Hosting 10-15 artists, collectives and companies per year, Alliance is a unique support program conceived for artists from all fields who encounter systemic and structural obstacles. The program strives to eliminate barriers to their full participation in the arts by offering customized financial allocations and guidance that are adapted to the learning and creative needs and desires of each participant.
The program is especially geared to artists in the early stages of their careers, recently immigrated artists, as well as artists aged 55 years and older.
MAI invites proposals from racialized artists (including recently immigrated artists), Indigenous artists (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), Deaf artists and artists living with disabilities or chronical diseases, neurodiverse or differently-abled artists, and/or artists who are members of 2SLGBTQQIPAA+ communities.
image: Thaïla Kampo
One program, two streams
The Alliance program is designed to adjust to artists’ individual needs. Candidates build their structure by describing one or many services they wish to work with. Accepted candidates receive an allocation to cover their requested services.
Artists can apply to one of the two streams within the Alliance program: Stream 1 or Stream 2.
Stream 1
The Stream 1 is best suited to artists who wish to take a multi-dimensional approach to advance their practice. A bigger budget, $8,000, allows the participants to pursue multiple services.
Also, the participants receives a basic support that includes:
-guidance and project coordination support from the Artistic Engagement Coordinator
– opportunities for collective reflection and exchange with the artists from the 25.26 Alliance Cohort
– access to the two MAI’s rehearsal studios (80 hours maximum)
We invites invites proposals from Indigenous artists (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), racialised artists (including recent immigrants), members of the 2SLGBTQQIPAA+ communities and/or Deaf, neuro-diverse, as well as artists living with disabilities and/or chronic disability.
All applicants must reside in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal (this applies to individuals as well as members of a collective). If applying on behalf of a legally constituted artistic company, the organization must be established in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal. To be eligible, applicants must also be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. In the case of a collective, at least one member must meet this requirement.
Toolbox
- Call for project- Stream 1 (PDF)
- Funding Guidelines (PDF)
Deadline to submit for Alliance 2025-2026: July 31st 2025 at 11:59PM
Stream 2
The Stream 2 is ideal for artists/collectives/companies who want to take a more focused approach to their artistic needs and creativity. A smaller budget, $2,000, allows the participants to pursue one, two, or three services.
Also, the participants receives a basic support that includes:
-guidance and project coordination support from the Artistic Engagement
Coordinator
-opportunities for collective reflection and exchange with the artists from
the 25.26 Alliance Cohort
-access to the two MAI’s rehearsal studios (80 hours maximum)
We invites invites proposals from Indigenous artists (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit), racialised artists (including recent immigrants), members of the 2SLGBTQQIPAA+ communities and/or Deaf, neuro-diverse, as well as artists living with disabilities and/or chronic disability.
All applicants must reside in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal (this applies to individuals as well as members of a collective). If applying on behalf of a legally constituted artistic company, the organization must be established in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal. To be eligible, applicants must also be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. In the case of a collective, at least one member must meet this requirement.
Toolbox
- Call for project- Stream 2 (PDF)
- Funding Guidelines (PDF)