July 20th, 2020 - The 2020 Community Arts Investment Program online submission process opened to London arts organizations, professional artists, and artist collectives on December 2nd, 2019.  Three information sessions were held in January 2020; two for professional artists and artist collectives and one for arts organizations.  Those planning on making submissions were asked to consult with London Arts Council Staff regarding their intended proposal.  These consultation requests were submitted by email to investment@londonarts.ca. 

Email requests were monitored by all members of the London Arts Council team.  Consultation requests were answered by the individual team member of the Arts Council with the appropriate background and knowledge in a specific discipline (film/media, literature, music, performance, and visual art).  The deadline for submissions was Friday, February 21st, 2020 at 4:00pm. 

​

The process of preparing approximately 130 submissions for jury review began.  Three weeks later on Friday, March 13th, 2020 the province and the country called for the emergency closure of all non-essential businesses, services, organizations, activities, and venues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

As emergency measures continued into April and were being forecast into the summer and possibly beyond, it was clear that not all submissions received would be able to move forward as proposed under the imposed restrictions of the province and country. Submissions that include performing artists or arts organizations renting venues or studios and/or holding public gatherings, projects requiring research conducted in public venues, and exhibitions in public venues were no longer possible.  

​

London Arts Council Staff consulted with Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council regarding any changes to their grant administration process in response to the pandemic. At the time of consultation, the Canada Council for the Arts moved to make investments to Core funded organizations. Ontario Arts Council moved to make investments in Operating funded organizations. These investments were made based on the OAC’s 2019 juried investment decisions. 

​

The London Arts Council provided emergency funding to the CAIP Development Acceleration Stream 2019 recipients https://www.londonarts.ca/development-acceleration-stream. At the request of the LAC, these organizations began attending weekly meetings to assist with COVID 19 information gathering/reporting and impact analysis.

​

On April 29th, the London Arts Council Board of Directors met to review options for proceeding with the Community Arts Investment Program - Annual, Professional Artist, and Artist Collective Streams. The process for jurying the Annual, Professional Artist and Artist Collective Streams consider all submissions received, as per their specific arts discipline, which includes research, creation, and production.

 

The following directives were made:

1. LAC Staff were to suspend the peer jury evaluation of 2020 submissions and defer the process to remain fair and equitable to all.

2. LAC Staff were to monitor all federal, provincial, and municipal health directives. Once directives changed the program would resume, applicants would update their submissions to reflect any changes required based on COVID 19. Updated submissions would then move to jury review.

3. LAC Staff were to identify all juried arts organizations supported through the 2019 Annual Stream who currently have both paid artistic staff and a venue (owned or operated) in order to identify and support urgent need.

 

London Arts Council timeline CAIP updates:

May 12th, 2020 – a notification via direct email was sent to professional artists, artist collectives and arts organizations that the program process had been suspended. A notification would be sent when the process re-opened and updates could be submitted for presentation to the jury.

​

May/June 2020 - the LAC Staff identified and held meetings with three arts organizations from the Annual Stream who currently have both paid artistic staff and a venue (owned or operated) in order to identify and support urgent need, as per LAC Board direction. These organizations include Forest City Film Festival, Forest City Gallery, and London Potters Guild/London Clay Art Centre. Investments were made on July 14th, 2020 based on the funding amount received in 2019. 

​

June 9th, 2020 – a direct email was sent to professional artists, artist collectives and arts organizations as the Province initiated phased reopening and restrictions began to ease.  This email provided a link to a COVID-19 update form with a submission deadline of June 19th for Professional Artists and Artist Collectives and June 23rd for Arts Organizations.

The form provided applicants with the following options:

1. Provide an update to the jury of any changes to their submission due to COVID19 (dates, venues, marketing plans and proposed budget if necessary)

2. Present their original submission to the jury with no changes

3. Withdraw their submission from the jury process

 

July 21st, 2020 – a notification via direct email was sent to professional artists, artist collectives and arts organizations that submissions are now moving to the jury review process. The process for jurying will take approximately 4 weeks. Our goal is to have final notifications sent by the end of August 2020.

​

UPDATE August 31st, 2020 -  The jury process has been completed for the following disclines: literature, dance, theatre, music and film.  Notifications will be sent out this week. The jury process for visual arts will be completed in the next week with notifications to follow shortly thereafter. 

 

Please contact investment@londonarts.ca if you have any questions regarding your submission.

​