Catalyst and Innovations FAQ

The following questions and answers refer to the Catalyst and Innovations funding programs from 2010 Legacies Now.

Can I fax or e-mail my application form?

We do not accept faxed or e-mailed application forms. A hard copy of the completed application needs to arrive at our office by 5 p.m. on the day of the deadline.

What happens to my application once I have sent it?

Providing a hard copy of your application arrives by 5 p.m. on the day of the deadline, your application will be evaluated for eligibility and then processed.

Your documents will be sent to an advisory panel for assessment.

If your application does not arrive by 5 p.m. on the day of the deadline, it will be returned to you unopened.

How can I check if my application has been received?

Due to the large number of applications we receive, and in order to process applications quickly, we are not able to confirm receipt of applications over the telephone or by e-mail.

Two weeks following each deadline, a list of the applications received will be placed on our website (inclusion on this list does not necessarily mean the application is eligible).

If you have proof (courier way-bill, registered mail, etc.) that you have sent in an application and you are not on the list, please contact us at 778-327-5160.

Can I call or e-mail to request information regarding the outcome of our application?

No. We will not release any information by phone or e-mail.

When will I be notified of the outcome of our application?

Approximately three months after the application has been received you will receive a letter outlining the outcome of the assessment. At approximately the same time a list of projects accepted for contributions will be posted on our website.

We will not provide information regarding the assessment over the phone or by e-mail prior to the delivery of official notifications by mail.

If I am successful, what happens next?

Initially, you will be sent a letter advising you of your success and an Acceptance of Contribution form. You will need to sign the form and indicate whether or not you can carry out the project with the money you have been awarded.

Once you accept the contribution we will process a Contribution Agreement between 2010 Legacies Now and your organization. Upon receipt of a signed copy of the Contribution Agreement from you, we will send out a cheque for up to 80 per cent of the funding promised. Some agreements may have different payment schedules.

Within 60 days of completing your project, you need to fill out and send 2010 Legacies Now a final report and final financial statement. When these documents have been received and accepted, we will send you the remaining contribution.

If I am unsuccessful, how do I get feedback?

Requests for feedback will be accepted in writing within 30 days of the notification being received. Please refer to the Guidelines for Receiving Feedback included with your letter.

Is it possible for applicants to appeal? If no, why not?

No, applicants cannot appeal the decision since decisions are reached with the advisory panel and the panel members cannot be brought together again to evaluate appeals.

Decisions are affected by the makeup of the panel and their understanding of the priorities and outcomes of the programs, and will vary depending on the individuals brought together.

2010 Legacies Now staff members, however, are available to discuss unsuccessful applications in detail.

What is your assessment process?

Applications are first internally evaluated to determine general eligibility. i.e., Is the applicant an organization or individual? Is the initiative retroactive? etc. Then copies of the eligible applications are sent to advisory panel members along with the guidelines and priorities for each program.

An advisory panel meets over a three to four day period to discuss the applications and determine which ones should receive funds. Decisions are based on the program criteria and priorities, as well as geographical and cultural distribution of the programs. The panel then recommends an amount of money for each project.

How do you select members of your advisory panel?

Advisory panels are comprised of individuals with expertise in particular artistic disciplines, communities, and cultural industries. They are chosen to ensure balanced representation based on the makeup of the applications received.

When selecting advisory panel members, 2010 Legacies Now considers broad professional knowledge, expertise, geographical representation and diverse aesthetic, institutional, and cultural viewpoints.

Fair-mindedness and the ability to evaluate are also taken into account. Advisory panel members’ bios are posted on the website after the process is complete.

Are you bound by the recommendations of your Advisory Panel? If not, what process do you follow to make your final decision on funding?

While we are not bound by the recommendations of the advisory panel, we have the deepest trust in the panel’s ability to reach fair decisions within the program guidelines and priorities.

We take the recommendations and make sure that all programs are eligible and that any conditions set out by the panel (matching funds confirmed, identification of key consultants, more developed work plans, etc) are met.

What happens if I was denied funding in this round? Is it possible to reapply?

If you are not successful, you will receive a letter providing information on why you were not successful. If you would like to reapply, you should:

Review specific Guidelines for Receiving Feedback included with your letter
Contact 2010 Legacies Now staff if you need more information at ArtsNow(at)2010LegaciesNow.com or 778-327-5160
Ensure all feedback provided on the original application is taken into consideration when preparing the new application
Ensure the new application adheres to any new program guidelines available on our website
Consider whether the project is still far enough in the future that it will not be considered retroactive

When are the next application deadlines?

The next Innovations and Catalyst deadlines are as follows:

Innovations – September 28, 2007
Catalyst – June 16, 2008
Innovations – September 29, 2008
Catalyst – June 15, 2009
Innovations – September 28, 2009

I can't open the PDF or the document appears blank on my screen?

Files in PDF format require the latest version of Acrobat PDF Reader. Sometimes certain browsers and Acrobat versions do not "play well together," resulting in blank pages.

If downloading the latest version does not work then try saving the files onto your computer and opening the downloaded copy of the file.

To download the file, Windows users please right-click (Mac users please hold down the mouse button) on the link to the PDF file, and then choose Save Target As from the pop-up menu.

What projects have received funding through Catalyst or Innovations?

View list of funding recipients.

How do I get more information?

Please contact us at ArtsNow(at)2010legaciesnow.com or at 778-327-5160.