SCCIP Sustaining Programs

In addition to the general eligibility requirements, to be eligible for the Sustaining Core Program you must:

• Have a mission to develop, create, produce, present and disseminate artistic work in any artistic discipline

• Have well-established programs and services that are developed and delivered with consistency

• Be artistically strong with proven impact in the community

• Have full-time paid professional leadership (artistic or administrative)

• Have well-developed administrative structures

• Have stable financial resources and planning

• Have an active board of directors with a clear governance role

• Be a Federally or Provincially incorporated not-for-profit
• Have operating revenues of no less than $250,000 per year
• Produce a full season of programming as per industry standards
• Pay principal artistic contributors for their services in accordance with professional industry standards.

If you receive core program funds, you will be ineligible for any other SCCIP program stream. Capital requirements or festival activities may be considered for additional investment through this program.

30 per cent of total score

Organizational Resources & Assets

• Resources (staff, artists, volunteers, facilities, expertise) are appropriate and well-managed

• Assets clearly support artistic programming and the local creative sector

Recent Artistic Program Performance

• Quality and relevance of recent artistic programming

• Use of professional and local artists

• Evidence of public participation, attendance, or access

• Thoughtful reflection on challenges

Proposed Artistic Program(s)

• Clear, coherent, and feasible program plans

• Alignment with mandate and community benefit

• Appropriate scope given capacity and resources

Rationale & Responsiveness

• Programming choices are informed by experience and learning

• Clear response to past challenges or community needs

Partnerships & Community Engagement

• Meaningful engagement with local artists, organizations, and community groups

• Partnerships strengthen community impact and the local arts ecosystem

Equity, Access & Inclusion

• Clear, intentional strategies to engage diverse communities

• Practical resources identified to support EDI efforts

30 per cent of total score

Organizational Performance

• Operations (staffing, resource allocation, etc.) are sound and appropriate

• Challenges are clearly identified and responsibly managed

• Budget variances are explained and understood

Organizational Planning & Capacity

• Organizational plans are clear, realistic, and responsive to recent challenges

• Staff and volunteer capacity is appropriate to support proposed plans

Governance

• Effective engagement of board of directors

• Governance roles are clear, appropriate and active

Financial Planning & Stability

• Financial plans are realistic and forward-looking

• Revenue sources are diverse and achievable

• Organization demonstrates financial accountability

• Budget variances are explained and understood

Marketing & Outreach

• Efforts demonstrate attempts to develop audiences, increase visibility, and advance organizational sustainability.

Use of Increased Funding
(if applicable - will only be scored if requesting an increase)

• Clear, realistic use of additional funds

• Additional funding increases community impact

20 per cent of total score

Support for Local Artistic Development

• Clear support for Niagara-based artists and/or artistic innovation

• Meaningful contribution to artist development or sector growth

Distinctiveness & Artistic Leadership

• Programming is clearly distinct within Niagara or beyond

• Organization demonstrates artistic leadership or innovation

Recognition & Impact

• Evidence of recognition or impact appropriate to organizational scale

• Contribution to the local, regional, or broader arts landscape

Commitment to Diversity

• Diversity is reflected in programming, leadership, and audiences

• Commitment is intentional and meaningfully demonstrated

20 per cent of total score

Community Benefit

• Activities and services clearly contribute to the community, including education, participation, mentorship, or support for local artists/residents.

Access & Growth

• Plans to increase access or grow programs/services for St. Catharines residents are clear, feasible, and meaningful.

Professional Fees

• Adheres to industry standards for fees paid to contracted Canadian artists/service providers, or provides a clear, reasonable rationale.

Audience Development & City Profile

• Activities bring audiences, visibility, or recognition to St. Catharines.

In addition to the general eligibility requirements, to be eligible for the Sustaining Midsized Program you must:

• Have a mission to develop, create, produce, present and disseminate artistic work in any artistic discipline
• Have impactful annual programs or services that are delivered with consistency and are artistically strong
• Have a paid professional leadership
• Have developing or stabilizing administrative structures and financial resources
• Have emerging long-term planning
• Have engaged Board of Directors

• Be in existence for at least two years and be a Federally or Provincially incorporated not-for-profit
• Have ongoing paid professional artistic, curatorial or administrative staff
• Produce a minimum of three public activities per year
• Have operating revenues of no less than $30,000 per year
• Pay principal artistic contributors for their services that follow professional industry standards

25 per cent of total score

Recent Artistic Program Performance

• Quality and relevance of recent artistic programming

• Use of professional and local artists

• Evidence of public participation, attendance, or access

• Thoughtful reflection on challenges

Proposed Artistic Program(s)

• Clear, coherent, and feasible program plans

• Alignment with mandate and community benefit

• Appropriate scope given capacity and resources

Rationale & Responsiveness

• Programming choices are informed by experience and learning

• Clear response to past challenges or community needs

Partnerships & Community Engagement

• Meaningful engagement with local artists, organizations, and community groups

• Partnerships strengthen community impact and the local arts ecosystem

Equity, Access & Inclusion

• Clear, intentional strategies to engage diverse communities

• Practical resources identified to support equity, access and inclusion efforts

25 per cent of total score

Organizational Performance

• Operations (staffing, resource allocation, etc.) are sound and appropriate

• Challenges are clearly identified and responsibly managed

• Budget variances are explained and understood

Organizational Planning & Capacity

• Organizational plans are clear, realistic, and responsive to challenges

• Staff and/or volunteer capacity is appropriate to support proposed plans

Governance

• Effective engagement of board of directors

• Governance roles are clear, appropriate and active

Financial Planning & Stability

• Financial plans are realistic and forward-looking

• Revenue sources are diverse and achievable

• Organization demonstrates financial accountability

• Budget variances are explained and understood

Marketing & Outreach

• Efforts demonstrate attempts to develop audiences, increase visibility, and advance sustainability

Contingency Planning

• Contingency strategies are in place for program adaptation

Use of Increased Funding
(if applicable - will only be scored if requesting an increase)

• Clear, realistic use of additional funds

• Additional funding increases community impact

25 per cent of total score

Support for Local Artistic Development

• Clear support for Niagara-based artists or innovation

• Meaningful contribution to artist development or sector growth

Distinctiveness & Artistic Leadership

• Programming is distinct within Niagara or beyond

• Demonstrates leadership or innovation in artistic programming

Recognition & Impact

• Evidence of recognition or impact appropriate to organizational scale

• Contribution to the local, regional, or broader arts landscape

Commitment to Diversity

• Clear, intentional strategies to engage diverse communities

• Practical resources identified to support equity, diversity, and inclusion

25 per cent of total score

Community Benefit

• Activities and services clearly contribute to community livability

• Education, mentorship, and participatory opportunities provided

Access & Audience Growth

• Activities conducted primarily in St. Catharines for residents’ benefit

• Public access prioritized, including diverse communities

Professional Fees

• Adheres to industry standards for fees paid to contracted artists/service providers

• Clear rationale provided if no standard is used

Audience Development & City Profile

• Programming attracts audiences and enhances visibility for St. Catharines

The Festival Program is for professional festivals that:

• Contribute to the cultural vitality and diversity of St. Catharines

To be eligible for the Festival Program, the Festival must:

• Offer unique programming which includes a significant component that takes place in St. Catharines
• Attract audiences from within Niagara
• Engage local artists and businesses in festival activities
• Be professionally managed with paid staff resources or a dedicated volunteer management team
• Provide evidence of effective marketing and business planning
• Have stabilizing administrative structures and financial resources
• Have grant support from other government sources
• Have an engaged Board of Directors

You must also meet these eligibility requirements for the Festival Program:

• Be in existence for a minimum of two years and be a federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organization or a non-incorporated organization that confirms it operates on a not-for-profit basis
• Meet the definition of a festival. As per the SCCIP Policy, festivals are defined as: "... a series of publicly held, theme-related events, predominantly cultural in nature, held annually for two or more consecutive days and possessing city-wide and regional appeal."
• Provide programming or services that are continuous, open or otherwise accessible to the public
• Have paid staff, a contracted festival coordinator or a dedicated volunteer management team
• Have completed two successful festivals prior to application
• Pay principal artistic contributors for their services that follow professional industry standards
• Have a revenue base of no less than $30,000
• Gather funding from other provincial or federal government sources

• You may be able to apply if you are a club, community centre, social service, religious or sports organization that has a significant festival that substantially engages broader audiences and meets all other program eligibility criteria. However, the festival cannot be a fundraiser.

31 per cent of total score.

• Activities are conducted primarily in St. Catharines and serve residents and visitors.
• Activities have potential to bring provincial, national or international recognition to
  St. Catharines and attract visitors from outside of St. Catharines.
• Public access to the work is a priority: events may be ticketed but are open to all members of the public.
• There is substantial and / or growing public interest and attendance.
• Volunteerism is actively and successfully encouraged in the organization.

24 per cent of total score.

• There is evidence of a clear mandate, competent administration, functional board and an appropriate administrative and governance structure.
• The organization can deliver all programmed activities related to the proposed event or has hired expertise to ensure quality management and delivery of the festival’s content and program.
• The organization can manage and deliver all non-program related aspects of the festival. This may include, but is not limited to security, waste management, hospitality services, relevant licensing and permits, etc.
• The organization is financially stable and accountable, and there is evidence of effective short and long-term planning, including contingencies in the possible event of budget shortfalls.
• A realistic revenue generation plan is in place, including other grants, sponsorships and earned revenues.
• There is an overall quality and consistency in the applicant’s recent activities.
• There is a demonstrated need for financial assistance from the City.
• The festival has received funding from at least one other government granting program, such as Reconnect Ontario or the Department of Canadian Heritage Festival program.
• The organization incorporates contingency plans to alter program delivery, if necessary.

20 per cent of total score.

• The festival is distinct and innovative in the context of other events in St. Catharines and Niagara.
• Activities and services are of a quality to merit public support.
• Program goals are clear, and activities demonstrate innovation, development and research in the field.
• General public appeal is in evidence.
• Local partnerships – with artists, vendors, community groups, and local businesses – are an integral part of the event.

16 per cent of total score.

• The marketing plan has a clearly articulated target market and marketing approach.
• Systems of marketing and outreach are effective at attracting target audiences.
• There is evidence of past success in audience attraction from the region and beyond or a realistic plan to achieve this.
• Applicant has collected and documented visitation and / or relevant economic impact information or has a plan in place to do so.
• Data documenting patron and visitor numbers is available, and economic and other beneficial impacts are in evidence.

Nine per cent of total score.

• The project serves the purpose and priorities of the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy. The St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy aims to serve long term community sustainability by strengthening cultural vitality, economic diversity, environmental awareness and social inclusion with the following investment priorities:
  • cultivate the growth and development of a dynamic and robust creative sector;
  • support original, made-in-Niagara arts creation;
  • foster a range of cultural experiences for all of St. Catharines residents, including educational, participatory and audience-based programs;
  • stimulate innovation and creative enterprise;
  • celebrate and encourage cultural, social and artistic diversity.