Indigenous Arts Grants in Canada

Supports the creation, development, and production of new works across all artistic disciplines. Covers research, creation, production, and presentation of original work by professional artists.

Supports artistic practices that engage people and communities. Funds ongoing activities of arts organizations and long-term projects that contribute to the vitality of the arts sector.

World-renowned artist residency programs across visual arts, music, dance, theatre, literary arts, and Indigenous arts. Provides studio space, accommodation, and mentorship.

Supports Indigenous artists in British Columbia to create, produce, and present works rooted in Indigenous knowledge and artistic practice.

Supports Canadian artists, groups and arts organizations to develop, create and share artistic works at any or all stages of the creative process, from initial idea to public presentation. Replaces the former Research and Creation and Concept to Realization grants.

Multi-year funding for incorporated not-for-profit arts organizations that create, produce, present or exhibit artistic activities and are driven by the vision of artistic leaders.

Multi-year funding for artistic organizations that facilitate connections between artists and communities, spark creative collaborations and build public relationships with the arts.

Multi-year funding for leading Canadian arts organizations that promote the work of creators, build public outreach and support the Canadian arts sector as a whole.

Supports projects by artists, arts professionals, cultural connectors, groups and organizations that contribute to the ongoing growth, strengthening and development of the Canadian arts sector.

Multi-year activity support for Canadian artists, arts and cultural workers, groups and organizations to carry out multiple, large or complex projects over up to 3 years. Supports a wide range of activities.

Small grants for professional development activities that support the advancement of artistic careers. Covers travel, workshops, conferences, and other activities that support artistic growth. Previously covered by Professional Development for Artists and similar programs.

Funds travel activities linked to the promotion and development of markets for Canadian artists and artistic works. Supports attending international markets, meetings with presenters, and other promotional trips abroad.

Supports Canadian artists, groups and arts organizations to circulate and tour their work nationally and internationally. Covers costs for touring exhibitions, performances and artistic works.

Supports Canadian artists, arts workers, groups and organizations attending residencies abroad, covering travel and residency costs to develop international artistic networks.

Development support for Canadian artistic groups and arts organizations creating new works or exhibitions in partnership with foreign arts organizations.

Supports activities that build connections between artists and diverse audiences, contributing to public appreciation and enjoyment of the arts in Canada. Covers community engagement projects, public programming and outreach activities.

Supplementary accessibility support — NOT a standalone grant. Provides additional funding to cover accessibility costs for Deaf/disabled artists who already have a successful Canada Council grant. Non-competitive staff assessment.

Aims to increase access of Francophone artists outside Quebec and Anglophone artists in Quebec to a diversity of markets and publics. Supports distribution, promotion and career development activities.

Supports Canadian arts training organizations at the highest professional levels, contributing to the development of future artists and cultural leaders. Priorities include Indigenous and equity arts training.

Provides funding to local groups for recurring community festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans, heritage performers and cultural carriers.

Encourages Canadians to support arts organizations by matching private donations to professional arts organization endowment funds. Government provides matching grants for qualified donations.

Supports research excellence in social sciences and humanities. Relevant for academic artists and researchers doing research-creation, arts-based research, or arts and cultural policy research.

Dedicated funding stream for the production of Canadian Indigenous-language and Indigenous-content screen-based media content, supporting First Nations, Inuit and Métis storytellers in film and television production.

Supports Indigenous organizations in preparing First Nations, Inuit or Métis participants for careers in the arts through training activities. Distinct from the general CATF stream with specific eligibility for Indigenous-led training programs.

Supports professional Indigenous artists (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), groups, and organizations in Ontario to research, develop, and create new work across all arts disciplines.

Provides travel funding for Quebec professional artists and curators to attend conferences, auditions, prospecting meetings, or public presentations that support their career development.

First-grant program offering $5,000 to Quebec Indigenous artists, writers, or artist collectives to launch their artistic career. Designed for first-time applicants to CALQ with a simplified entry point.

Supports individual Alberta Indigenous artists, arts administrators, and ensembles to develop specific cultural or artistic projects in any discipline, recognizing the distinct needs and practices of Indigenous artistic traditions.

Supports artistic and cultural activities led by Indigenous artists, knowledge keepers, and Indigenous-led organizations in Manitoba across all artistic disciplines and project scales.

Supports touring activities across Manitoba to share arts and culture with communities throughout the province. Prioritizes collaborative and community-engaged tours in all artistic disciplines.

Provides annual operating support to professional arts organizations, arts service organizations, community organizations, and book and periodical publishers to sustain their arts mandate and long-term operations.

Annual grant supporting smaller arts and cultural organizations in delivering impactful programming in their communities, with funding capped at 50% of annual revenues or $15,000, whichever is less.

Supports Indigenous artists and Traditional Knowledge Keepers in Saskatchewan to develop and continue Indigenous art forms, with funding at Basic, Intermediate, and Major levels for both individual and community/collective projects.

Increases access to arts and cultural resources for BPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) artists in Saskatchewan, supporting creation, development, mentorship, performance, exhibition, and cultural connections.

Funds the public presentation of a Nova Scotia professional artist's own completed work to audiences, supporting dissemination activities such as exhibitions, performances, and readings.

Strengthens the artistic practice and career capacity of Nova Scotia professional artists, curators, and independent arts administrators through workshops, mentorships, residencies, and other professional development activities.

Supports Nova Scotia professional arts organizations in creating, producing, and presenting artistic work through one-time special projects or recurring series in any artistic discipline.

Enables Nova Scotia arts organizations to commission professional artists outside of their organization to create new works, covering artist fees and materials for original commissions.

Supports New Brunswick professional artists in advancing their careers through arts by invitation opportunities, professional development activities, and professionalization and promotion, with grants up to $3,000 per component.

Helps early-career New Brunswick artists and artists newly arrived to Canada acquire essential tools, equipment, or improve their facilities to strengthen their long-term capacity to create.

Supports Indigenous artists, artistic groups, and culture carriers in Newfoundland and Labrador to create, develop, exhibit, and transfer knowledge of their art forms. Open to Indigenous artists at any career stage and in all disciplines.

Supports Prince Edward Island professional artists in the research, development, and production of new artistic projects across all disciplines. Two funding levels reflect emerging and established career stages.

Assists PEI professional artists with the public presentation of their completed artistic works in a critical or curatorial context, supporting dissemination to audiences beyond the studio.

Supports the professional development of PEI artists' careers through mentorships, training programs, workshops, and residencies that strengthen artistic practice and long-term capacity.

Funds group arts projects that foster arts development and engage the public in Yukon, with $500,000 available annually to non-profit societies, First Nations, artist collectives, and community organizations.

Provides quick and accessible funding for short-term, emergent creative and cultural industry opportunities in Yukon. Assessed on potential impacts and benefits, not artistic excellence, making it accessible to all.

Provides accessible and timely funding to Indigenous Yukon artists and cultural carriers for a variety of creative and cultural projects and activities, with rolling intake and no requirement to demonstrate artistic excellence.

Supports emerging to mid-career NWT artists and craftspeople with small-scale arts projects, covering costs such as artist fees, materials, studio fees, and development activities.

Supports mid-career and established NWT artists, craftspeople, and arts organizations with medium-scale arts projects and events such as completing and exhibiting collections, studio development, and larger artistic productions.

Supports Nunavut-based individuals, artist cooperatives, and organizations in promoting economic growth through the development of arts and tourism sectors, including Inuit arts, traditional crafts, and cultural heritage activities.

Provides grant and contribution funding to community-based organizations and individuals to promote, protect, preserve, and revitalize the culture, language, arts, and heritage of Nunavut including Elders initiatives, language promotion, and arts programming.

Supports arts and cultural projects delivered by registered non-profit organizations in Vancouver. Individual artists and collectives from equity-denied communities may apply via a sponsor registered organization. Advances representation of equity-deserving artists in civic cultural funding.

Provides core multi-year operating support to established Vancouver professional non-profit arts organizations to develop, create, produce, present, and disseminate artistic work in any discipline. New recipients typically start at $15,000–$20,000 with potential for multi-year funding commitments.

Supports Montreal-based artists' collectives in carrying out specific artistic projects related to their mandate. Three intake deadlines per year allow for flexible project timing across all artistic disciplines.

One-time project funding for professional Calgary-based individual artists and artist collectives in any artistic discipline. Supports research, creation, development, production, presentation, or dissemination of artistic work. Projects must be complete by December 31, 2026.

Provides one-time funding to professional Calgary-based individual artists, collectives, and cultural workers to support professional and artistic skill development or business and career development activities. Uses a lottery process for selection, reducing barriers for first-time applicants.

Three-stream grant program supporting Edmonton-based individual artists and collectives across all disciplines. Stream 1 funds creation and research time; Stream 2 supports professional development, mentorship, and residencies; Stream 3 funds projects ready for production or presentation.

Supports Edmonton arts organizations in planning and implementing thoughtful organizational change. Funds strategic planning, capacity-building, and structural adaptations to ensure the long-term sustainability of established arts and culture organizations.

Advances artistic expression within Indigenous and equity-seeking communities in Ottawa. The Seed award provides micro-grants to individual artists; the Grow grant funds projects and operating activities for individuals and organizations. Promotes diversity and representation in Ottawa's arts sector.

Supports Winnipeg professional artists in the creation of new work, development, production, curation, or exhibition of works of art in any art form. Grants are tiered by career stage: $3,000 for emerging artists and $7,000 for mid-career and established professionals.

Funds arts organizations and collectives in Winnipeg for specific one-time artistic projects with artistic merit and civic impact. Open to new and developing organizations, established organizations working on a project basis, and those undertaking special one-time initiatives.

Annual funding supporting distinct artistic projects by professional producing and presenting arts organizations in the Halifax region. Supports organizations that advance the profile of the local arts sector and foster broad public access to professional art.

Supports new and established arts organizations in the Capital Region of BC to produce one-time projects, a short series of events, or extended programming. Grants are typically between $1,000–$10,000 and must support activities within participating CRD jurisdictions.

Dedicated funding stream for arts organizations and groups led by or serving Indigenous, racialized, or equity-deserving communities in the Capital Regional District. Supports projects that advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in the regional arts sector.

Project grants to professional artists and artist collectives in any arts discipline for the creation of new artistic work and its public presentation in Hamilton and further afield. Supports the full arc from creative development through public presentation.

One-time project grants for Toronto-based professional artists, artist collectives, and non-profit organizations pursuing time-limited arts projects that enable public participation and engagement in arts and culture. Supports collaborative work between professional artists and community members.

Targeted funding for Toronto non-profit organizations and artist collectives to support professional development and integration for newcomer and refugee artists. Provides a set grant of $20,000 per project to support arts mentorship, programming, and sector integration for recently arrived artists.

Supports individual artists and arts collectives in Waterloo Region through project grants. Microgrants of $1,000 are available for one-week individual artist projects. Larger individual and collective grants are also available for projects occurring within the following 12 months.

Provides project-based grants to professional arts organizations in Montréal to carry out specific artistic projects aligned with their mandate. Three intake deadlines per year allow organizations to plan projects flexibly. Funding cannot exceed 75% of total project cost.