CANCOM’S Mission
To bolster the artistic expression of independent comedy artists in reaching unique audiences and the creation of Canadian comedy intellectual property (IP) for presentation and distribution in Canada and the global digital market.
CANCOM’S Purpose
CANCOM stimulates the creation of Canadian comedy at all critical junctures of comedy artists’ creative expression and the production of exceptional Canadian comedy IP. CANCOM’s support and programs will enable comedy artists to explore their independent, (commercial or non-commercial) creative journey, as well as make Canada competitive when responding to market-driven and regulatory demands for comedy content.
As a federally registered, not-for-profit incorporation, CANCOM supports comedy content being made and owned by Canadian comedy artists independently, as well as creates new models of collaboration. These new models benefit independent comedy artists and relevant Canadian comedy stakeholder organizations and government departments in the diverse, live theatrical performance and evolving digital media ecosystem.
Through programs and investment in produced media, live performance and social media platforms, the foundation’s funding programs generate creative and promotional activities by independent Canadian comedy artists living in provinces and territories throughout the country. The result is that CANCOM builds and expands upon a wide pool of exceptional Canadian talent who are poised for independent expression and, if they choose, commercial success at home and abroad.
In establishing and enhancing pathways for success by Canadian comedians, as well as promoting and protecting Canadian arts and culture, CANCOM bolsters the artistic integrity and financial viability of Canada’s Cultural Sector.
Read our Bylaws – The Foundation for Canadian Comedy (CANCOM).
Our Objective
- To sustain an economic and cultural development infrastructure that fosters employment, investment, creative expression and production opportunities in the creation of independent art and Canadian comedy IP, including produced media and live theatrical performance.
- To stimulate content creation by promoting the professional activities of individual or groups of independent comedians, and to support their collaborations with industry stakeholders in the private and public sectors.
- To implement funding and service programs that increase the creative output, expression, reach to new audiences, profitability and competitiveness of Canadian comedy artists and industry stakeholders, improving their cultural and financial sustainability and growth at home and on the global market.
- To keep Canadian comedy arts industry talent living and working in Canada, and increase their opportunities to maintain all rights and interests (including copyright) in the IP they create.
Leadership Team
Executive Director (ED) – is responsible to the Board and is responsible for creating, proposing and managing the foundation’s annual operating budget, as well as the structure and definition of the foundation’s respective funding streams and service support programs to comedy artists.
The ED will consult with the leadership team under their supervision to determine the final recommendations for successful funding recipients and present them to the Board for approval. The ED’s other responsibilities include: monitoring the progress and results of comedy arts service programs, all successful applicants for the duration of their funding contract, and report all findings regularly to the Board; and, developing policies, strategies and procedures to recommend to the Board and carrying out any such policies, programs and directives they approve.
Program Manager (PM) – is responsible for executing the directives they receive from the ED related to the implementation and management of the foundation’s comedy arts service programs and funding streams. The PM evaluates employee, contractor and volunteer candidates specifically related to the administration of the foundation’s service programs and funding streams.
The PM oversees the service programs and funding Proposal Guidelines, which includes: receiving and categorizing application proposals; the administration of the evaluation process; summarizing assessments provided through the jury process; informing all applicants as to the status of their proposals; and tracking outcomes and results.
The PM also reviews the challenges and opportunities for improvement of the application, evaluation, and administration process with all Leadership Team members and presents outcomes and success story data, as well as a summary of recommendations to the ED.
Peer Assessors (Assessors) – are short-term contractors who, in consultation with other Assessors, are responsible for evaluating the merit of proposals submitted to the foundation’s funding streams in terms of whether they satisfy the criteria described in the Proposal Guidelines.
Assessors are contracted based on their experience, knowledge, impartiality, and credibility within the Canadian comedy industry. The PM assigns Assessors categories and a selection of applicants to assess, as per directives from the ED. In determining recommendations for successful applicants for funding, Assessors must follow a strict evaluation, privacy, and documentation process that is audited by an independent consultant.
Membership
All CANCOM Members share an interest in, and benefit from, the specific service activities and funding initiatives that CANCOM undertakes.
All comedy industry stakeholders are invited to become a CANCOM Member. Whether you are a comedy artist, comedy tech worker, comedy writer, social media creator, broadcaster, streamer, producer, etc…, CANCOM is a space for you.
Becoming a CANCOM Member is FREE.
A CANCOM Membership gives you access to applying to grants, exclusive updates in the comedy industry and access to the CANCOM Comedy Symposium.
CANCOM voting Members may be organizations or individuals representing organizations from, or supporting, industries associated with comedy, including digital media, film, television, publishing, broadcasting, and live theatrical presentation. Members are comedy arts organizations that share an interest in, and benefit from, the specific service activities and funding initiatives that CANCOM undertakes.
Some of the current CANCOM Member organizations include: ACTRA National, SOCAN, CASC, onVIVA Live Video Network, ATOP tv, The Mob’s Press, and Project 10 Productions. The members constitute CANCOM’s trade organization initiatives to promote and develop opportunities to advance their common interests, and the interests of cultural expression and comedy IP from independent Canadian comedy artists.
CANCOM leverages a unified comedy community at a national level to: collect and share vital industry intel; network and inform the comedy arts community; provide professional development programs; and increase audiences for independent comedy artists. For more information on becoming a voting Member and relevant fees, contact info@cancomedy.ca
CANCOM non-voting Members may be individual comedy artists, (performers and writers) living in Canada or abroad. This free membership may bring opportunities that CANCOM leverages in terms of industry related services and revenue streams for its Members. To activate your free membership today, see the BECOME A MEMBER button in the menu bar at the top of the page.
Join Our Mailing List
Sign-up to our mailing list to stay up to date with our events, grants and news.
