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Arts Equity Funding Initiative

Equity-focused arts support for professional creators

Offered by

Arts Nova Scotia

Official source: artsns.ca

Source change captured October 4, 2026

Funding available: $ 500 - $ 15,000
Deadline: Open continuously
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Who can apply: Professional artists; See full eligibility

Overview

Arts Equity Funding Initiative supports emerging and established professional artists from designated communities, plus professional arts organizations, ad-hoc groups, and non-profit organizations registered in Nova Scotia employing professional artists for a project. It funds artistic growth, development, production, and dissemination through new work, public presentation, and professional development.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding: $15,000
Minimum funding: $500

Financing goals

Develop team skills
Develop a new program or service
Increase social or community impact
Enhance an existing program
Attract or retain talent
Develop workforce skills
Strengthen organizational capacity
Raise awareness or mobilize a population

Eligible candidates

Location: Nova Scotia
Eligible Industries: All industries
Annual revenue: All revenue ranges
Organisation size: All organization sizes
Audience: Indigenous Peoples
Persons with Disabilities
Newcomers to Canada
Other Racialized Persons
Black Canadians
Rural or Northern Residents
2SLGBTQI+
Canadians
Women
Legal structures: Non-profit

Non-profit candidates

Sector of operation: Culture and Arts
Target groups: Indigenous peoples, People with disabilities, Artists / creatives, Nonprofits / charities, Minority groups
Scope: Provincial

Start applying for this program

Take a practical assessment to gain a clear understanding of how well this program aligns with your specific needs and long-term goals.

Availability timeline

2026

Periods: 1

Latest changes

October 4, 2026

Special travel support criteria updated

Arts Equity Funding Initiative special travel support now applies to travel for a significant, time-sensitive opportunity that develops artistic practice.

The Arts Equity Funding Initiative has updated the description of Special Travel support. It now covers travel related to a significant, time-sensitive opportunity that will develop an artist’s practice, replacing the broader wording about travel costs outside the listed categories and artistic activity development.

Official source: artsns.ca

October 4, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

Professional artists
Professional arts organizations
Ad-hoc groups of three or more professional artists, with a majority living in Nova Scotia
Non-profit organizations registered in Nova Scotia employing professional artists for a project

Eligible expenses

Contribution to living expenses up to $2000/month during the project period, for individual or duo applicants only
Artist’s fees, for organizations or group applicants only
Materials; mentors, instructors, or consultants
Professional fees for design, production, and technical personnel and other production expenses for presentations
Travel costs directly related to the project and outside of the applicant’s general area of residence; royalties; promotion and publicity for Present Grants only; venue rental; rental of equipment essential to the project

Ineligible Costs and Activities

Creative Industries work, including commercial film and video production, music videos, recording, television/episode work, publishing, commercial design, architecture, or production/line crafts
Capital purchases, including buildings, property, construction, equipment, etc.
Recurring events or core activities, and permanent staff positions
Projects already funded through us or the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage (CCH), and work that happened before the deadline
Website development for promotional purposes, and professional/artist fees for individual or duo applicants

Eligible geographic areas

Nova Scotia

Activities funded

Projects to develop or create new work
The public presentation of artists’ own work
Strengthening artistic or administrative capacity through formal study programs, mentorship, workshops, apprenticeship, conference, and other professional development activity
Travel costs related to a significant, time-sensitive opportunity that will develop your artistic practice

How to apply

Choose the correct application form for the applicant type and category.
Complete the online application form.
Send the required application documents by email to artsnssubmissions@novascotia.ca.
For Special Travel applications, email the program officer after submitting the rest of the application documents.

Documents Needed

Online application form and Self-Identification form
Project description (Max. 2 pages)
Group member statements if you are submitting on behalf of a group of artists; Background Information About the Organization (for organization applicants); Financial template; Schedule of work
Two-page CV of the applicant and all other key artists involved in the project
Support material

Selection criteria

The quality of the work as evidenced by the support material provided
The artistic merit of the project
The ability to carry out the project

Processing and Agreement

This form will only be used for internal purposes and will not be sent to assessors.
The information in the self-identification form will not be given to the peer assessment committee, and its contents will be confidential.
Assessors score and rank applications, and the program officer does not participate in the scoring or ranking of applications.
The decisions of the PAC are final.
You will receive an email notifying you of the results twelve to fourteen weeks after the deadline regardless of the outcome.

Additional information

Applicants who apply to this program are also eligible to apply for funding to other Arts Nova Scotia programs
The name of the beneficiary and the amount of grant received in any fiscal year will be published for the public.

Contacts

artsnssubmissions@novascotia.ca

(902) 497-8538

Official sources

Arts Equity Funding Initiative

Application form

Aef Financial Template New 0 Arts Equity Funding Initiative - Special Travel Application Form Arts Equity Funding Initiative - Special Travel Application Form Arts Equity Funding Initiative Application Checklist Arts Equity Funding Initiative Application Form

Supporting document

Arts Equity Funding Initiative Assessment Tool

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Arts Equity Funding Initiative Program

What is the Arts Equity Funding Initiative?

How much funding can be received?

Arts Equity Funding Initiative Funds up to $15,000 of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who is eligible for the Arts Equity Funding Initiative program?

To be eligible for the Arts Equity Funding Initiative program, you must: Emerging and established professional artists from designated communities Professional artist duos, professional arts organizations, ad-hoc groups of three or more professional artists, and non-profit organizations registered in Nova Scotia employing professional artists for a project Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who have lived in Nova Scotia for at least 12 months before the application deadline, or are temporarily outside the province and not away for more than 12 months

What expenses are eligible under Arts Equity Funding Initiative?

Contribution to living expenses up to $2000/month during the project period, for individual or duo applicants only Artist’s fees, for organizations or group applicants only Materials; mentors, instructors, or consultants Professional fees for design, production, and technical personnel and other production expenses for presentations Travel costs directly related to the project and outside of the applicant’s general area of residence; royalties; promotion and publicity for Present Grants only; venue rental; rental of equipment essential to the project