Setting the Stage is a pilot program that will provide up to 10 micro grants of up to $3000 CAD each to CLMA members who are independent live music venues, promoters or festivals, to support (at least) one live performance and direct mentorship of a local, emerging artist(s). The goals of the program include:

1. to create enhanced opportunities for an emerging artist(s) through live performance and dedicated mentorship,

2. to offset risk for venues/promoters/festivals, and

3. to encourage fans to discover and engage with a new artist(s).

The program will help to address the market challenges that persist in some areas of the live music ecosystem, challenges that are directly impacting live music venues, and challenges emerging artists’ face as they try to grow their careers.

Setting the Stage is open to CLMA members from anywhere in Canada and who are independent Canadian live music venues, are an independent concert promotion company, or a festival who have been in operation for a minimum of two years. 

• If you are a promoter/festival, you must work with a CLMA venue member. Applications which do not take place in a CLMA-member music venue "whose core business is facilitating the live performance of artists and musicians for audiences" are ineligible. 

• Applicants who seek to provide equal opportunity in the workplace regardless of identity and have a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and anti-harassment, with policies in place will be prioritized.

• Each eligible organization is entitled to one (1) application in total, including where an applicant owns/operates more than one venue. 

About the artist(s): applicants will be asked to describe why they have chosen the emerging artist(s) they are applying to present and mentor. The selected artist(s) will be required to complete a section of the application. We know you support emerging artists and always have. This work is more important than ever today.

• An emerging artist is someone in the early stage of their career, who has yet to establish themselves broadly within the music industry.

• Artists are Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents, or people who lived all or most of their lives in Canada.

Live show: applicants will be asked to provide a show budget and marketing plan. Chosen artist(s) must be contracted at no less than union scale or higher. For promoter/festival applications, performances must take place in existing CLMA member venues. Venues can join the CLMA to become eligible and/or to apply.

A list of CLMA members can be found here.

Mentorship: an integral component of the Setting the Stage program, a commitment of a minimum of 2hrs of direct (one-on-one/in-person) mentorship with the emerging artist(s) is required. Venues, promoters and festivals have extensive knowledge and can help artists with their career development and guide them on how to build relationships across the industry. Successful applicants will also be required to make (no less than) two formal introductions to other senior/impactful leaders in the industry, connecting the emerging artist(s) directly to them. Up to $500 of the grant can be allocated to the mentor (applicant) for their time. The mentorship aspect of this program is equal to the performance opportunity and should be fully considered in the application. Topics of discussion can be determined between the artist and mentor. Some ideas include (but are not limited to): tour routing, budgeting a concert, digital promotion, strategies for audience growth, event production, and showcase strategy.

The proposed concert can be a new or pre-existing booking.

Applicants may request up to 75% of expenses involved in artist fees, production and promotion of the concert, including a mentorship honorarium of $500. 

The applicant is entitled to combine multiple revenue sources, however no other potential partner shall have the same or more brand awareness as compared to RBC and the CLMA with respect to the concert, unless such partner’s name is part of the name of the venue itself. Successful applicants who are offered, and subsequently accept the Setting the Stage grant shall sign and adhere to all requirements found in “the AGREEMENT”. Successful applicants agree to file a fully completed final report (including any and all requesting accompanying documentation, such as expense invoices and proof of payment) as per the agreement.

Applicants will be evaluated by an internal committee of CLMA staff, who seek to ensure that successful applications reflect the spirit of the program which is to create key performance and mentorship opportunities for emerging artists, while supporting independent venues. 

Collaboration is encouraged between artists, promoters, venues, festivals etc., and should be outlined in your application. Only one application per venue/promoter/festival (or collaboration). 

Successful applicants will be members from a range of geographic locations across Canada, who demonstrate their commitment to creating opportunities for emerging artists who may also be emerging racialized and/or gender diverse artists.

Successful recipients will receive 50% of the award upon notice of success and 50% following the submission and approval of a final report.  The final report includes two parts, “narrative” and “budget”. Completion of the final report, and subsequent verification from the CLMA that conditions have been met, is required in order to release the final payment. Recipients may be required to provide proof of payment (invoices and receipts). Aggregated report data from recipients will help the CLMA to build future programs and should be considered an equally important part of the overall program.