This program features two components and offers financial assistance of up to $100,000. It covers preliminary processing fees, and the cost of noise reduction work or equipment.

This is a two-step program:

Preliminary studies

The preliminary studies include the following:

• An acoustic study to evaluate the impact of sound nuisances on the surrounding neighbourhood and find solutions.
• An optimization study on the current sound system to limit and control the sound levels generated.

The maximum amount allocated for preliminary studies is $15,000.

Completion of work

Following the recommendations presented in the preliminary studies, the following work may be financed: 

• Implementation of at least one of the recommendations.
• Fees for professional services required for the work, rendered by an architect, engineer, or designer.
• Purchase of equipment for reducing sound nuisances.

You must submit a list of the work operations recommended for reducing sound nuisances.

The maximum amount is $100,000, including expenses for preliminary studies and the purchase of equipment.

Preliminary studies prior to the completion of the work 

The maximum amount allocated is $15,000 and includes:

• Expenses for sound system optimization and acoustics studies.
• Expenses incurred to update these studies, if they are carried out more than 12 months after the subsidy application is submitted. 

Completion of work recommended in the preliminary studies

The maximum amount allocated is $100,000 and includes:

• Expenses incurred to complete the work recommended by at least one of the preliminary studies.

Expenses incurred to carry out preliminary studies and purchase equipment are added to the amount for the completion of the work. All these expenses must not exceed the total amount of the subsidy.

For example, if the applicant reaches the maximum amount for expenses covered under component 1 ($15,000) and the purchase of equipment ($10,000), a maximum sum of $75,000 would be available to complete the work.

In order to be eligible, you must:

• Operate an establishment with a seating capacity of under 400.
• Be located in one of the designated areas mentioned in Appendix B of the companion guide.
• Hold a valid occupancy permit, get approval of the special construction, modification or occupancy project (PPCMOI) from borough council, and return the occupancy permit when submitting your financial reports and statements.
• Be the owner or tenant and have a valid lease for a minimum period of two years at the time that the application is submitted.
• Practice an activity involving the dissemination of a professional performing arts  program, and must have programmed, in 2019, a minimum of: 
  • 100 professional shows, if the establishment’s sole activity involved the dissemination of performing art shows.
  • 50 professional shows, if the establishment held activities that did not involve the dissemination of performing arts shows.
• Not have received a government or municipal subsidy for expenses covered under this program.
• Commit to carrying out at least one ecological transition action selected from among the actions listed in Appendix C.
• Maintain the use as an alternative performance venue for five years following the payment of the balance of the subsidy for components 1 and 2.

Ineligible projects

Projects submitted by people, owners or tenants in the following establishments will not be eligible:

• An agent of the Crown in right of Canada, of the State or of a Crown corporation. 
• The city.
• A Centre de services scolaires (school services centre), school board, general and vocational college, university establishment, or the Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique du Québec.
• A non-profit legal person who holds a permit to operate a private teaching establishment issued under the Act respecting private education (RLRQ, chapter E-9.1).
• An establishment accredited for purposes of subsidies under the Act respecting private education, or an establishment whose educational plan is subject to an international agreement within the meaning of the Act respecting the Ministère des Relations internationales (RLRQ, chapter M-25.1.1).
• A religious institution.
• An establishment that is not compliant with the applicable zoning by-law, except inasmuch as it is targeted under a special construction, modification or occupancy project (PPCMOI) approved by borough council or the reconstituted city in which it is located.
• An establishment that is a museum, art gallery, interpretation centre, or arts centre.
• An establishment that received an operating or programming grant before January 1, 2022.
• An establishment that has permanently ceased its commercial activities and is protected under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (L.R.C. (1985, chapter C-35) or in bankruptcy within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (L.R.C. (1985), chapter B-3).

No subsidy will be allocated to an applicant for:

• Expenses incurred before the date on which the subsidy application was deemed admissible under articles 8 and 22.
• Expenses incurred after July 31, 2024.
• Expenses covered under a government or municipal subsidy.
• Professional services for impact studies on mechanical equipment, internal acoustic studies, or the design and optimization of a sound system for the sole purpose of improving acoustic conditions inside the performance venue.

Component 1 - Completion of preliminary studies 

The submission period opens on July 6, 2022. Applications can be submitted at any time, until the program funds have been exhausted.

Component 2 - Completion of work

Applications may be submitted when the completed preliminary studies include work recommendations for which expenses are eligible under the program.

Applications under the call for projects must be submitted by completing an online form.

Application submission form - Component 1

Application submission form - Component 2

Formulaire de demande de dépôt - Volet 3

• PDF file Assistance program for reducing sound nuisances at performance venues (in French) [PDF 852 KB]
• PDF file RÈGLEMENT SUR LA SUBVENTION RELATIVE À LA RÉDUCTION DES NUISANCES LIÉES AU BRUIT GÉNÉRÉ PAR LES SALLES DE SPECTACLE ALTERNATIVES (in French) [PDF 1 MB]
• PDF file RÈGLEMENT MODIFIANT LE RÈGLEMENT SUR LA SUBVENTION RELATIVE À LA RÉDUCTION DES NUISANCES LIÉES AU BRUIT GÉNÉRÉ PAR LES SALLES DE SPECTACLE ALTERNATIVES (RCG 22-021) (in French) [PDF 179 KB]