Capacity Building Funding - Canadian Association for the Performing Arts

PCBP: Presenters Capacity Building Program for Members of CAPACOA and RIDEAU

Facilitating and promoting professional development

Since its creation in 2013, the PCBP has supported 159 projects, 94 of these coming from CAPACOA members.

Professional development is key to helping presenters improve their audience outreach efforts, build capacity and manage change. In order to help best support those efforts, RIDEAU and CAPACOA are pleased to announce the renewal of the: Presenters Capacity Building Program (PCBP), a funding program that provides the presenting community with access to better professional development tools.

Program Objectives

Promote the sharing of expertise within networks
Provide support to presenting organizations for targeted capacity building projects, professional development and change management
Contribute to the professionalization of the presenting sector
Help presenting organizations achieve their goals more effectively

Program Description

The program gives presenting organizations access to resources which can help build capacity. It is divided into three components:

Organizational consultation – Organizations can apply for funds to hire consultants or specialists to assist them in capacity building and change management research and planning activities either in person or online. This may take the form of coaching.
Mentoring – Organizations can apply for funds to enroll their managers in a mentorship with a presenting organization manager.
Professional development – Organizations can submit an application to attend professional development workshops or seminars directly related to the organization’s specific capacity building needs. This is primarily intended for senior managers of presenting organizations. These can be done in person or online.

Organizations can also submit joint applications in collaboration with others (two or more). Presenter support organizations (presenting networks) are eligible as part of a collaboration in partnership with presenting organizations. Each applicant in a joint application must be a member of CAPACOA and/or RIDEAU.

Eligibility Reminders:

In order to be eligible, your presenting organization must be a member of RIDEAU or CAPACOA for 2 years (ie: the current membership year and the membership year prior).

Please note: Organizations that received financial assistance under the 2025-2026 Presenters Capacity Building Program are not eligible to apply for the 2026-27 edition.

Program Timeline

THE 2026-2027 APPLICATION PERIOD IS OPEN NOW!
Deadline to submit an application to the 2026-2027 edition: September 18, 2026.
Announcement of the projects selected will be November 2026.
The realization of the projects will be from November 2026 to May 2027.
The 2026-2027 final reports will be due May 31, 2027.

Program Guidelines

PCBP Application – (This new google form process allows applicants to save information in the form as they go. An editable application link will be sent to your associated email after clicking “Submit” at any point in the application process. You may return to the application at your convenience.)

PCBP Application Budget Form – (After opening this link, you may select “File” and “Download” a copy of the Word document to your computer to complete the form.)

Organizations who have received support for the 2025-2026 edition of the PCBP:

Festival Quartiers Danses (FQD)
Harbourfront Theatre
Hector Charland
Lawrence O’Brien Arts Centre
Manitoba Arts Network
Ottawa Fringe
Productions Salle Comble
Public Energy Performing Arts
PuSh Festival
Réseau SPARC Network
Small World Music
Théâtre Capitol Theatre
Théâtre du Marais
Under the Spire
Vancouver International Children’s Festival
Village en Chanson

Organizations who have received support for the 2024-2025 edition of the PCBP:

Canadian Stage
Centre culturel Juliette-Lassonde
CITT (The Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology)
Comité spectacles Dolbeau-Mistassini
Côté-Cour
Fredericton PlayhouseCentre culturel Kabir
Le Rift
Luminato
Odyscène
Réseau grands espaces
Réseau Petits Bonheurs
SPEC du Haut-Richelieu
Summerworks
Théâtre Desjardins
Théâtre du Lac-Brome

Organizations who have received support for the 2023-2024 edition of the PCBP:

Centre culturel Kabir
Chapelle du rang 1
Corporation du Bedeau
Diffusion en Scène
Espace le vrai monde?
Femmes du Feu Creations
Festival de la Chanson de Tadoussac
Folk on the Rocks
Fringe North
Mission Folk Music Festival
Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
O.Dela Arts
Ottawa Chamberfest
Regroupement artistique francophone de l’Alberta (RAFA)
Regroupement des festivals regionaux artistiques independants
Small World Music
Under the Spire Music Festival

Organizations who have received support for the 2022-2023 edition of the PCBP:

Arts Network Ottawa & Ottawa Arts Council
Centre des arts Juliette-Lassonde
Corporation Hector-Charland
Coup de coeur francophone
Culture Trois-Rivières
Vieux Couvent de Saint-Prime
Diffusion Momentum
Diffusion Saguenay
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Island Mountain Arts
Kings Playhouse
La Chapelle Spectacles
monstrARTity Creative Community
Muni-Spec Mont-Laurier
Ottawa Fringe Festival
SPARC

Organizations who have received support for the 2021 – 2022 edition of the PCBP:

Arts de la Scène de Montmagny
Chester Playhouse
Diffusion Avant-Scène
Espace Côté-Cour
Fredericton Playhouse
Home Routes
Island Arts Cultural Centre
Manitoba Arts Network
Mission Folk Festival Society
Prairie Debut
Rencontre Théâtre Ados
Théâtre Desjardins
VALSPEC
Vieux Couvent de Saint-Prime
Village en chanson de Petite-Vallée

Organizations who have received support for the 2020 – 2021 edition of the PCBP:

Arts Commons
Association franco-culturelle de Yellowknife
CanDance Network
Canadian Live Music Association
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Full Circle
Indian River Festival
King’s Playhouse
King’s Theatre
MT Space
Ontario Presents
Ottawa Fringe
Regroupement artistique francophone de l’Alberta
Small World Music
Springboard Dance Collective Society
Vancouver New Music

Comments from past edition recipients

The staff and board were involved in the development of a comprehensive marketing strategy that incorporates traditional methods but also social media. We have agreed on a much more concise branding architecture. While the long term impact of the project will take time to assess, staff and Board certainly feel empowered to enact changes and have begun the process already.
Klondike Institute of Art and Culture

The impact of this training is to greatly improve the revenue-generating ability of Public Energy in the private sector. This will go a long way toward maintaining the organization’s programming in the face of reduced public sector funding.
Public Energy

This Strategic Planning Session was crucial for our organization at this time. We are facing financial challenges and impending replacement of long-term staff. Both big challenges for an organization of our size with a Board which is geographically so far apart.
Prairie Debut