Funding Author Visits

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Catherine Austen

Interested in one of my Author Presentations or Writing Workshops? Good news! Financial assistance for author visits is available throughout Canada, thanks to the generous support of our governments working with the literary non-profit community.

A couple of key funding programs have looming deadlines — so if you would like to invite me or another author into your school, library, or public venue for a presentation or writing workshop next year, check out these potential sources of financial assistance, and apply soon.

If you are in an Ontario school, you can get financial assistance for an author visit through the Writers in the Schools Program administered by the Writers’ Union of Canada. (Visiting authors must be WUC members.) Applications for Fall and Winter sessions are being accepted now, until June 14th.
If you’re in a Northern Ontario school, assistance to help fund transportation, accommodation, and multiple school visits may be available through the Writers in the Schools Northern Ontario Program. (Visiting authors must be WUC members.) Applications are accepted now through January 15th.
If you’re in Quebec at an elementary or secondary school, you can get funding for an author visit through the Culture in the Schools program of the Quebec Ministry of Education. (Visiting authors must be listed in the Ministry’s Répertoire des ressources culture-éducation.) Applications must be submitted in advance, generally in early fall.
If you’re in Quebec, you can get full funding of author visits — up to $1500 per school per year — from a new federal program, ArtistsInspire. Applying is easy, and you won’t be turned down. There is honestly a pot of $1500 awaiting every school that asks for it. So ask. Applications for events taking place before the end of March 2020 must be submitted by December 14th.
If you’re at a Quebec CEGEP, apply for funding through the Writers in CEGEPs Program administered by the Quebec Writers’ Federation. Applications must be submitted at least one month before the scheduled visit.
If you’d like a visit to your library, bookstore, or other non-school venue anywhere in Canada, funding assistance could be available from the Canada Council for the Arts through the National Public Readings Program administered by the Writers’ Union of Canada. Applications for Fall and Winter sessions will be accepted from May 23-July 15.

Wherever you may be, if you want me to come join you for an hour or a day, feel free to contact me to arrange a workshop or presentation. Check out my Workshops page for more information.