Media Artists Program: Creation

Program Overview

Toronto Arts Council's Media Artists Program provides support to media artists with professional independent art practices for the creation/production of new work or completion of works in progress. Funds cover direct costs of creation/production and materials. Media Arts includes independent film, video, audio, digital, video and electronic games, virtual and augmented reality, and new media artworks. New media refers to works using multi-media, computers, communications or information technologies for creative expression, including installation and performance art works integrating such technologies.

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: October 15, 2026
• Notification: Approximately 3 months after submission; first notifications by end of December

Funding Details

• Maximum grant: $15,000 for creation/production costs and materials
• TAC Accessibility Grant: Up to $5,000 additional for accessibility costs (ASL interpretation, audio description, closed captioning, communications assistants, attendant care, support workers, equipment rentals)

Eligibility

Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents with pending applications, or protected persons (approved refugee claimants). Must be Toronto residents for at least one year prior to deadline. Must be recognized professional artists with specialized training, peer recognition, history of public presentation/publication/production, and commitment to devoting more time to artistic activity. TAC recognizes systemic barriers and encourages equity-seeking community applicants to discuss eligibility with Program Manager in advance. Applicants must retain full copyright, financial and creative control. For film or video projects, only the director may apply; producers may not apply as co-applicants.

What Is Not Funded

• Projects completed prior to announcement of results (no retroactive funding)
• Projects with total budgets exceeding $350,000
• Capital purchases (tools, equipment) exceeding $750
• Commissioned, instructional, or promotional projects
• Promotion and marketing expenses
• Pilots for commercial or educational television
• Scriptwriting or screenplays
• Music videos

Restrictions

• Cannot apply to both Visual Artists Program and Media Artists Program in 2026
• Individual artists may receive only one discipline-stream project grant and one strategic initiative grant per calendar year
• Cannot have more than one open application in each stream at a time
• Professional artists pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies may not apply for work related to their academic program
• Collaborative proposals eligible; one applicant must be designated principal applicant (grant payment and T4A slip issued to principal)
• Applicants must have created at least one media artwork

How to Apply

Submit an application online through TAC Grants Online only. Register in the system first to log in and out as needed before submitting. You will receive a confirmation email upon submission. Results will be emailed approximately 3 months after submission, with access available through TAC Grants Online. Check spam/junk mail if result notification doesn't arrive. Download full Program Guidelines for complete details.

Contact

• Phone: 416-392-6802 x 208
• Email: [email protected]