The Tontine Awards is a free-spirited initiative that was created to support:
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Creative expression: including literature, film, dance, theatre, visual art, music, cooking, fashion, and any other form of creative expression.
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Women and gender-diverse people
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Community: successful projects will have some element of outreach or emphasis on building community (rather than personal/private consumption)
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The Ottawa-Gatineau region: projects should aim to contribute to the vibrancy of the local area; this means we are a bilingual initiative!
What’s in a name?
The Tontine Award is inspired by women in francophone Africa who support themselves, their families and each other through micro-finance cooperatives known as “tontines.”
Why the Tontine Awards?
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To support local women and gender-diverse people to explore their talents and express their creativity;
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To showcase the diverse perspectives and contributions of local women and the multiplicity of their creative expression;
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To contribute to a vibrant community that embraces the arts and encourages creative pursuits among its members
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To support creative projects that foster connection and strengthen community ties throughout the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
Why a micro-grant arts initiative that specifically supports women and gender-diverse people?
Infusing a city with arts and creativity is good for both individuals and communities and contributes to overall innovation and well-being. We want our community to hear the true diversity of the voices of women and gender-diverse people in the Ottawa-Gatineau region! We believe local women and gender-diverse people in our region have unique contributions and experiences to share with – and enrich – our city. By providing small grants to women and gender-diverse people who may or may not identify as ‘professional’ artists, we are also creating an avenue for supporting grassroots creativity that might not otherwise receive traditional sources of arts funding.