Open
Source verified October 3, 2026
Arts Equity Funding Initiative
Equity-focused arts support for professional creators
Latest source updateLast Update: October 4, 2026Latest change: Arts Equity Funding Initiative special travel support now applies to travel for a significant, time-sensitive opportunity that develops artistic practice.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: October 4, 2026
Latest change: Arts Equity Funding Initiative special travel support now applies to travel for a significant, time-sensitive opportunity that develops artistic practice.
Special travel support criteria updated
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.
Funding available
$ 500 - $ 15,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
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.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop team skills
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Minimum amount : 500 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Nova Scotia
Legal structures
- Non-profit
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
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Artists / creatives
- Nonprofits / charities
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
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
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
Official resources
Application form
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
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
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.
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
Frequently Asked Questions about the Arts Equity Funding Initiative Program
What is the Arts Equity Funding Initiative?
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.
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?
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
Who can I contact for more information about the Arts Equity Funding Initiative?
You can contact Arts Nova Scotia by email at artsnssubmissions@novascotia.ca or by phone at (902) 497-8538.
Where is the Arts Equity Funding Initiative available?
The Arts Equity Funding Initiative program is available the province of Nova Scotia.