With the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts, The Writers’ Union of Canada funds in-person or virtual public author readings across Canada.
Please note that in-person readings must follow all local public health restrictions. The Union does not in any way encourage public gatherings outside of personal comfort and public guidelines. National Public Readings funding is provided to encourage public engagement of literary work, and is in no way an endorsement of opinions or activity of anyone accessing the funding. Please read the information below carefully before applying.
Applications for readings taking place between September 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024, are now closed. Applications for Spring/Summer readings will open in January 2024.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
Author Eligibility
- Authors participating in this program must be members of the Union (whether the event has a host organization or is self-hosted by the author).
- Each member is eligible for up to two full readings or four partial readings, or any combination equivalent to two full readings, each fiscal year (April 1 – March 31). Of these readings, only one can be a self-hosted virtual event.
Host Eligibility
- Host organizations are eligible for funding for two full readings or four partial readings, or any combination equivalent to two full readings, each fiscal year (April 1 – March 31).
Please note that applications usually exceed available funding and it may not be possible to fund all applications. Do not submit more applications than you are eligible for.
Author Eligibility
- Authors participating in this program must be members of the Union (whether the event has a host organization or is self-hosted by the author).
- Each member is eligible for up to two full readings or four partial readings, or any combination equivalent to two full readings, each fiscal year (April 1 – March 31). Of these readings, only one can be a self-hosted virtual event.
Host Eligibility
- Host organizations are eligible for funding for two full readings or four partial readings, or any combination equivalent to two full readings, each fiscal year (April 1 – March 31).
Please note that applications usually exceed available funding and it may not be possible to fund all applications. Do not submit more applications than you are eligible for.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Host organizations and authors may apply for funding for in-person or virtual readings. In this program, we refer to full and partial readings:
- A full reading includes a minimum of 15 minutes of reading time per author, excluding additional time for discussion or questions.
- A partial reading involves more than one author and includes 5–15 minutes of reading time per author, excluding additional time for discussion or questions.
Host organizations must arrange a date for the reading with the author(s) before applying for funding. There are two ways to contact authors:
- Use the Member Directory to check the author’s profile for an email address or phone number.
- Send an email to the author care of The Writers’ Union of Canada to info@writersunion.ca.
Please note that author contact information is intended for the purposes of booking only. Please respect authors’ privacy.
Host organizations and authors may apply for funding for in-person or virtual readings. In this program, we refer to full and partial readings:
- A full reading includes a minimum of 15 minutes of reading time per author, excluding additional time for discussion or questions.
- A partial reading involves more than one author and includes 5–15 minutes of reading time per author, excluding additional time for discussion or questions.
Host organizations must arrange a date for the reading with the author(s) before applying for funding. There are two ways to contact authors:
- Use the Member Directory to check the author’s profile for an email address or phone number.
- Send an email to the author care of The Writers’ Union of Canada to info@writersunion.ca.
Please note that author contact information is intended for the purposes of booking only. Please respect authors’ privacy.
AUTHOR READING RATES
The Union pays the author’s reading rates directly to the author as follows:
- For a full reading, we pay a reading rate of $300.
- For a partial reading, we pay a reading rate of $150.
The Union pays the reading rates directly to the author following the successful completion of the event and receipt of the author’s Final Reading Report.
Please note that funding for this program is non-transferable, due to large demand on the Union's funding programs.
The Union pays the author’s reading rates directly to the author as follows:
- For a full reading, we pay a reading rate of $300.
- For a partial reading, we pay a reading rate of $150.
The Union pays the reading rates directly to the author following the successful completion of the event and receipt of the author’s Final Reading Report.
Please note that funding for this program is non-transferable, due to large demand on the Union's funding programs.
TRAVEL
Travel expenses are available for readings taking place more than 100km from the author's home to a maximum of $100. TWUC travel contribution is capped in order to maximize the number of readings available for members. Copies of travel expense receipts (with the exception of mileage for which no receipt is required) will need to be uploaded when completing the online Final Reading Report.
Travel expenses are available for readings taking place more than 100km from the author's home to a maximum of $100. TWUC travel contribution is capped in order to maximize the number of readings available for members. Copies of travel expense receipts (with the exception of mileage for which no receipt is required) will need to be uploaded when completing the online Final Reading Report.
EVENT ELIGIBILITY
Eligible Events
In order to be eligible for funding through this program:
- Participating author(s) must be Union member(s).
- Virtual reading(s) must take place on a publicly accessible platform (e.g., Facebook Live, GoogleMeet, YouTube, Zoom) and must include audio and video.
- Readings must be advertised to the public in advance and acknowledge funding support from The Writers' Union of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts.
- Attendance numbers and book sales must be provided as part of the Final Reading Report.
- Final Reports must include copies of promotional materials.
Ineligible Events
The following events, activities, and hosts are not eligible for funding through this program:
- Conferences, workshops, roundtable discussions, fundraising events, book prizes, or podcasts.
- School or classroom visits are not eligible.
- Readings for which reading fees are funded by another program of the Canada Council for the Arts.
- For host organization applicants: Readings by authors who sit on a board or executive committee of the host organization for the period during which the host organization has applied for and received funding.
- For host organization applicants: Readings by authors who are staff or volunteers with the host organization.
- For host organization applicants: Readings hosted by publishers.
Eligible Events
In order to be eligible for funding through this program:
- Participating author(s) must be Union member(s).
- Virtual reading(s) must take place on a publicly accessible platform (e.g., Facebook Live, GoogleMeet, YouTube, Zoom) and must include audio and video.
- Readings must be advertised to the public in advance and acknowledge funding support from The Writers' Union of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts.
- Attendance numbers and book sales must be provided as part of the Final Reading Report.
- Final Reports must include copies of promotional materials.
Ineligible Events
The following events, activities, and hosts are not eligible for funding through this program:
- Conferences, workshops, roundtable discussions, fundraising events, book prizes, or podcasts.
- School or classroom visits are not eligible.
- Readings for which reading fees are funded by another program of the Canada Council for the Arts.
- For host organization applicants: Readings by authors who sit on a board or executive committee of the host organization for the period during which the host organization has applied for and received funding.
- For host organization applicants: Readings by authors who are staff or volunteers with the host organization.
- For host organization applicants: Readings hosted by publishers.
ACCESSIBILITY
We encourage you to consider presenter and audience access needs as you plan your virtual or in-person events (e.g., closed captioning, ASL interpretation). We also encourage you to make accessibility information available to your audience as part of your promotional materials. In-person events held in fully accessible venues will be prioritized. To ensure your application is prioritized, submit by the appropriate session deadline.
For equity and accessibility purpose, TWUC encourages in-person events to include a hybrid attendance option.
We encourage you to consider presenter and audience access needs as you plan your virtual or in-person events (e.g., closed captioning, ASL interpretation). We also encourage you to make accessibility information available to your audience as part of your promotional materials. In-person events held in fully accessible venues will be prioritized. To ensure your application is prioritized, submit by the appropriate session deadline.
For equity and accessibility purpose, TWUC encourages in-person events to include a hybrid attendance option.
EQUITY INITIATIVE
As part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, a portion of funding will be allocated to applications for readings by members who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability.
As part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, a portion of funding will be allocated to applications for readings by members who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
As part of this program, readings must be advertised to the community at large. Copies of advertisements and promotional materials must be submitted to the Union with your Final Reading Report (e.g., screenshots of digital promotion/event pages, PDFs of posters). All publicity materials must acknowledge the financial assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts through The Writers’ Union of Canada. Click here to access logos.
As part of this program, readings must be advertised to the community at large. Copies of advertisements and promotional materials must be submitted to the Union with your Final Reading Report (e.g., screenshots of digital promotion/event pages, PDFs of posters). All publicity materials must acknowledge the financial assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts through The Writers’ Union of Canada. Click here to access logos.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are now closed.
Applications are now closed.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about this program, please contact the TWUC office at kcuenca@writersunion.ca.
This program is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts.
For more information about this program, please contact the TWUC office at kcuenca@writersunion.ca.
This program is funded by the Canada Council for the Arts.
