In our final episode of Granted, our undeniably amazing guest, Laura Simpson, talks about being a music fan and what she has learned after reading thousands of grants as the former funding officer at Music Nova Scotia. Together we discuss ways to approach the application process, how to write an engaging grant, and some thoughtful tricks of the trade. Laura shares how she started The Syrup Factory and Side Door, her entrepreneurial experiences, and lots of honest advice. This is a really special episode and we hope you love it just as much as we do.

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Produced by Krista Keough and John Mullane in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Granted artwork by Sara Russell. Music "Tie a String" by In-Flight Safety.

For our final episode of Granted, we are hosting a live podcast recording with CKDU, and the undeniably amazing Laura Simpson is our guest! Laura is the founder of Side Door and The Syrup Factory, and the former Export Development Program Funding Officer and FACTOR representative for Music Nova Scotia. The event is on Friday, October 18 and it's at Laura's house that’s also a Side Door venue! Musical performances from special guests to be announced! Doors are at 7:00 p.m., the show starts at 8:00 p.m., and tickets are $10 and available at https://sidedooraccess.com/shows/8kXtnunoljs1lWLugtpK.

This event is sponsored by Side Door and is presented in partnership with CKDU 88.1 FM. There will be a bake sale! And a Q&A! And BYOB! Check out the link for event details - we’ll see you there! (Can you tell, we're VERY excited.)

Fiona Diamond has reached legendary status as an influential leader in arts and culture communities across the country. She is a principal and the vice president of Brookes Diamond Productions and has nearly four decades of experience as a producer, talent manager, and show promoter. Fiona has had to get creative to engage with government and private enterprises to fund her most innovative ideas, and we can't wait to tell you how in this episode.

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Produced by Krista Keough and John Mullane in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Granted artwork by Sara Russell. Music "Tie a String" by In-Flight Safety.

Gianna Lauren is a superhuman wrapped in a hug, in calm and steady pursuit of her mission to present art in creative ways. Her talents shine on stage and behind the scenes in her work as a singer, songwriter, musician, grant writer, and in events. In this episode, we dive deep into the ways funding and arts organizations can go further toward helping us build strong creative communities. It's an introspective conversation that will leave you feeling all the feels.

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Produced by Krista Keough and John Mullane in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Granted artwork by Sara Russell. Music "Tie a String" by In-Flight Safety.

Stephanie Purcell is a force of nature in the arts and entertainment industry. As the founder of Vox Management Agency, she works as a booking agent with some of Canada’s best and brightest talent, including comedians, musicians, and speakers. Stephanie's described by those who know her as “the first in line and the last to leave” - and we’re going to find out how she does it all and more.

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Produced by Krista Keough and John Mullane in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Granted artwork by Sara Russell. Music "Tie a String" by In-Flight Safety.

Nigel Jenkins worked as an entertainment lawyer before starting his own artist management company and record label, Laughing Heart Music. From his hometown in beautiful Newfoundland, Nigel represents great Canadian artists and helps them share their music with the world. Lucky for us, Nigel knows A LOT about grants and funding. A lot. And we can’t wait to share it all with you.

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Produced by Krista Keough and John Mullane in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Granted artwork by Sara Russell. Music "Tie a String" by In-Flight Safety.

Nigel Jenkins worked as an entertainment lawyer before starting his own artist management company and record label, Laughing Heart Music. From his hometown in beautiful Newfoundland, Nigel represents great Canadian artists and helps them share their music with the world. Lucky for us, Nigel knows A LOT about grants and funding. A lot. And we can’t wait to share it all with you.

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Produced by Krista Keough and John Mullane in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Granted artwork by Sara Russell. Music "Tie a String" by In-Flight Safety.

T. Thomason began his music career as a young pre-teen and garnered a long list of awards and accolades with the release of his first three records. In February this year, T. won CTV’s The Launch and his fame literally skyrocketed to international heights. In this episode, T. talks about the early days, how his team has changed, his experience on reality TV, and his next album - and the painful realities he's learned about funding along the way.

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Produced by Krista Keough and John Mullane in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Granted artwork by Sara Russell. Music "Tie a String" by In-Flight Safety.

T. Thomason began his music career as a young pre-teen and garnered a long list of awards and accolades with the release of his first three records. In February this year, T. won CTV’s The Launch and his fame literally skyrocketed to international heights. In this episode, T. talks about the early days, how his team has changed, his experience on reality TV, and his next album - and the painful realities he's learned about funding along the way.

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Produced by Krista Keough and John Mullane in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Granted artwork by Sara Russell. Music "Tie a String" by In-Flight Safety.

Sarah Jamer is a dynamic music industry professional, armed with a diploma and a degree in business. Sarah co-owns The Syrup Factory, an artist management services company, where she works with artists, labels, and management teams to develop their business and creative strategy - like a boss. In this episode, we try to answer questions like, "Why is it so hard to include us in your drop-down menu?!" in efforts to make funding more inclusive and accessible for all.

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Produced by Krista Keough and John Mullane in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Granted artwork by Sara Russell. Music "Tie a String" by In-Flight Safety.