 22, 2024
Let your creativity fly and launch your own writing or literary performance project with this unique co-creation opportunity in the west of the island of Montreal.
Grant for each project: $11,000
Contents:
Introduction
“One Planet, Countless Wor(l)ds” is an initiative developed by the Quebec Writers’ Federation and le Conseil des Arts de Montréal (CAM) in partnership with cities in the west of the island of Montreal.
The initiative will consist of two literary co-creation projects, each delivered by a different writer or literary artist. Each project will last approximately eight weeks (taking place sometime between April and September 2024) and be delivered twice at two different libraries or community spaces in the west of the island of Montreal.
Theme: “One Planet, Countless Wor(l)ds”
How do we find unity in diversity? How can our differences help us come together? The members of our communities are of different ages and genders, speak different languages, hail from different places, and call different lands home. These qualities can differentiate us, but they can also bring us together. We all live on one planet, and yet the worlds we inhabit are manifold.
Writers are invited to explore the theme of “One Planet, Countless Wor(l)ds” by investigating these ideas or by examining related subjects such as the planet, space, the environment, and/or diversity.
Program Objectives
This program is designed to:
- support a writer or literary artist in developing their artistic practice
- engage local communities in artistic co-creation
- provide locations and resources for the creation and final presentation of artistic projects
Information Session
An online information session about the initiative was held on January 29, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.
Watch the Recording on YouTube
Support
What assistance is provided?
Each selected writer or literary artist will:
- receive payment in the form of an $11,000 grant paid by QWF—this must cover travel expenses and the cost of materials they may need to complete their project
- be provided a venue and participants with whom to develop and deliver the project
- be invited to a presentation of the completed projects in the fall of 2024
- receive a one-year QWF membership or one-year extension of their current QWF membership
Eligibility
Who is eligible to apply?
Professional writers or professional literary artists who meet one of the following criteria:
- Have published at least 40 pages of fiction, poetry, or non-fiction (including journalism)
- Have professionally produced at least 30 minutes of radio, film, television, theatre or multi-media
- Have presented at least one full-length solo show or have had at least 3 professionally paid bookings
What types of projects are eligible?
Writers and literary artists are invited to submit a proposal for a literary project of their choice. All literary genres, forms, and styles are welcome, but the project must be a work of “co-creation” involving the public.
The project proposal should demonstrate that the project will:
- Support the writer or artist in the development of their artistic practice
- Engage the public in a project of “co-creation”
Projects may involve the public in general or a specific demographic, such as seniors, children or young adults.
What is “co-creation”?
By “co-creation,” we mean an artistic process that involves the public at the conception or production stages of the work. The artistic works created are the result of a collaboration between the artist and the public. This allows local residents to experience the creative process with the artist.
Proposed projects can take different forms, such as a series of workshops, a residency, a performance, or an anthologized collection of writing and styles (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, storytelling, slam, comics, etc.).
Examples of literary co-creation projects include:
- A staged performance of an original work of literature, such as a play
- A poetry workshop series that culminates in an original work of found poetry based on participants’ work
- A written adaption of oral stories from members of a community as part of a writing residency
We welcome creative, original ideas about what a “co-creation” project may entail. Let your imagination take flight!
What are the general eligibility criteria?
- have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
- reside on the Island of Montreal
- be a professional writer or professional literary artist who meets one of the following criteria:
- Have published at least 40 pages of fiction, poetry, or non-fiction (including journalism)
- Have professionally produced at least 30 minutes of radio, film, television, theatre or multi-media
- Have presented at least one full-length solo show or have had at least 3 professionally paid bookings
- be fluent in English and functional in French
While the activities will be delivered in English, some French may be required to communicate with francophone participants.
When must the project be carried out?
- Co-creation projects must be carried out between April and September 2024
- A final presentation of all projects will take place in the early fall of 2024
How many projects will be selected?
Two projects by different writers or literary artists will be selected by an independent evaluation committee. Each project will be delivered at two different locations.
Who is ineligible to apply?
Applicants
- collectives and organizations
- alliances, associations, service organizations or artist agents
- individual artists who do not meet the general and specific eligibility criteria
Projects
- Works that have already been or are ready to be created, produced and staged.
- Projects completed before receiving the QWF’s decision (allow for six weeks following the submission deadline)
Applications
- incomplete applications
- applications received after the submission deadline
The evaluation committee will automatically reject ineligible applications.
Applications
How do I apply?
Please use Submittable to submit your application
Can I submit more than one application?
Applicants may only submit one application.
What information and documents must I include in my application?
- Brief bio (maximum of two pages)
- A presentation of the project (maximum of one page)
- The artistic approach (maximum of one page)
- A budget, including travel and materials, if relevant
Evaluation
How are applications evaluated?
Project evaluation and selection will be undertaken by a three-person evaluation committee of professionals culturally representative of the English-language writing arts community and an observer from the Conseil des Arts de Montréal.
What are the evaluation criteria?
The evaluation committee will take into account the program objectives and the following criteria:
Artistic quality 50%
- Artistic quality of the project
- Quality of artist’s past projects
- Originality of the project
Capacity for co-creation 20%
- Appeal and accessibility of the co-creation project
- Quality of support activities offered to citizens in the creative process
- Ability of the project to forge ties with the community
Contribution to development of the writer’s or artist’s own practice 20%
- Exploration of new dimensions of the artist’s craft, such as a new genre or new multidisciplinary approach
Project management and financial stability 10%
- Feasibility of the project and soundness of the proposal
- Ability of the artist to complete the project
How will I be informed of the decision?
Decisions will be emailed to applicants by QWF.
What is the response time?
It will take up to six (6) weeks from the submission deadline for the evaluation committee to process the applications and reach a decision.
Payment
How will the grant be paid?
The Conseil’s grant will be paid through the Quebec Writers’ Federation at the beginning of the project. Artists are responsible for determining how the grant will impact their income taxes.
Obligations
Commitments
For the artist, accepting payment of the grant constitutes an undertaking to complete the activities covered by the grant and to comply with the accompanying conditions, which will be communicated upon selection of the application.
The artist agrees to:
- carry out the proposed project as planned
- notify the QWF as soon as possible if unable to carry out the project in the period for which the grant was awarded. In such cases, the grant recipient may be obliged to reimburse some or all of the amount awarded
- if requested, submit activity reports and financial statements at the required times
- if applicable, include in the report photographs, videos or any other relevant, royalty-free visuals that the Conseil may use for promotional or archival purposes
- Attend the presentation at the end of the project
For questions and inquiries, contact Liana Cusmano, Project Coordinator, at [email protected].