Grant and Funding Programs Offered by National Arts Centre (NAC)

The National Arts Centre (NAC) is Canada’s national performing arts organization and a federal Crown corporation located in Ottawa. In addition to presenting performances, the NAC plays a strategic funding and producing role in the creation of new Canadian work. Through initiatives such as the National Creation Fund and a range of collaborations, residencies and co-productions, it provides financial investment, time, space and other resources to artists and producing companies across the country.

The National Creation Fund is a flagship initiative that explicitly “invests in creation, providing time, space and resources for Canadian artists to develop their new works.” It supports ambitious new projects in theatre, dance, music and interdisciplinary arts, often in partnership with other presenters and producers. This investment approach helps projects deepen their development processes, expand creative teams and reach wider audiences.

The NAC’s funding and support activities span multiple artistic streams: NAC Orchestra, English Theatre, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, Dance, Popular Music and Variety, and youth and education programs under Arts Alive. Through these streams, the institution commissions and co-produces performances, supports residencies such as the French Theatre Residency, and partners on dance co-productions and English Theatre collaborations. These partnerships frequently include direct financial contributions or in-kind resources such as rehearsal space, technical support and touring opportunities.

Support is directed primarily to professional artists, creators, and producing organizations working in Canada, including Indigenous artists and culturally diverse communities. The NAC’s educational and community-focused programming further extends its impact by offering workshops, masterclasses and development opportunities that can be paired with funded creation or presentation projects.

While some NAC initiatives function as curated or invited collaborations rather than open public calls, the underlying model is one of institutional investment in artistic projects. The NAC typically partners with other presenters, festivals and companies, sharing both financial risk and artistic vision. The National Creation Fund, in particular, is designed to complement existing project funding from other sources by adding resources at key moments in the development cycle.

In addition to cash contributions, the NAC’s role as a national stage provides funded projects with visibility through performances in Ottawa and, in some cases, national tours. This combination of investment, expertise and presentation capacity positions the NAC as a central actor in Canada’s arts funding and production ecosystem.

As a federal Crown corporation, the NAC operates under public governance and publishes strategic plans and reports outlining its objectives, including those related to creation, equity, diversity, inclusion and environmental sustainability. The NAC Foundation raises private funds to support these activities, channeling donor contributions into performance, creation and learning initiatives that benefit artists, students and audiences across Canada.