Artists Grants in Canada: 335 Current Grants + Tips for Applying

Visual Arts and New Media Individual Project Funding provides up to $18,000 to support development of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists by providing funding for a specific visual arts or new media project.

The program supports visual arts and crafts practices through grants to artists, curators, ad hoc groups, collectives and Francophone organizations in Ontario.

Toronto Arts Council’s Visual Artists Program: Creation provides support to visual artists who have a professional independent art practice for the creation/production of new work or the completion of works in progress. Funds are intended to cover direct costs of creation/production, and materials.

Visual Arts includes drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, printmaking, performance art, installation and fine crafts and more. The Visual Artists Program does not include film or video makers: they apply to the Media Artists Program

The program supports professional Ontario-based visual artists to create new work and to continue work in progress. The program aims to reflect the range of artistic practices in the visual arts, and to support excellence, regional activity, diverse artists and communities.

This program is designed to provide professional development for the following:

To improve creative skills
To gain greater knowledge of the music industry
To conduct business that seeks to promote and market MusicNL members outside the province
To attend (virtual) music related conferences, festivals and events

The Demo Recording program supports new and emerging artists from systemically excluded groups living in B.C. to engage in sound recording and mentorship with local music producers.
This program is supported through the Vancouver Music Fund and Amplify BC.

The Business Foundations program invests in growing businesses owned by people from systemically excluded groups in B.C.’s music ecosystem, to expand and develop networks, capacity, and infrastructure.
This program is supported through the Vancouver Music Fund and Amplify BC.

Book publishers are invited to submit titles for consideration for the annual Trillium Book Award. There are prizes both for the winning recepients and their publishers. Furthermore, the publishers of all finalists receive a grant for promotion of their books prior to the announcement of the winners.

The Trillium Book Award was established by the Ontario Government in 1987 to “recognize excellence, support marketing and to foster increased public awareness of the quality and diversity of Ontario writers and writing.

This program is intended for professional and apiring indigenous artists, indigenous cultural workers, as well as indigenous collectives and indigenous non-profit organizations.

The Touring Artist Fund (TAF) is for professional Yukon artists and performers. Every year we have $100,000 for touring outside of the Yukon. This fund is open to all artistic practices.

The Touring Projects program supports Ontario-based professional artists/curators, ad hoc groups/collectives and arts organizations to tour performances, exhibitions, screenings and readings for public audiences within Ontario, nationally and internationally. The work(s) being toured must be created and performed by professional artists.

This funding program is designed to increase awareness of provincially produced music at local, national, and international levels, and to present NL music as an art form and viable economic driver. Export-ready musicians touring outside of the province and expanding their market reach within and outside of Canada should apply.

Designed to increase awareness of provincially produced music at local, national, and international levels by touring.

The tour support stream provides an investment for domestic and international tours.

The tour support stream provides an investment for domestic and international tours.

The tour support stream provides an investment for domestic and international tours.

The Tour Support Grant – Live Performing Arts supports commercially viable touring opportunities for eligible Saskatchewan live performances touring in Canada and abroad.

The Indigenous Arts Projects program is an annual multi-disciplinary project grant specifically for Indigenous artists, collectives and organizations. For the purpose of this program, “Indigenous” refers to people who self-define as a First Nations (Status or Non-status), Inuit, or Métis person of Canada. TAC recognizes Indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of what is now known as Toronto, which has great historical and cultural significance as a place for ceremony, gathering, trade, and exchange. This program is designed to increase participation in and access to Toronto Arts Council funding by Indigenous artists, while increasing the creation and presentation of high-quality Indigenous art in the City. The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council.

The program recognizes a diverse range of art practices. You may apply in one of four categories described below. Grants awarded may be less than the full amount requested. With the exception of the Project Development and Creation categories, TAC will not fund 100% of a project: applicants must indicate other revenue sources, which may include donated goods and services.

The Dance Projects program provides funding to professional dance artists, organizations and collectives for the creation, production and presentation of dance works, and other projects that support the development of professional dance in Toronto. The program recognizes a diversity of dance practices. The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council.

The program supports professional exploration, creation, development, production and presentation, regardless of theatrical tradition, as well as initiatives that benefit the Ontario professional theatre community.

Theatre Individual Project Funding provides up to $18,000 to support the development of individual Alberta artists, arts administrators, or an ensemble of artists by providing funding for a specific theatre and/or performance art project.

The program supports the creation, exploration, development, production and presentation of French-language dramatic works in Ontario.

This program aims to improve the production value of French-language fiction, documentary or animated television series in order to increase their commercial potential in markets outside Quebec by relying on technical and artistic aspects (visual and sound), the adaptation of Quebec literary works and the acquisition of rights for a minimum of three existing musical works.

Through a process led by facilitators from across disciplines and sectors, participants in the TAC Leaders Lab will enhance the skills, tools, networks and knowledge that will support personal leadership growth and new collaborative opportunities.

Financially support all associations affected by the new Law and wishing to enrich their associative life by carrying out projects, networking, research, analysis and organizational development in accordance with their mandate of advice, support, representation, defense and promotion of their members.

Provide financial support to associations affected by the new Law, as part of the implementation of a collective bargaining mechanism.

This program is aimed at commercial galleries that specialize in the contemporary art market. It aims to support these businesses in their activities of dissemination and promotion of the works of professional artists in Quebec.

The agreement for the hiring of Aboriginal cultural development agents (EEADCA) aims to support the hiring and training of development agents in Aboriginal communities, with a view to ensuring, within the communities, the deployment of expertise in Aboriginal cultural development and thus forming new partnerships between the communities and the Ministry

The Aboriginal Cultural Development Assistance program aims to support the development of the 11 Aboriginal nations in Quebec, recognized by the National Assembly. The nations recognized by the National Assembly are as follows: (Abenaki, Algonquin, Attikamek, Cree, Huron-Wendat, Micmac, Maliseet, Naskapi, Mohawk, Inuit and Innu).

It promotes consultation between the Ministry of Culture and Communications and its First Nations and Inuit partners with the aim of contributing to the cultural vitality of the communities concerned.

The emerging creation support program:

is aimed at all Quebec audiovisual production companies that develop projects with emerging creators;
supports short and feature-length fiction film projects as well as short, medium and feature-length documentary projects.
They are generally submitted at the development stage, to benefit from the professional support, mentoring, networking and advice measures put in place for emerging creators.
However, some documentary or fiction feature films developed outside the program may be submitted directly to the production stage if they meet the specific eligibility conditions.

Support for D/deaf Artists or Artists with Disabilities is dedicated to the development and recognition of disabled art and artistic practice of D/deaf professional artists and artists with disabilities.

This program aims to develop the Quebec arts and crafts industry by financially supporting companies that assume financial risks to design products that stand out for their potential as a cultural product, namely their quality, originality and distinction. The program supports the production, distribution and digital discoverability of Quebec crafts, in all regions of Quebec.

The Strategic Initiatives Fund – Strategic Growth & Development Component aims to assist arts and culture organizations and cultural industries with initiatives that enhance growth, professionalism, and sustainable contributions to the cultural sector.

The Strategic Initiatives Fund – Export Component aims to assist arts organizations and cultural businesses or entrepreneurs who wish to enhance their exposure outside New Brunswick, undertake artistic exploration or exchanges with international partners, and nurture new and existing art markets in a global context.

The Strategic Initiatives Fund – Digital Component aims to assist arts organizations and cultural businesses or entrepreneurs who wish to undertake projects or initiatives that help promote or showcase their offerings using digital means and/or approaches.

The Strategic Initiatives Fund – Arts Wellness Component provides eligible New Brunswick arts organizations and groups with funding for partnership projects that positively impacts wellness through arts.

The Storytelling Development Fund provides financial assistance to Prince Edward Island producers and/or production companies for scriptwriting costs required for film, TV and screen based projects.

The program provides assistance to the various industry participants and associations to develop the local skill base

The program provides funds to local film and video industry participants to assist with travel-related expenses to market their products globally

The program provides funds to local film and video industry participants to assist with marketing-related expenses to market their products or for receptions related to the marketing of these products.

The Sound Recording Grant supports the production of commercially viable sound recordings for commercial release.

The Business Travel component provides investment for domestic and international music industry conferences and events, as well as business trips for the company’s general market development.

The Sustainable Livelihood Fund provides access to small-scale contributions for tools, equipment and other expenses necessary for operation in the small business, arts and crafts, community-based tourism, and traditional economy sectors. The purpose of the program is to support small businesses, which employ others, self-employed entrepreneurs, arts and crafts producers, or commercial renewable resource harvesters.

The Slate Development Program is designed to support the growth of mid-level and experienced B.C.-based production companies with a significant track record of owned and controlled independent production in the province. Recipients will receive support towards the development costs of two or more projects.

This program supports Ontario-based Indigenous arts professionals and arts professionals of colour, or ad hoc groups and collectives made up of Indigenous arts professionals or arts professionals of colour for professional development and skill-building opportunities that advance applicants’ work and careers. It funds all contemporary and traditional art practices that are supported at OAC. Projects can include: study and training, mentorship, internship and apprenticeship and documentation of art work.

The Showcase Support stream provides an investment for domestic and international showcase performances.

The Showcase Support stream provides an investment for domestic and international showcase performances.

The Showcase Support stream provides an investment for domestic and international showcase performances.

The Showcase or Sell Travel Grant provides support to individuals and businesses to attend markets and industry events. This grant helps cover the costs of travel expenses to specific market opportunities.

The Short Film Venture Program (SFVP) assists emerging New Brunswick filmmakers who have a serious interest in establishing a career in filmmaking and in producing a “calling card” film. The program is an initiative of the department in cooperation with the New Brunswick Filmmakers, Co-operative of Fredericton, NB.

The Tour grant supports touring activities in Manitoba with the aim of sharing arts and culture for the benefit of all Manitobans. This program prioritizes collaborative and community engaged tours in all artistic disciplines.

The Present program supports the presentation of work in Manitoba in all disciplines by professional artists, arts groups, and arts organizations.

The Artists in Schools grant creates opportunities for K-12 students attending public schools throughout Manitoba to participate in high-impact arts and cultural experiences by working directly with artists, arts/cultural professionals, and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers.

Artists in Communities grants support arts-related activities for underserved applicants and/or communities that face barriers to accessing artistic opportunities.

The Screenwriters Development Fund (SDF) invests in Nova Scotian production companies to develop
scripts by Nova Scotian writers for film and television.

The Screen Nova Scotia Content Creator Fund (CCF) is a program that acts as a top-up contribution for qualifying Nova Scotia Productions. The CCF supports Nova Scotia creators by providing funding to eligible productions.

The Region of Waterloo Arts Fund is situated on the Haldimand Tract, land that was promised to Six Nations, and was traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral Peoples. We are grateful to have the opportunity to live, work, create, and to meet on territory protected by the Dish With One Spoon wampum. The enduring presence, philosophies, and deep traditional knowledge of First Peoples are foundational to the arts and culture of this place. We are committed to supporting local creators by acknowledging the collective past, and respecting the contributions of all peoples.

The refundable tax credit for Quebec film and television production covers labour expenses incurred by a company that produces a Quebec film (or program).

The Artist II/III Recording Program offers a $3,000 investment toward sound recording. These activities must be detailed in an artist bio, history, and recording plan, and a marketing and release overview which will be submitted to Music Nova Scotia as a required element of the application.

The Artist I Recording Program offers a $1,500 investment toward sound recording. These activities must be detailed in an artist bio, history, and recording plan, which will be submitted to Music Nova Scotia as a required element of the application.

The program supports Ontario writers in the creation of new work and creates and strengthens connections between Ontario writers, publishers, and literary organizations.

To assist theatre creators to develop new work. This is a third-party recommender program. Applications are made to and funding decisions are made by the theatre companies enrolled in the program.

The Publishing Organizations: Operating program supports Ontario-based, Canadian-owned book and magazine publishers that publish works of literary, artistic or cultural importance for the general public. There are two categories:
– Book publishers: Organizations that publish books in print or digital format as their primary activity. Some publishers may publish magazines or journals as a secondary activity;
– Magazine publishers: Organizations that publish magazines in print or digital format as their primary activity. Some publishers may publish books as a secondary activity.

The Publishers Assistance Program supports publishers with potential for sustained or expanding business strength, sound market and business planning, employment growth over the long term, and responsiveness to the provincial literary sector. The program is designed to strengthen the publishing and the literary sectors overall by encouraging quality products, effective marketing, and by making professional development services available to publishers.

Publishing companies can apply for funding from the Publishers Assistance Fund to support publishing activities that grow and sustain the province’s publishing industry.

The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, professional public art galleries in Ontario.

This program is intended for new and developing arts organizations, established arts organizations that work on a project basis, and arts organizations undertaking a special, one-time initiative. The program is designed to provide partial support to a broad range of activities and art forms, reflecting different cultural traditions and art practices.

The Project Development Fund enables B.C.-owned and controlled production companies to build on development commitments secured from broadcasters, distributors and funding agencies.
The fund encourages support for existing and emerging domestic companies and provides financing in the form of non-recoupable advances for feature film script development, dramatic or animated TV projects, or documentaries.

Applications are evaluated on a first come/first served basis, and funding is available until the budget for the program is expended. A non-recoupable advance, matching up to 50% of the eligible triggering agent commitment is available.

Promote the deployment of commemorative markers and commemorative events relating to the history of First Nations and Inuit
Increase participation in commemorative activities focusing on First Nations and Inuit history

Promote the deployment of commemorative markers and commemorative events in all regions of Quebec
Increase participation in commemorative activities of local, regional or national interest

Support the development of digital creativity projects by creators and businesses in Quebec
Increase the reach and accessibility of Quebec digital creativity projects in public spaces and cultural dissemination venues across all administrative regions of Quebec among a variety of audiences
Contribute to the influence and growth of the Quebec digital creativity sector
Contribute to the appropriation and use of public spaces and places of cultural diffusion by the population of Quebec

Increase the achievement of exceptional and innovative large-scale activities
Intensify the influence of Quebec culture in all regions of Quebec
Increase the exposure of the general Quebec public to new content, products, works or events that enrich Quebec’s cultural offering

The Call for Projects for the Promotion of Quebec Culture program aims to support large-scale collective promotional initiatives, major projects contributing to the development and promotion of Quebec culture and its offerings, as well as the implementation of digital creativity projects in public spaces and various cultural dissemination venues in Quebec.

As part of Quebec’s cultural policy Partout, la culture, as well as Quebec’s Policy on the Canadian Francophonie, the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications is launching the 2nd edition of the Call for Projects for Digital Cultural Development in the Canadian Francophonie. The financial assistance aims to support digital cultural development projects that promote the discoverability of Francophone cultural content in the digital environment or that focus on the acquisition, consolidation and exchange of digital skills in the cultural sector.

Stream A encourages companies to develop planning adapted to their context by relying on the carrying out of studies or the establishment of diagnoses prior to the realization of projects or strategies.

Stream B encourages companies to carry out a project in line with the digital context.

This grant program is intended to provide partial support to artists, arts administrators, or arts educators for activities that contribute to their professional development and enhance their careers in the arts. Such activities may include unique opportunities for short-term study (beyond basic training) in a formal or informal setting, mentorships, or master classes.

This program is designed to support professional development for the following:
To conduct business that seeks to promote and market NL musicians and music industry professionals outside the province. This may include attending music related conferences, festivals, and events.
To showcase at music conferences, festivals, and events, or to represent a showcasing artist.
To undertake training that enhances creative and/or industry skills.

SODEC supports under this program:
– fiction feature film projects (part 1);
– short fiction and documentary film projects (part 2);
– short-format narrative digital projects (part 2), i.e. audiovisual works of fiction or documentaries that develop a narrative proposal, linear or non-linear, interactive or immersive, intended for visual technologies (virtual reality, augmented or mixed) allowing user participation;
– medium-length and feature-length documentary projects — unique works (part 3).

The Predevelopment Fund helps Yukon producers develop their ideas for a:

• professional film;
• television program; and
• digital media project.

The Performing Musicians Fund supports activities that help Yukon musicians build sustainable careers in the music industry.

The PEI Arts Grants program offers three types of grants to support the professional artists of Prince Edward Island: Create, Share and Learn grants. Each stream serves a different purpose and requires a different application.

The OMIF Music Creation stream provides funding to support the development of competitive, sustainable music companies in Ontario that take risks discovering and developing talent – particularly emerging artists – and bringing it to market.

The OMIF Live Music stream supports businesses and organizations that produce or promote live music events featuring Canadian artists, including eligible music festivals and concert series. The Live Music stream will provide funding to increase the number and quality of live music experiences (e.g. events, festivals and concerts*) that can be experienced by residents in and visitors to Ontario.

The Ontario Creates Book Fund is designed to increase financial viability and overall business growth of Ontario-based publishers through marketing initiatives which profile the works of Canadian authors to both foreign and domestic markets, and/or activities that enable publishers at various levels to achieve business development objectives that best suit their individual corporate goals.
Funding will be provided to support projects that have clear, objective and measurable results and/or indicate direct and positive impact that on the overall long-term business growth of the book publisher. Priority results include enhancement of publisher revenues and the creation/retention of jobs in the Ontario publishing industry. Ontario Creates will measure results of the program based on return on investment and jobs created and retained.

The program supports Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) artists to research, develop and create new work and engage with their communities, as well as opportunities for Indigenous organizations and communities to strengthen their relationships with the arts.

The program supports the creation, production and presentation of live and virtual dance and other initiatives that benefit the Ontario professional dance community.

The Arts program provides contributions to individuals, non-profit organizations and municipal corporations to support the development and enhancement of the arts in Nunavut. This program supports a wide variety of art projects in many different mediums. Examples of the types of projects that are supported include, but are not limited to, art and music camps and classes, art shows and festivals, community theatre productions, and art workshops.

The Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund provides funding for screen-based content creation. To be eligible, organizations must have a permanent establishment in the province and be engaged primarily in the creation of film or video productions for public viewing.

The Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund provides funding for screen-based content creation. To be eligible, organizations must have a permanent establishment in the province and be engaged primarily in the creation of film or video productions for public viewing.

Arts Nova Scotia manages the Nova Scotia Art Bank. Every year the Art Bank adds to its collection through the Art Bank Purchase Program. Artists are invited to submit their works for consideration. Pieces that are acquired become part of a working collection.

They are maintained, loaned out and displayed in government offices and agencies. The program raises awareness of artists and their works and stimulates interest in visual arts and craft.

The Northern Arts Projects program supports the creation, production and presentation of artwork; professional development; and community arts engagement initiatives that benefit communities in Northern Ontario. The program has four categories:
– New works: to help cover the costs of creation and production of new works in all artistic disciplines;
– Presentation: to help cover the costs of presenting artistic work;
– Skills/Career development: for artists to undertake skills and career development projects and for groups presenting projects that will benefit northern Ontario artists;
– Working with community: to help cover the costs of community-engaged arts projects.

Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program provides support for newcomer and refugee artists to develop their artistic practice and to further their integration and inclusion to Toronto. We define a newcomer as: an immigrant or refugee who has lived in Canada for less than 7 years; a refugee is a person who was forced to leave their home country and is now located in Canada.

The program support the industry with their production projects spending $3 million or more.

The program support the industry with their production projects spending $3 million or less.

The Development Incentive provides funds in the form of a grant to support the development of projects that have already secured intent or commitment from a broadcaster, funding agency and/or third-party financing.

The program supports the recording of music by Ontario-based musicians including composers, songwriters and beat producers.The program supports the recording of music by Ontario-based musicians including composers, songwriters and beat producers.

This program supports the development and presentation of all genres of music by Ontario-based professional musicians, ad hoc groups/collectives and organizations.

The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, opera companies, orchestras, choral organizations and other music-mandated producers and presenters in Ontario.

The Music Organizations Operating program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, opera companies, orchestras, choral organizations and other music-mandated producers and presenters in Ontario.