Frequently Asked Questions

Does the project have to be targeted to children and youth?

The project should be targeted either to children or to youth.
How do you define children and youth?
For the purposes of this Call they are defined as follows:
- children = elementary school students between the ages of 5 and 12
- youth = junior high and high school students between the ages of 13 and 18
NOTE: Your proposal must specify for which age group or grade you are creating.
Do all the collaborators have to be Canadian citizens?

Though the project's collaborators can be citizens or residents of other provinces or countries, the Project Lead must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant — even if no one else working on the project is. Canadian citizens or landed immigrants currently residing abroad are also eligible to be Project Leads.
Do all the collaborators have to be artists?

With the exception of the Project Lead, none of the collaborators are required to be professional Canadian artists. All manner of artistic collaborations by professionals working in any field are welcome to apply.
Do all the collaborators have to be based in Toronto or Ontario?

Fresh Ground new works is Harbourfront Centre's national commissioning programme — we are interested in exploring partnerships with artists and organizations from right across Canada. Don't let distance prevent you from applying!
What kind of artistic creations are of interest to the selection committee?

As a contemporary arts centre, Harbourfront Centre presents works in arts and culture from a variety of genres, including – but not limited to: Theatre, Literature, Film, New Media, Family Programming, Dance, Music, Visual Arts, Fine Craft, and/or Community Arts.

Collaborations by artists working in any of these areas — and especially collaborations which cross over any of these areas — are of interest to our selection committee. Please surf our website for an overview of our programming.
Are you looking for partnerships with larger, solidly-established companies and artists or can younger, newer voices also apply?

Fresh Ground new works is open to both established and emerging artists. Though the Project Lead must be a working professional artist (as defined here), collaborators can be either established professionals or emerging artists - or a combination of both. Because one of the goals of Fresh Ground new works is to encourage multi-disciplinary collaborations across artistic fields and genres, applicants need not necessarily be members of a professional company or organization — though cross-company collaborations are, of course, encouraged!
What do you mean by projects that incorporate more than one discipline or field?

That collaborators involved in the project's creation work in different disciplines — artistic or otherwise.
In the case of site-specific visual art pieces, is this to be a permanent work?

Unfortunately, this is not an option we can consider at this time.
No mention is made of where in or outside Harbourfront Centre this work might be installed or presented. Is it up to the applicant to propose a space?

We have tried to leave the wording of the Call for Submissions as open as possible, so that you and your collaborators can decide whether or not you wish to specify where on our site the final work should be presented or installed. Proposals can be specific or vague in this regard, but if your project is chosen we may ask you to be flexible, as venue availability will depend on a number of factors, including programming already in place.

Applicants are welcome to propose exhibition or presentation anywhere on our ten-acre site — whether indoors or outdoors, in traditional or non-traditional spaces. If you are unfamiliar with our site, or are applying from outside of the GTA, please visit the Venue Rentals section of our website for a list of the various theatres and multi-purpose venues at Harbourfront Centre. For information about the exhibition spaces, please visit the Visual Art section of our website.

Because the Power Plant Contemporary Gallery's programming is determined on a longer planning cycle than the rest of Harbourfront Centre's exhibition spaces, it is unfortunately not a potential site for Fresh Ground new works projects.
I would like to visit the proposed site to better situate my proposal. Is there a site tour planned?

Because of the volume of applications, we are unfortunately unable to facilitate site tours. For those applicants unfamiliar with Harbourfront Centre's "footprint", you will find information on our site and venues via the Venue Rentals section of our website, as well as on the About Us page.

Please also feel free to come down to our site and wander around our public spaces. Building hours are posted on our web site here.
Are there specific dates within the season that have been allotted for project exhibition or presentation?

Harbourfront Centre's season runs from April through March. We are allowing the 2010-2011 season for your project's development, and expect it to be ready for presentation at Harbourfront Centre in our 2011-2012 season.

Presentation dates are one area where both Harbourfront Centre and the award recipients will have to be flexible, since there are so many variables that can impact when we are able to schedule your project, should it be selected as a Fresh Ground new works commission (i.e. venue availability, other programming already on the schedule, your team's availability etc.).
Can we have other sources of funding?

It is the goal of Fresh Ground new works to be a catalyst, initiating collaborative projects that might not otherwise have been considered or have been feasible. The commission aims to be "seed" money for your project — your initial source of funding. That said, depending on the nature of the project, $20,000 may not cover your entire costs. If asked to proceed to Stage Two of the application process, you will be asked to indicate other potential sources of revenue (i.e. government granting bodies, private foundations, sponsors etc.).
In terms of budgets, what should be considered?

More information about budgets will be provided to short-listed applicants at Stage Two of the application process, but to sum up:

Your team will be responsible for all costs associated with the development, creation, delivery, installation at and removal of the work from Harbourfront Centre. If the work is a performance piece, production costs (i.e. equipment rental, staff costs etc.) should be considered, though Harbourfront Centre will waive all venue rental fees. The jury will be looking for a sound presentation budget, and considering areas where Harbourfront Centre may be able to provide assistance.

Your team should also be aware that, if your project is selected as an award recipient, cheques will be issued in the name of the Project Lead (unless otherwise requested by your team), and that GST is payable on that amount. A T4A will be issued at the end of the calendar year in the name of the Project Lead.

Please feel free to contact us with specific questions you don't find answered on these pages and we will do our best to provide the answers!

Fresh Ground new works is made possible by the generosity of several major individual donors who have actively assisted in the creation of new Canadian artworks: Peter Allen, Lionel F. Conacher and Joan Dea, Margaret and Jim Fleck, John Kazanjian and Susan Soloway, Michael and Sonja Koerner, Judy and Wil Matthews, George E. Myhal, and grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the J.P. Bickell Foundation.

Fresh Ground new works

Harbourfront Centre's National Commissioning Programme

Frequently Asked Questions