Heritage Awareness Grants

Overview

The Heritage Preservation Partnership Program (HPPP) provides matching grants and scholarship funds to support initiatives that preserve and interpret Alberta's heritage. HPPP has several funding streams.

For detailed information on heritage awareness grants, read the updated Guidelines for Heritage Awareness, Publication and Research Grants.

Funding

Heritage Awareness grants provide matching grants of up to $25,000.

Applicants are expected to contribute at least 50% of the total eligible project cost.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

The following applicants may apply for the grant:

• individuals that reside in Alberta or have a permanent Alberta address
• registered organizations in Alberta:
  • non-profit organizations
  • corporations
  • municipalities
  • churches
  • schools and other educational institutions
  • First Nations
  • Metis Settlements

Ineligible applicants

• provincial government departments and friends organizations associated with government owned or operated historic sites and interpretive centres.

Eligible projects and expenses

The following projects and expenses may be covered by the grant:

• design, fabrication and installation of heritage markers, plaques, cairns, monuments, and interpretive displays that provide substantial information about Alberta’s history
  • A copy of the interpretive text must accompany the application.
• production of multimedia or participatory projects that will promote awareness of Alberta’s history such as videos, broadcasts, walking tours, plays and heritage component of websites
  • Content must be provided. The costs of maintaining websites is not eligible.
• delivery of public educational programs that will increase knowledge and understanding of Alberta’s history
  • Content of the program must be provided.
• attending professional development opportunities within the field of heritage preservation such as workshops, seminars or conferences on heritage preservation
  • Applicant must provide evidence that attendance is vital to his/her career in heritage preservation.
• organizing and presenting local or provincial workshops, seminars, conferences or lectures that encourage public involvement in heritage preservation and promote knowledge about Alberta’s history
  • Agenda and program must be provided.
• costs associated with cultural protocols such as gifting to Elders and knowledge keepers and organizing sharing circles
  • Costs should be budgeted at standard Government of Alberta rates.

Ineligible projects

The following projects are not eligible:

• creation of digital archival materials, development of archiving finding aids and consolidation of archival materials from multiple repositories
• reunions, homecomings, anniversary celebrations and similar events that are not centrally focused on heritage preservation and appreciation
• commemorative markers that contain limited interpretive content
• murals (plaques or markers with historical information related to the mural may be eligible)
• personal or family histories – Personal or family histories are generally ineligible for funding, unless the histories have broad relevance and substantially enrich our understanding of key themes in Alberta’s past or detail the experiences of individuals or communities poorly represented in the historical record.
• projects and applicants eligible to receive support from the Provincial Heritage Organizations funded by the Alberta government, as follows:
  • Alberta Museums  Association
  • Archives Society of Alberta
  • Historical Society of Alberta
  • Alberta Genealogical Society
  • Archaeological Society of Alberta
  • Francophone Historical Society
• projects seeking debt reduction such as repayment of loans or shortfall on completed projects
• projects that have already been funded by the Alberta government

Annually recurring cultural or heritage events will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Ineligible expenses or tasks

The following are not eligible:

• costs associated with project development, including research or writing, and promotional and marketing costs
• expenses already incurred or tasks already completed at the time the application was submitted
• donated materials, labour or services associated with ineligible tasks / items
• purchase of books, equipment such as cameras, computers and related hardware
• fundraising; administration; grant application preparation; attending meetings; project planning, advising, managing, supervising; financial reporting and similar activities
• expenses that are not directly and not solely for the project such as the cost of utilities (such as telephone, internet, cell phone); and the use of office equipment and office space
• expenses associated with volunteer appreciation such as gifts, thank you cards (honorarium, gifts, meals to Elders and knowledge keepers are eligible)
• hosting expenses (food and beverages)
• subsistence costs/living expenses
• salary or wages of staff or employees when time spent on the project is already covered by their salary
• contingency costs

How to apply

Step 1. Review the guidelines.

• Guidelines for Heritage Awareness, Publication and Research Grants

Step 2. Contact the program coordinator for more information.

Email the Program Coordinator at [email protected] or call 780-431-2305.

Step 3. Complete the application form and gather supporting documents.

Fill out a paper or PDF copy the Heritage Awareness, Publication and Research Grant Application Form (PDF, 462 KB).

When preparing the budget, you may use the template for Cash Costs (XLS, 13 KB) and In-kind Costs (XLS, 13 KB) (Donated Labour, Materials, Services, Equipment).

The application must include the following:

• project plan
• project budget
• quotes or estimates of major cash costs
• interpretive content/materials of the heritage awareness project as described in the application form
• other supporting documents listed in the application form

Incomplete applications or applications which are insufficiently defined to allow for robust evaluations of their merits, may be rejected. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Program Coordinator if unsure about completeness.

Step 4. Submit your application package.

Drop off, mail, send by courier, or email your application to:

Heritage Preservation Partnership Program
Old St. Stephen’s College Building
8820 112 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T6G 2P8
[email protected]

Application deadline is the first working day of February.

After you apply

Grant applications are evaluated using a number of factors, including but not limited to:

• project approach and strategy (includes the ability of the project to preserve, interpret and promote appreciation of Alberta’s heritage)
• experience and qualifications of the project proponents
• project budget
• funding history of applicant and/or related projects
• overall quality and completeness of the application
• project’s merits in comparison with other projects

Applicants are generally notified of the funding decisions in May or June.

Grant payments

Successful applicants will receive the full amount of their grant upon initiation of their project.

Reporting and grant conditions

Grants are administered according to the terms and conditions outlined in the Funding Agreement (part of the application form) and the grant award letter.

Grant recipients have until February 28 of the following year to complete their project and submit reporting requirements. The report will include:

• Record of Project Expenses form (PDF, 154 KB) listing the cash expenses and donated labour, materials, services or equipment for the entire project
• project outcomes
• proof of project completion such as the photo of the installed heritage marker (as stated on the grant approval letter)
• how the Alberta government’s financial support is publicly acknowledged

Resources

Heritage Note Series: 

• How to develop a local heritage marker program
• Conducting historical research
• Oral history

Contact

Connect with the Program Coordinator:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)

Phone: 780-431-2305
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]