Arts Industry Grants in Canada: Current Grants + Tips for Applying

This 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.

Ce programme fait partie de l’ensemble des programmes des arts francophones, dont l’objectif est de soutenir la vitalité du secteur artistique francophone en Ontario.
Le programme appuie les pratiques en arts visuels et en métiers d’art au moyen de subventions aux artistes, aux commissaires, aux groupes ad hoc, aux collectifs et aux organismes francophones de l’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.

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

Objective: this program is designed to provide professional development for the following:
1. To improve creative skills
2. To gain greater knowledge of the music industry
3. To conduct business that seeks to promote and market MusicNL members outside the province
4. To attend (virtual) music related conferences, festivals and events

The Video Games Business Development Program is a partnership between Creative BC and Canada Media Fund (CMF) designed to support the success and growth of B.C.-based game studios.

The Ontario government established the Trillium Book Award in 1987 to recognize excellence, support marketing and foster increased public awareness of the quality and diversity of Ontario writers and writing.
The award given to the author of each winning book is $20,000 and their publishers receive $2,500 for the marketing and promotion of the titles.

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.

This program supports touring and circulation by Ontario artists, arts groups and arts organizations for audiences across Ontario, Canada and internationally. Grants fund touring presentations and exhibitions in all artistic practices funded by OAC.

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.

MusicNL offers a grant of up to 70% of eligible expenses to solo artists, duos and groups touring within Newfoundland & Labrador, for tours of at least 3 confirmed dates in at least 2 different municipalities. Applicants must have been residents of Newfoundland & Labrador for at least six (6) months prior to applying.

The objective of the Music Nova Scotia Investment Program is to encourage the creation, development, and growth of Nova Scotian music businesses, artists, and their intellectual property.
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 objective of the Music Nova Scotia Investment Program is to encourage the creation, development, and growth of Nova Scotian music businesses, artists, and their intellectual property.
The tour support stream provides an investment for domestic and international tours.

Around the province, across the country or overseas, this grant supports commercially viable touring opportunities for eligible Saskatchewan musicians and bands 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 theatrical 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.

Le programme soutient la création, l’exploration, le développement, la production et la présentation d’œuvres dramatiques de langue française en Ontario. Le programme a trois catégories :

The StART Partnership Program provides support and up to $70,000 in funding for large-scale projects that support the program’s mission to revitalize and engage communities through mural, street, and graffiti art.

Strategic Improvement Assistance supports Prince Edward Island businesses undertaking strategic activities to become more productive, profitable and competitive. The program supports costs for outside professional expertise required for projects related to improving operational efficiencies, internal planning or processes, and quality assurance.

The Storytelling Development Fund is available for scriptwriting costs required for film, TV and screen-based projects. A registered Prince Edward Island Production Company can receive up to 50% of project costs through the fund.

PictureNL has a full-time Industry Development Officer who works on behalf of crew, producers and filmmakers to organize and support specific workshops, training opportunities, job placements and other projects designed to increase the local industry’s capacity.
The Sponsorship Program provides qualified individuals and organizations with funding assistance, enabling them to promote the products of the local industry. Applicants eligible for funding are Newfoundland and Labrador residents and organizations with screen industries as their principal activities.

The Sponsorship Program provides qualified individuals and organizations with funding assistance, enabling them to promote the products of the local industry. Applicants eligible for funding are Newfoundland and Labrador residents and organizations with screen industries as their principal activities.
Examples of applicable opportunities: Film Festivals, Markets, workshops, job shadowing

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.

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.

The objective of the Music Nova Scotia Investment Program is to encourage the creation, development, and growth of Nova Scotian music businesses, artists, and their intellectual property.
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.

This grant helps cover the costs of travel expenses to specific market opportunities.
This grant provides support to individuals and businesses to attend markets, industry showcases and pitch events.

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.

Production companies can apply for funding from the Screenwriters Development Fund to develop scripts by Nova Scotian writers for film and television. You can apply until 1 September 2026.

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 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 $2,500 investment toward sound recording.

To assist theatre creators to develop new work.
This is a third-party recommender program. Using Nova, OAC’s online grant application system, theatre creators apply to theatre companies designated as recommenders for the program (a maximum of five applications per year).

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.

Introduction The Nova Scotia Publishers Assistance Fund invests in provincially-based publishers to increase the sustainability, export capacity and marketplace growth of the publishing sector in Nova Scotia.

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. Collectives or unincorporated groups may be eligible provided that they meet the special criteria outlined in the guidelines. 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.

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.

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.

The Predevelopment Fund helps Yukon producers develop their ideas for a:
professional film;
television program; and
digital media project.
You can receive funding to help attract commitments from broadcasters, distributors or online platforms for further development or production.

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

The mandate of the PEI Arts Grants is to support, assist and encourage the arts community in the province. Funding is available to professional Prince Edward Island based artists through a peer-assessed grant application process.

The OMIF Music Creation stream supports the development of competitive, sustainable music companies in Ontario that take risks discovering and developing talent – particularly emerging artists – and bringing it to market.
Music Creation provides funding to eligible domestic record labels, multinational record labels and domestic music publishers to support business activities that are focused on: expanding artist rosters; investing in professional recording and production; facilitating job creation; undertaking export market development; enhancing business capacity; and increasing and strengthening diversity within Ontario’s music industry.

The OMIF Live Music stream supports businesses and organizations that produce or promote live music events in Ontario 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.

This program supports Ontario-based not-for-profit arts organizations and for-profit publishers led by, working with and providing services to professional artists across arts disciplines and sectors. Operating grants are a form of sustained investment in the province’s arts infrastructure.

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.

This program provides contributions to individuals, non-profit organizations and municipal corporations to support the development and enhancement of the arts in Nunavut.

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.

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.

The program supports the creation, production and presentation of artwork; professional development; and community-engaged arts initiatives that benefit communities in northern Ontario (see OAC’s geographic regions map as a PDF or on Google Maps).The program has four categories:

Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program provides support for newcomer and refugee artists to develop their artistic practice and establish connections to sustain their practice and livelihood in the Toronto arts community.
The program provides funding for individual newcomer and refugee professional* artists to be mentored (guided) in their chosen arts discipline.

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

This program supports the development and presentation of all genres of live and virtual music by Ontario-based professional musicians, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations. The program has six categories:

The OMIF Music Industry Initiatives (MII) stream provides support to Ontario’s established music trade associations and music service organizations to offer initiatives, events and activities that strengthen, support and stimulate the economic and cultural growth of Ontario’s music industry.

The Music Industry Initiatives program supports initiatives that grow and develop British Columbia’s music ecosystem.
Successful projects will build the capacity of B.C.’s music industry through training, collaboration, and creating new industry and business opportunities. Canadian companies, not-for-profit organizations, individuals, and collectives are able to apply.

This 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 music project.

The program supports Ontario-based professional artists in creating original musical works. This program supports music creators at all career stages, working in all music genres/styles. The program has two categories:

Toronto Arts Council’s Music Creation & Audio Recording program offers grants to practicing professional artists to assist them in the writing and production of their original music. This program will support new work in any/all genres of music.

The Music Company program supports the sustainability, growth, and capacity of B.C.’s music companies through investing in business development activities.

Le programme appuie la création, l’enregistrement et la production de chansons de langue française et de musique par des artistes professionnels.
Le programme appuie les artistes de la musique qui créent, enregistrent et se produisent en français dans une vaste gamme de genres et de styles musicaux.

The Military Memorial Conservation Grant is intended to assist primarily with conservation work on existing military memorials in Manitoba, with the goal of extending the physical life and commemorative function of the memorials, and raising their profile as sites of reflection and commemoration, and as valuable cultural infrastructure in the community.

The Mi’kmaq Arts Program supports the development and continuation of Mi’kmaq art forms in the territory of Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia).
Nova Scotia-based Mi’kmaq artists, groups (including ad-hoc groups), bands, or organizations are eligible to apply.

The Mentorship Component supports developmental employment relationships between Developing and Export-Ready Artists/Companies/Entrepreneurs (Mentee) and mentors in which a more experienced music industry professional (Mentor) shares information, skills or knowledge, and standards or best practices that will advance the applicant’s career, enhance their education and build their networks. The applicant (Mentee) should receive the primary benefit of the mentorship.

The Mentorship Component supports developmental employment relationships between Developing and Export-Ready Artists/Companies/Entrepreneurs (Mentee) and mentors in which a more experienced music industry professional (Mentor) shares information, skills or knowledge, and standards or best practices that will advance the applicant’s career, enhance their education and build their networks.

The Mentorship Component supports developmental employment relationships between Developing and Export-Ready Artists/Companies/Entrepreneurs (Mentee) and mentors in which a more experienced music industry professional (Mentor) shares information, skills or knowledge, and standards or best practices that will advance the applicant’s career, enhance their education and build their networks. The applicant (Mentee) should receive the primary benefit of the mentorship.

Le programme subventionne les artistes médiatiques et les réalisateurs francophones indépendants de l’Ontario qui cherchent à développer ou à produire de nouvelles œuvres de cinéma, de la vidéo, de l’art audio, des médias numériques, des nouveaux médias et des jeux vidéo et électroniques. Les projets doivent être en français et s’adresser à un public francophone.

Toronto Arts Council’s Media Artists Program provides support to media 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.

The program supports individual professional Ontario-based media artists/directors working with film, video, audio, digital, new media, video and electronic games, and virtual reality as independent artist-controlled art forms in the production and post-production phases of their projects.

The Marketing Component supports Artists III and Record Label applicants by contributing to the costs of the marketing and promotion of a single, EP, LP, or tour.

The Marketing Support Artist II component supports Artist II and Record Label applicants by contributing to the costs of the marketing and promotion of a single, EP, LP, or tour.

The Marketing Component supports Artist I and Record Label applicants by contributing to the costs of the marketing and promotion of a single, EP, LP, or tour.

The Showcase or Sell Travel Grant provides support to individuals and businesses to attend markets, industry showcases and pitch events.

The Promote program is designed to assist Manitoba recording artists to market and promote a completed music recording project. This can include hiring a publicist and/or marketing team, creating a website, advertising as well as content and music video creation.

This program was formerly called the Record Product Marketing Support Program and Music Video and Viral Video Fund.

The Produce program is designed to support the production of commercially viable music recording products by the Manitoba music recording industry.

The Produce – Out-of-Province Artists program is designed to encourage non-Manitoban artists to travel to the province to utilize local recording studios, producers and recording professionals. It is also intended to increase business and experience for Manitoba music recording industry professionals.

The Perform program is intended to provide Manitoba artists/groups with tour support funding to develop audiences outside of their hometown. This includes performances and tours across Canada, through the United States and internationally.

This program was formerly called the Recording Artists Touring Support program.

The purpose of the Market Access Fund is to support Manitoba artists and music industry professionals in growing their business activities in export markets through showcases at music industry conferences and showcase festivals, targeted and confirmed business meetings, and collaborative songwriting trips.

Create grants value original artistic expression by supporting professional artists and arts groups in the creation and development of artistic work, including creation-based residencies.

PictureNL’s, Low Budget Production Program is available for eligible screen industry companies which are majority owned by a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador. Projects with production budgets up to a maximum of $150,000 are eligible to avail of this program. PictureNL can invest up to 33% towards an eligible project’s production financing.

The Live Performing Arts Production Grant assists eligible Saskatchewan individuals and companies in the production of a series of performances intended for paying audiences.

The Live Music program supports B.C.-based live music events, creating engagement opportunities for audiences and artists.

The Live Music program supports B.C.-based live music events, creating engagement opportunities for audiences and artists.
B) Live music presenters can apply for capacity-building activities through the Business Development stream.

Le programme appuie les activités littéraires au moyen de subventions aux artistes, groupes ad hoc, collectifs et organismes francophones de l’Ontario.

This program supports the professional presentation, and promotion of written and oral Canadian literatures in Ontario, and the development of professional, ongoing arts and literary publishing capacity in the province.