Music in Hamilton

• Government of Canada
• Canadian Revenue Agency: Helping Canadians with the economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Response 
• City of Hamilton COVID-19 Information & Updates: Hamilton Public Health Services (PHS) is taking steps to protect the health and safety of our community by working with our health system partners and Ministry of Health colleagues to ensure we are prepared to respond to this situation as it evolves.
• CBC Arts: Help and support for Canadian artists and freelancers (information regularly updated)
• Music Canada: Online survey for musicians to provide feedback to help Music Canada understand and capture artists’ experience and convey their stories to all levels of government. 

• Government of Canada
• Government of Ontario
• Hamilton COVID-19 Business Continuity & Recovery Information: The City of Hamilton and Chambers of Commerce have created a microsite to provide business resources and information, as well as ways to directly contact City and Chamber staff throughout the pandemic.
• The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is also hosting regular virtual meetings, with live Q & A and information updates.

• If you have equipment or facilities that can be rapidly re-tooled to meet medical needs, including for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks and surgical gowns; and other medical equipment and supplies, The Federal Government wants to hear from you.
• Canadian Live Music Association: Developed a list of resources for the Canadian Live Music Industry/businesses (regularly updated).

• Hamilton Arts Council - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hamilton Arts Council (HAC) presents the Hamilton Artist Relief Fund and Online Performance Series. The Hamilton Artist Relief Fund is focused on raising and distributing emergency relief funds for artists struggling during this difficult time and providing a curated online platform for local artists to present and perform to a virtual audience. 100% of the donations collected for the Relief Fund will be distributed directly to artists in need. 
  • Are you a practicing artist in need of support? Relief funding can be accessed through a simple application form. Please submit your CV and a declaration of artistic projects and earnings lost due to the pandemic. Relief fund amounts start at $100 to a maximum of $1,000 based on individual needs. Apply for relief.
• AFC is accepting applications from people in the entertainment industry to receive financial assistance. Learn more about the criteria and to apply.
• Behind the Scenes Basic Needs Grants provides financial assistance for seriously ill entertainment technology professionals in the U.S. and Canada.
• Canadian Artist + Musician Relief Fund (CAMRF) program will see funds will go directly to the artists to counter any lost income incurred as a result of any cancelled jobs, gigs, and illnesses.
• Canadian Writers’ Emergency Relief Fund is for Canadian writers and visual artists facing lost income due to the pandemic. There is on-going submission deadline.
• CBC Creative Relief Fund to provide $2 million in development and production funding support to Canadian creators spanning over three different streams: innovation stream, playwright pilot stream, and short docs stream.
• CBC and Canada Council for the Arts Digital Originals is a new $1 million fund to help artists, groups and arts organizations pivot their work to online audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Creators can apply for a maximum of $5000 in funding per project, a selection of which will be curated and digitally showcased by CBC/Radio-Canada.
• The Crew Nation Fund is here to help support live music crews who have been directly impacted as shows are put on pause due to COVID-19. Apply for financial assistance from the Crew Nation fund.
• The David Seguin Memorial Award - Promotes accessibility in the arts by providing support to artists with disabilities. The DSMA Special Initiative in Response to COVID-19 will use 2020’s award to provide immediate support to artists with disabilities through $100 micro-grants to artists with disabilities in order to help them cover basic living expenses, such as rent and groceries.
• Encore! A program launched by SOCAN that compensates music creators and publishers for their invaluable work and aims to pay musicians for live online concerts on Facebook and Instagram. In order to qualify for a payment, there are four key requirements artists must meet.
• Facebook Small Business Grants Program for businesses disrupted by the pandemic. The company is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits to keep people employed, help with rent and operational costs, and connect with more customers.
• Glad Day Lit has supported 350 LGBTQ2S artists, performers, and tip-based workers and is planning to support 500.
• Members of the Canadian Federation of Musicians union can also apply for relief from the Petrillo Memorial Fund, which offers assistant to those unable to work due to physical or mental disability (which includes sickness from COVID 19).
• Ontario Creates has added additional deadline dates for their funding programs due to COVID – 19. Opportunities for funding is available in the following areas; Book Fund, (Export) Book Fund, Magazine Fund, IDMF – Global Market, Film Fund – Production and Export Fund (Film & Television). For more information contact Ontario Creates.
• Ontario Live presents: Music Together - Applicants can apply for $1,000 in emergency relief funding to play a livestream show to engage your fans and earn new ones.
• Ownr Grants by RBC Ventures is a newly-established $25,000 fund to help Canadian small business owners get started during these unprecedented times. Individual grants of up to $1,000 each will be awarded to existing businesses that serve or have pivoted to serve the needs of Canadians impacted by COVID-19, or to help new businesses get started.
• Unison COVID-19 Relief Program: The Unison Benevolent Fund and The Slaight Family Foundation have launched the Unison COVID19 Relief Program for those whose work in the Canadian music industry has been impacted and require assistance, please REGISTER for Unison’s services.  Funding will be allocated towards housing costs, medical expenses, and groceries for those in the music industry across Canada. For more information please contact the Unison office
  • Phone 1-855-986-4766, ext. 3
  • Email [email protected].
  • Woodcock Fund Grant is a grant provides emergency funds for writers’ mid-project.

These programs can give artsits assistance developing or modifying business plans or specific elements of their business, as well as help creating or modifying their short and longer-term plans.

• Digital Main Street Program
  NOTE: The eligibility for this program has been changed due to COVID-19 and is NOW open to any business regardless of geographic location or if you have a storefront location. Open to artists/musicians who are looking for advice on developing or improving your current website or digital strategy.
  ​Digital Main Street is a program that seeks to help small businesses across the community improve their adoption of digital technologies, to ensure continued sales and client connections during this time. The primary goal is to provide business owners free guidance, resources, and recommendations on how to translate their physical brand to a digital space. This program is administered locally through the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. The Digital Service Consultant can assist you in adopting and optimizing digital platforms with services such as:
  • Creating a website
  • Improving your current website
  • Social media set-up and strategy
  • Content creation & idea generation
  • Digital Strategy
  • Online advertising & citations
    
    Please contact Danielle at [email protected] to get started.
• Ontario Presents: Offering to host online phone-based meetings free of charge to any Ontario-based artist, agent, presenters, or other art presenting industry professional who needs to host a meeting but does not have the means to do so. Contact [email protected]
• Reach: Reach is offering free 30-minute meetings over the phone for music industry peers struggling with how to generate content to make money in the interim, and exactly what you can still “get done” remotely while we work through this. Contact Vanessa to schedule a meeting.

• Ontario Arts Council: COVID-19 Updates 
• Canada Council for the Arts: Information for Canada Council for the Arts grant recipients and applicants whose funded projects are impacted by COVID-19.
• Ontario Trillium Foundation: An update on OTF customer service supports during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Ontario Creates: (supports musicians, film and writers) Updates on funding programs, tax credits, and other services available.
• The Writers' Union of Canada: Document your economic losses from the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Canadian Heritage Funding (CHF): Information about CHF funding status.

• CBC Music posted a helpful article about how to host a live music event from your home.
• YouTube has many viewer created online tutorials on how to set up a live stream at home.
• Bandzoogle has put together this handy blog about how musicians can ask fans for support during the coronavirus pandemic found.
• I Lost My Gig is a support group on Facebook for folks from various disciplines in the Gig Economy to gather, listen, and share.
• MusicOntario will be reposting various updates, interesting content from the community, streaming events, and other tidbits.
• Music Managers Forum Canada has an incredibly thorough resource page that is constantly updated.
• Worldwide Independent Network has a list of resources for the indie music community across the world.
• Hootsuite’s Guide to Social Media Streaming
• Side Door Access has created a tutorial to help their artists set up livestreams and have posted some live streaming tips
• 6am Group’s Live Streaming Resources 101 includes platform recommendations and links to tutorials https://www.6amgroup.com/live-streaming-resources-101/
• Music BC presents “How-To From Home” - a new virtual industry forum as part of their How-To Series. Videos will be posted to their Facebook page @musicBC
• Virtual Music Events Directory - In response to the early cancellation of Austin's South by Southwest, Brooklyn writer Cherie Hu compiled a Virtual Music Events Directory that aims to help others navigate the various ways to approach live streaming for musicians. 

• Ontario Creates has provided links to a wide selection of online professional development and special interest courses that are offered by a number of industry organizations and government agencies. This list will be updated on a regular basis.
• Hamilton Public Library has an online calendar of virtual programming.

• Over the Bridge: Invites music makers and community members into a Facebook support group. Join the ‘Over the Bridge’ peer support group here.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): Offers Mental Health Resources and Mental Health Tips during COVID-19
• COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team). If you're in crisis or having a hard time, please call COAST at 905-972-8338 or KIDS HELP PHONE at 1-800-668-6868 – open 24/7.
• Unison Benevolent Fund: Has information about how they can help, or you can call 1-855-986-4766 for inquiries to help you deal with the financial or emotional impact of coronavirus.

• Canada Council for the Arts: Information about CCA's cancellation policy.
• CAPACOA is asking you to track cancellations affecting the Canadian live performance sector.
• FACTOR: Information about FACTOR's cancellation policy.
• Ontario Arts Council's policies on COVID-19.
• The Syrup Factory - If you or your team needs help navigating any cancellations at this time, please reach out to Sarah at The Syrup Factory, for assistance, free of charge .

Public Health Organizations are the most trusted sources of information for COVID-19. Please follow their recommendations.

• City of Hamilton Public Health Services (PHS)
• Province of Ontario Ministry of Health
• Public Health Ontario
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• World Health Organization