Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF)

Program Description

Ontario's primary cultural tourism financing mechanism, providing partially repayable working capital to help arts, heritage, and cultural organizations attract tourists through one-time or first-time events and exhibitions. OCAF's investment functions as a partially repayable loan — the repayment portion (30–50% of the investment depending on organization size and location) is recovered from event revenues within 60–90 days of event completion, while the remainder is retained as a non-repayable grant. The per-attendee rule of $5 maximum and the matching marketing expense rule govern the investment size.

Eligibility Requirements

• Incorporated Ontario-based not-for-profit or charitable professional arts, heritage, or cultural organizations
• Ontario municipalities and municipal agencies
• First Nations, Band Councils, Métis, and Inuit communities
• Organization must have existed for at least one year
• Must comply with financial reporting under the Canada Corporations Act or Ontario's Corporations Act
• Project must be distinct from ongoing programming — must represent the organization's single largest new programming initiative for the year
• Project must operate for a fixed or limited timeframe (not ongoing programming)
• Must include a marketing plan specifically targeting new tourists from outside the host region
• At least 10% of project revenue must come from private sector sources
• Minimum 40% of revenue from earned revenue (with exceptions for free or low-admission events)
• Project must demonstrate clear repayment capability — ability to generate earned revenue to repay the required portion
• Minimum attendance: 1,000 in rural areas; 10,000 in large urban centres (special consideration for 750–1,000 rural or 7,500–10,000 urban with strong tourism case)