FEDERAL GRANTS

Overview

A roundup of federal grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and provincial arts councils (Ontario, Manitoba) supporting emerging artists, students, and professional artists across various disciplines. Programs include funding for research, creation, professional development, international exposure, and community engagement.

Canada Council Programs

• Explore and Create: Professional Development for Artists up to $10,000; Research and Creation up to $25,000; Concept to Realization up to $60,000/year (exceptionally $100,000); Composite requests up to $300,000 over 3 years
• Engage and Sustain: Funds arts organizations; Artistic Catalysts up to 50% of annual revenues; Artistic Institutions up to 25% of annual revenues
• Supporting Artistic Practice: Professional Development for Arts Professionals up to $10,000; Sector Innovation and Development up to $50,000; Literary Publishing Projects up to $120,000-$300,000/year; Literary Publishers up to $30,000
• Arts Across Canada: Travel up to $30,000/year; Circulation and Touring up to 50% of eligible costs, maximum $200,000; Public Outreach up to $100,000 (composite projects up to $300,000 over 3 years)
• Arts Abroad: Travel up to $30,000/year; Circulation and Touring up to 50% of eligible costs, maximum $200,000; Residencies up to $20,000

Ontario Arts Council Deadlines

• Chalmers Professional Development Projects – November 4, 2026
• Indigenous Artists in Communities and Schools Projects – April 23 and October 6, 2026, 1 p.m. ET
• Indigenous Arts Projects – April 23 and October 6, 2026, 1 p.m. ET
• Literary Creation Projects (Works for Performance) – October 21, 2026, 1 p.m. ET
• Littérature – projets francophones – September 29, 2026, 1 p.m. ET
• Northern Arts Projects – April 30 and October 29, 2026
• Recommender Grants for Writers – September 8, 2026 to January 15, 2027, 1 p.m. ET

Ontario Literary Creation Projects

• Creation of literary works for publication: $12,000; Deadline September 10, 2026, 1 p.m. ET
• Creation of literary works for performance: $5,000
• Recording of literary works created for performance: up to $10,000
• Creation and recording of literary works for performance: up to $15,000; Deadline October 21, 2026, 1 p.m. ET

Additional Deadlines

• January 1 – Learn – Travel/Professional Development
• January 15 – Learn – Residencies
• January 25 – Support – Operate
• January 30 – Share – Artists in Communities
• February 25 – Share – Present
• March 1 – Learn – Travel/Professional Development
• March 20 – Create
• April 1 – Share – Tour
• April 25 – Indigenous 360
• May 1 – Learn – Travel/Professional Development
• May 10 – Support – Strengthen
• May 15 – Share – Artists in Communities
• May 15 – Support – Community Impact
• June 1 – Learn – Scholarships
• June 5 – Share – Artists in Schools
• July 1 – Learn – Travel/Professional Development
• July 15, 2027 – Support – Looking Forward
• September 1 – Learn – Travel/Professional Development
• September 10 – Share – Present
• September 15 – Share – Artists in Communities
• October 5 – Share – Artists in Schools
• October 10 – Create
• October 25 – Indigenous 360
• November 1 – Learn – Travel/Professional Development
• November 1, 2026 – Support – Looking Forward
• November 15 – Recognize – Competitions
• December 15 – Recognize – Prizes (Manitoba Arts Award of Distinction)