Program targeting the protection, transmission and promotion of religious heritage

See the recipients for 2023-2024

Section 1 – Building Restoration

The eligibility criteria have been broadened for eligible property.

Cultural heritage buildings of a religious nature whose date of construction is prior to 1976 and which hold one of the following statuses under the Cultural Heritage Act  (RLRQ, chapitre P-9.002) are admissible:

a) listed heritage building;

b) building located in a classified or declared heritage site;

c) heritage building cited or located in a cited heritage site.
 

Places of worship, all religious traditions combined, that meet one of the following conditions are admissible :
 

d) constructed before 1945 whose heritage value as been declared either: indispensable (A), exceptional (B), or superior (C) according to the Inventory of Places of Worship of Québec realized by the Council in each region.

e) constructed between 1945 and 1975 whose heritage value has been declared indispensable (A), by virtue of the Inventory of Places of Worship of Québec realized by the Council (check the list);

The building in question is insured and protected by a functional fire detection system. The owner must maintain continued coverage at their expense by the insurance policies necessary for the building.  

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^{[1] Heritage buildings of a religious nature notably include: place of worship, rectory, bishopric, convent, monastery, seminary, calvary, and surrounding walls.}

Section 2 – Restoration of furnishings, works of art, and organs
The following property is eligible under Section 2:

• Listed property or property belonging to a listed ensemble by virtue of the Cultural Heritage Act or by virtue of the criteria stated by experts in the field. For example, it could be a liturgical object, a work of art, or a piece of furniture of a religious nature;
• Pipe organs that are listed or that belong to a listed ensemble by virtue of the Cultural Heritage Act or by virtue of the criteria stated by experts in the field and conserved in furnishings of a religious nature.

Section 1 – Building Restoration

• Projects that deal with the overall structure as well as those necessary for the maintenance of heritage values linked to the building’s envelope;
• Interior projects that ensure the maintenance of heritage values are only eligible for listed property or in the case of a building that has sustained damage due to flooding, or to the degradation of the building’s envelope or structure;
• Fire detection and extinguishing systems;
• Electrical components that ensure the security of a site;
• Expenses incurred for the realisation preparatory studies before the confirmation of financial assistance are eligible, as well as the portion of professional fees from specialists involved in projects (architects, engineers, historians, archeologists, restaurateurs and others).

Click here for more details on eligible work under Section 1.

Section 2 – Restoration of furnishings, works of art, and organs

• Projects eligible for financial assistance include all restoration works judged essential to the maintenance of the heritage value of the furnishings, works of art, and organs of heritage interest.
• Eligible expenses include those related to restoration works as well as the professional fees related to these works (art historians, restaurateurs, or other).

Expenses related to companies registered in the Register of companies not eligible for public contracts (RENA) are not eligible.

Section 1 – Building Restoration

The application for financial assistance must be completed on the form provided by the Council and must be accompanied by a health record for the building (written in the last 5 years), proof of insurance, and proof of the presence of a functional fire detection system. The application can be submitted at any time of the year to the regional Table de concertation responsible for the applicant’s territory.

When a municipality is involved in the project, the applicant must submit a written consent to the effect that certain information appearing in his application may be communicated to another department or organization, in order to:
a) to ensure compliance with certain administrative measures;
b) to obtain the expertise required during the analysis of the application in order to enable the Minister to render a fair and informed decision.

Section 2 – Restoration of furnishings, works of art, or organs

The application for financial assistance must be completed on the form provided by the Council and be accompanied by an expert’s report (report the object’s state of conservation and indicating the necessity of its restoration) for the furnishings, work of art, or organ and proof of insurance. It can be delivered at any time of year to the Council’s office.

Section 1 – Building Restoration

When a request involves a municipality, the Council will carry out a pre-analysis of the file based in particular on the guide/memory sheet that will be provided to them, in order to ensure that the provisions of the Law on secularism of the State are taken into account

The regional Table de concertation analyses all submitted applications, determines the priorities, and recommends the projects to the Council. The council analyzes these projects and submits information about its recommendations to the Minister.

Evaluation Criteria for Projects

• Buildings constructed before 1976 which is listed by virtue of the Cultural Heritage Act (RLRQ, c. P-9.002) will be given priority during project selection.
• Buildings whose heritage value has been, in order of priority, declared indispensable (A), exceptional (B), or superior (C) according to the Inventory of Places of Worship realized by the Council in each of Québec’s regions. For applications involving buildings constructed between 1945 and1975, only those whose heritage value was declared indispensable (A) will be eligible.
• Work concerning the overall structure is judged to take priority: interventions which aim to maintain the building’s primary components in a good state of repair including the foundations, structure, roof, exterior walls and fire protection systems.
• Diversification and confirmation of the applicant’s sources of financing;
• The project’s benefits and positive effects on the community;
• Its impact in terms of sustainable development especially through citizen involvement;
• Buildings open to the public or subject to a commitment to open to the public following the realization of a project of requalification or of restoration;
• The project aims to complete a successive phase of work from a project having already received financial assistance from the program;
• The urgency of the projected intervention for the protection of the targeted building or for public security.

Section 2 – Restoration of furnishings, works of art, or organs

A committee for furnishings and works of art and a committee for organs were created by the Council to process applications submitted for this section. These committees analyze submitted applications, determine priorities and recommend projects to the Council.

The Council then analyzes these projects and submit information about these recommendations to the Minister.

Evaluation Criteria for Projects :

• Furnishings, works of art, and organs listed by virtue of the Cultural Heritage Act (RLRQ, c. P-9.002) will be given priority during project selection;
• The heritage value of furnishings, works of art and organs;
• The quality of the proposed restoration project;
• Diversification and confirmation of the applicant’s sources of financing;
• The project’s benefits and positive effects on the community;
• Its impact in terms of sustainable development especially through citizen involvement;
• The object is exhibited or accessible to the public in a punctual and consistent manner;
• The object will be conserved, after its restoration, in a manner conducive to its maintenance in a good state of repair;
• The urgency of the projected intervention for the protection of the targeted property or for public security.

In order to receive financial assistance, the beneficiary must sign an agreement of financial assistance with the Council. This convention requires the beneficiary to respect all foreseen obligations as well as those expected of the program.

In addition, the recipient must complete, within 36 months of the letter of announcement, the work that is the subject of financial assistance and the reporting to the Council. If necessary, an amendment can extend these deadlines.

Following the transmission of a visibility letter by the Minister to the applicant, project supervision takes the form of the following actions for Sections 1 and 2:

a) Signature of an agreement of financial assistance between the Council and the beneficiary;

b) Preparation of plans and quotes by the beneficiary and presentation to the Council for approval (when applicable);

c) Reception by the beneficiary of the authorisation of works issued by the Ministry of Culture and Communications for property protected by virtue of the Cultural Heritage Act;

d) Approval by the Council to proceed with solicitation and conferment as stated in the contract.

e) Supervision by the Council of deadlines of authorized projects;

f) Dispersement by the Council of financial assistance to beneficiary upon submission of invoices, payment certificates, and suppliers’ proof of payment, with no limit on the number of payments;

g) Reception by the Council of the certificate of completion of work;

h) Final verification of the project by the Council.

i) Transmission by the Council of the final result of the project’s verification to the Minister;

j) Transmission by the Council to the beneficiary of a questionnaire on the clientele’s satisfaction.