Queer and Trans artists are invited to apply for

Unison Live workers Fund

The Government of Canada recently announced the Unison Fund as a recipient of the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund. Unison provides financial and mental health assistance and will use this funding to help live music professionals via their new funding stream, the Live Music Workers Fund.

The International Day of Pink and the Unison Fund are proud to support each other to help queer and trans artists (in music industry spaces) with financial support following the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes folks who are: drag performers, music artists (singer/songwriters), and those affiliated with performers (such as: booking agents, composers, producers, and retailers (costume, make-up, wigs…).

The application process is EASY and will take about 20-50 minutes, depending on if you have your artistic/performance resume/biography complete.

Eligible applicants who provide a complete application may receive $2500 of financial support.

We also encourage queer and trans performers to sign up to our mailing list for 2SLGBTQIA+ artists to be informed of funding updates and other opportunities. CLICK HERE

Please apply by following this step-by-Step Guide:

  1. READ the Frequently Asked Questions and watch the instructional video (video to be launched July 2023)

  2. Click here to Create an Account: https://unison.smartsimple.ca/s_Login.jsp

    1. You will need: to be Eligible by Identifying as part of the Canadian Music Industry


      NOTE: If you are located in Québec, you need to apply with Fondation des artistes

    2. Provide Contact information (name, email, phone, & address)

    3. Provide Statistical information about (Indigeneity, Ethnicity, Language, Differently abled, Sexual Orientation, & Gender Identity)

    4. Once you submit, you will get an email to then verify your account and set up a password.

  3. Now, log in (https://unison.smartsimple.ca/s_Login.jsp) to your account using your email and password.

  4. Under Applications, SELECT ‘Funding Opportunities’

    1. Select Live Music Workers Fund if you are a performer, promoter or technician (full list on the FAQs)

      OR


      Select Industry Assistance Fund if you are a Retailer, Publicist or Recording Engineer (full list FAQs)


      NOTE: Both application are similar, so keep following the instructions.

  5. Once you have selected a Fund, Submit Your Eligibility by:

    1. Identifying as NOT a resident of Québec

    2. Identifying as Self-Employed

    3. Selecting your occupation
      NOTE: Sub-categories like ‘drag’ or ‘singer’ fall under ‘Artist’. Sub-categories like ‘drummer’ or ‘pianist’ full under ‘Musician’). Should you wish, if you cannot see your type (such as Wig stylist) select Other and write it in.

    4. Sharing your years in the Canadian Music Industry.
      NOTE: You must report that you have been in the industry for 2+ years and earned at least 55% or more of your income from the industry.

  6. You will then be returned to the Contact Information. Now, SELECT ‘Application’ to complete your application. Here you will need to :

    1. UPLOAD a copy of a valid piece of provincial or federal photo identification (i.e., Driver’s License, Health Card or Passport).

    2. UPLOAD a brief outline of work history by uploading a current resume, CV, bio or letter of employment.


      NOTE: Click here for a Sample Resume & Biography that you can edit.
      HINT: This doesn’t need to be long, but it should provide the team with enough information to understand your work.

    3. WRITE IN any additional information. This is not mandatory but could include more information about your artistic work.

    4. WRITE IN selections of professional music-related social media accounts, websites, articles, tours/shows.

    5. WRITE IN the names and contact details of two references.
      NOTE: This can include bars you have performed at or other performers. If you need a second reference, you may use Sarah from the Day of Pink with email: info@dayofpink.org

    6. WRITE IN the names of other organizations you have approached for funding to help you through your current situation. If you haven't approached any other organizations, please enter "N/A".

    7. WRITE IN Why you’re applying for assistance and what your most essential needs are.
      NOTE: This can include paying rent or groceries. The grant ONLY provides financial assistance for personal expenditures but does not fund business activities.

    8. SUBMIT your application by selecting the button below.

  7. Next, just wait, and the team will be in touch with you soon :)

    1. You can now return to the homepage of the portal. The “Under Review” tab will have your submitted application.

    2. You will receive a confirmation email within an hour acknowledging that Unison has received your application. Please see the attached PDF for a summary of the information you submitted.

    3. Unison team will review your application and provide you with a response outlining the next steps as soon as possible.

If you have questions, please check the Frequently Asked Questions page. For technical and accessibility-related questions, please reach out to 416-479-0675 ext. 106 or assistance@unisonfund.ca.

If you have additional questions about your application, use the Notes section within the application portal to send notes to the Unison team.

  1. From the home page, click on the “Funding Opportunities” tab. If your application has been started, click on the “In Progress” tab

  2. Click the program you want to apply to, then click “Open”

  3. Look for “Notes” located in the left sidebar

  4. Look for the note type, and select “Note To Unison Fund”

  5. Click the + sign, type a message and save.


    Please also use this section to check for responses from the Unison team.

 

This program is generously funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the Unison Fund.