Photos of hands raised at rock concert, silhouetted against stage lighting.

SOCAN offering travel assistance to help musicians get back on the road

July 18, 2021 Amber Healy 0 Comments

This could be music to many people’s ears: The SOCAN Foundation is once again accepting applications for its Travel Assistance Grant, a popular program that will provide funding to help musicians tour.

“The travel assistance program offers eligible music creators and publishers up to $1,000 for travel per calendar year to attend significant career-defining events in Canada and abroad such as, but not limited to, award presentations, performances, residences, showcases and workshops.”

The program, like everything else in the world, hit a hard pause in March 2020 as the pandemic settled in for its long and unwelcomed stay.

“As the music industry recovers from the pandemic, the travel grant will allow music creators and publishers to access financial support to engage in significant activities that require travel in the future,” explains Charlie Wall-Andrews, the SOCAN Foundation’s executive director. “While this initiative supports music creators, we recognize the importance of responsible travel and we have implemented processes to ensure grant recipients are adhering to travel safety protocols.”

In order to apply for a grant, applicants need to be a SOCAN member in good standing and provide a letter of confirmation or invitation to attend a specific event. Each applicant also must provide a project plan explaining how they will comply with any and all travel safety requirements established by the government of Canada and any applicable international markets.

Maximum grant dispersals are limited to $400 for travel between 201 and 1000 km one way; $600 for travel between 1001 and 2000 km one way; $800 for travel between 2001 and 5000 km each way; and $1,000 for travel in excess of 5000 km each way. Each applicant can only receive one grant per calendar year, and any applicant who successfully applies for and receives a travel assistance grant is no longer eligible for the Professional Development Assistance Program.

Results are provided within 10 weeks of submitting an application.

There is an ongoing deadline for applications and more information on the program is available here.