Grant
Provincial
Active
Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Industry Development
Ontario Creates (Ontario Music Office)
Maximum Funding
$10,000–$125,000 per funding cycle; for requests between...
Continuous intake until Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET, or until al...
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
Varies
Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Industry Development provides up to $10,000–$125,000 per funding cycle; for requests between $10,000–$50,000 the OMIF contribution may not exceed 75% of the approved budget; for requests over $50,000 the contribution may not exceed 50%. Established not-for-profit music industry trade associations and music service organizations based in Ontario can receive direct grants of $10,000 to $125,000 per funding cycle for projects that advance the Music Industry Development stream objectives, with a matching financial contribution required. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details
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Program Description
Established not-for-profit music industry trade associations and music service organizations based in Ontario can receive direct grants of $10,000 to $125,000 per funding cycle for projects that advance the Music Industry Development stream objectives, with a matching financial contribution required.
Eligibility Requirements
- Non-profit music industry trade associations and music service organizations
- Must be a non-profit Canadian organization registered in Canada with a majority Canadian board of directors
- Must be Ontario-based and Canadian-owned
- Must have been in operation for at least two years prior to application
- Must demonstrate that the organization's principal place of business has been in Ontario for at least one year prior to the deadline
- Must be incorporated in Ontario or federally, or prepared to incorporate immediately if the application is successful
- Must be in a sound financial position and in good standing with Ontario Creates at the time of application submission
- Must serve Ontario companies, artists and entrepreneurs working in the music industry, and be engaged in music-related activities in Ontario (national activity is also permitted)
- Must demonstrate expertise and experience in supporting the industry through the delivery of activities or programming
- National organizations must have at least 60% Ontario-based membership
- Music festivals, governments and their agencies, and universities, colleges and training institutions are not eligible
- Established incorporated for-profit companies whose primary purpose is to plan, develop, market and stage events, conferences and workshops for Ontario music-industry professionals may be considered by written exception, and must take the primary business risk
- First-time applicants and those seeking an exception must contact the Ontario Music Office at least three weeks ahead of submission, or the application is deemed ineligible
- Applicants must provide a financial contribution: for requests of $10,000–$50,000 the OMIF share may not exceed 75% of the total approved budget; for requests over $50,000 it may not exceed 50%
- The minimum funding request is $10,000 and the maximum is $125,000 per funding cycle
- Projects must align with Music Industry Development stream objectives and demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes
- Activities must take place within a maximum 12-month spending window between April 1, 2026 and December 31, 2027
- Event-based activities (showcases, conferences, public-facing training programs) must be submitted at least eight weeks in advance of the event
- For showcasing activities to be eligible, at least 50% of the audience must be industry delegates or participants
- Where a project involves artists or industry participants from outside Ontario, the OMIF funding requested must be proportional to the percentage of Ontario-based participants
- Successful applicants must carry Commercial General Liability Insurance of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence, naming Ontario Creates and His Majesty the King in right of Ontario as additional insureds
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- $10,000–$125,000 per funding cycle; for requests between $10,000–$50,000 the OMIF contribution may not exceed 75% of the approved budget; for requests over $50,000 the contribution may not exceed 50%
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Deadline
- Continuous intake until Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET, or until all funds have been allocated
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Oct 29, 2026
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Industry Deve...
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- 10-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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How to Win
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Insider TipContact the Ontario Music Office at least three weeks before the deadline if this is your first application, and be ready to provide matching funds; expect a response within 8–10 weeks.
Evaluation Criteria
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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7 steps
10 docs
Application Steps
1
Contact the Ontario Music Office before you start First-time applicants and anyone seeking an eligibility exception must contact the Ontario Music Office ([email protected], 416-642-6696) at least three weeks ahead of the application submission to discuss eligibility. The guidelines state that applicants who fail to do so will have their application deemed ineligible.
Required Documents 10
✓ Activity Budget (Ontario Creates template provided)
✓ Activity Details and Plans for each proposed activity (questions provided in the Online Application Portal)
Eligible Expenses 10
Ineligible Expenses 8
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Combined Funding Potential
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Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Industry Deve... Compares
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Industry... | $10,000–$125,000 | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Continuous intake until... |
| Creative Industries Funding | Varies | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing (multiple... |
| Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Creation | Up to $200,000 | Moderate | Varies | 2026-27 dates TBD... |
| SODEC — Aide aux entreprises culturelles | Varies by stream | Hard | Reimbursement | Varies by stream;... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Industry Deve...
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Who can apply to the Music Industry Development stream?
Non-profit music trade associations and music service organizations: Ontario-based, Canadian-owned, incorporated, in operation at least two years, with a majority Canadian board. National organizations qualify only if at least 60% of their membership is Ontario-based.
How much can we request, and what must we contribute?
The minimum request is $10,000 and the maximum is $125,000 per funding cycle. For requests of $10,000–$50,000 OMIF may fund up to 75% of the approved budget; for requests over $50,000, up to 50%. Applicants bringing more non-government funding are considered more favourably.
When is the application deadline for this stream?
The stream has a continuous intake: applications may be submitted until Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET, or until all funds have been allocated. Applications submitted after October 2, 2026 are reviewed with those received at the final deadline, so the response takes longer.
Do we have to talk to Ontario Creates before applying?
Yes, if it is your first application or you are seeking an eligibility exception. You must contact the Ontario Music Office at [email protected] at least three weeks before submitting. The guidelines state that applicants who skip this step are deemed ineligible.
Can we include staff salaries and equipment in the budget?
Partly. Administrative and overhead costs including staff salaries are eligible to a maximum of 35% of total activity costs, and a new position created for the activity can be its own budget line. Equipment and software count at amortized value over 24 months, or rental cost — not purchase price.
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Full Playbook: Ontario Creates — OMIF Music Industry Deve...
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