Export-Ready Stream — Creative Export Canada
The Export-Ready Stream (ERS) of the Creative Export Canada (CEC) program offers funding through contributions (not loans) for export-ready projects that generate export revenues and help Canadian creative industries reach more people around the world.
Offered by Canadian Heritage
Amount
Up to $2.5 million
Contribution covering up to 75% of eligible project-related costs (combined government assistance), to a maximum of $2.5 million per application
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
To be eligible for funding, a company/organization must:
- be incorporated under the laws of Canada, a province or a territory:
- companies/organizations that are not incorporated because they are registered on First Nations reserve lands may write to the program at creativeexportcanada-exportationcreativecanada@pch.gc.ca to submit proof of their registration.
- be a for-profit company or not-for-profit organization;
- be Canadian-owned and -controlled;
- have a maximum of $500M in annual revenues, including the parent company’s annual revenues;
- have a minimum of one full-time employee (who receives a salary and works a minimum of 30 hours a week) which can include the owner if they receive a salary.
To be eligible for funding, your project must:
- be export-ready at the project start date (content is ready to be marketed, export research/plan is fully developed):
- the applicant must hold the intellectual property rights for content;
- if the project involves content with a third party's intellectual property, the applicant must demonstrate that they have secured the rights of usage for the market(s) targeted by the project;
- if the project is a collective initiative that will benefit project participants/third parties, such as a collective trade event or a trade mission, the project participants/third parties must hold the intellectual property rights or have secured the rights of usage for the market(s) targeted by the project.
- expect to generate export revenues;
- export content that is from one or more of the following creative industries:
- artistic craft;
- audiovisual;
- design (limited to exhibit, fashion, artistic product, public art, urban);
- music;
- performing arts;
- publishing (books and periodicals);
- visual art;
- interactive digital media (in combination with at least one of the industries listed above);
- have a minimum total cost of $150,000.
You can submit only one application per deadline, including entities or subsidiaries of a parent company.
About the funding
The total financial assistance received from the Export-Ready Stream and other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) cannot exceed 75% for the same, eligible project-related costs. The program can fund up to a maximum of $2.5 million per application.
Funding will be disbursed as a contribution.
A contribution is a conditional payment issued for a specific purpose, as outlined in a funding agreement. The agreement is signed by the Department and your company/organization and specifies the terms and conditions to receive payment. At the end of your project, you must submit a final report.
The Export-Ready Stream does not offer loans.
Show all funding details
Only project-related cash expenses are eligible; these may include:
- development costs and/or acquisition of digital or other technologies;
- professional services or the portion of employees' salaries directly related to the project;
- travel-related expenses, which must not exceed the rates permitted for travel on government business, in accordance with the National Joint Council Travel Directive;
- marketing expenses;
- administrative costs (e.g. general office supplies, mailing, and cloud storage costs), limited to a maximum of 15% of the other eligible expenses;
- translation and interpretation expenses, limited to a maximum of 10% of the total amount of funding requested from the Export-Ready Stream.
Applicants must be able to provide supporting documentation if requested.
If funding is approved, we may fund eligible expenses incurred as of the project start date. Please note that the project start date cannot be earlier than April 1, 2026. If you incur expenses for your project before receiving written confirmation of your funding approval, you will be doing so at your own risk.
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AgriScience Program – Projects | Grant, In-Kind Support | Up to $5 million per project and $10 million per applicant over the program's duration (2023 to 2028) | Open |
| Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program | Grant, Loan | AAFC contribution normally not exceeding $1 million per project, generally not more than $5 million over 5 years for each applicant | Open |
| Access Support Fund | Grant | No fixed amount | Open |
| CanExport GAC-Led Delegations | Grant | Cost-shared 50% by the applicant and 50% by the program, on up to $100,000 CAD in total project costs | Open |
