Black Arts Projects

Q: How much funding can be received?

Black Arts Projects Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses, capped at $20000 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2025-10-01T23:59:59Z.

Q: Is the Black Arts Projects a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Black Arts Projects is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Black Arts Projects?

Black Arts Projects is funded by Toronto Arts Council (TAO)

Q: Who is eligible for the Black Arts Projects program?

To be eligible for the Black Arts Projects program, you must: • The applicant must be a non-profit artistic organization, led, centered, and serving Black communities. • The organization must be located in the City of Toronto. • The project must primarily benefit the Black community and take place in Toronto.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Black Arts Projects?

You can contact Toronto Arts Council (TAO) by email at onika@torontoarts.org or by phone at 416-392-6802.

Q: Where is the Black Arts Projects available?

The Black Arts Projects program is available the province of ON.

Q: Are youth (under 40) eligible for the Black Arts Projects program?

Yes, youth under 40 are eligible to apply for the Black Arts Projects program.

Q: Are Indigenous Peoples eligible for the Black Arts Projects program?

Yes, Indigenous Peoples are eligible to apply for the Black Arts Projects program.

Last Update: August 18, 2025

Toronto, ON

Supports development and presentation of arts projects by Black creatives

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $20,000
Up to 100% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : January 1, 2025
Closing date : October 1, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Arts, entertainment and recreation

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

The Black Arts Projects grant provides up to $20,000 to support the creation, development, and presentation of arts projects by Black artists, collectives, and organizations. Funding is available for diverse activities including artistic production, mentorship, exhibition, and dissemination of work within the City of Toronto.

Financing terms and conditions

Maximum grant for Creation & Development projects is $10,000; with mentorship component, up to $15,000.
Maximum grant for Presentation projects is $15,000; with mentorship component, up to $20,000.
An additional budget of up to $5,000 is available for mentorship compensation.
Up to 100% of the requested project amount may be funded.
Accessibility grants of up to $5,000 are available to support accessibility costs during the project.

Activities funded

Creation, development, or completion of arts-based projects at any stage, including new work, works-in-progress, and arts education initiatives such as workshops.
Research and development activities for arts projects, such as concept exploration, process development, and information gathering.
Presentation, exhibition, or dissemination of completed artistic works through events like exhibitions, festivals, or performances.
Artistic mentorship integrated into project development or presentation, supporting professional growth within the arts.
Collaborative or multidisciplinary arts projects involving multiple artistic practices or partners.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 17,900

Production and public screening of a new short documentary

$ 19,500

Developing a Black youth visual arts mentorship program

$ 17,000

Curating and installing a group exhibition on Afrofuturism

$ 14,100

Launching a Black women’s storytelling podcast series

$ 19,800

Organizing a multidisciplinary Black arts festival weekend

$ 12,900

Research and development of a new Afro-Caribbean theatre play

Eligibility

The applicant must be an incorporated non-profit arts organization or an unincorporated collective operating on a non-profit basis that is Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving, or an individual Black professional artist.
The organization or collective must be located in the City of Toronto, and for collectives, the majority of members must be Black and residents of Toronto.
The proposed project must take place within the City of Toronto.
The payment of professional artists' fees must be included for all involved artists.

Who is eligible?

Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving not-for-profit arts organizations based in Toronto
Black artist collectives (two or more Black artists working together on a non-profit basis)
Individual Black professional artists residing in Toronto

Who is not eligible

Non-Black-led, non-Black-focused, and non-Black-serving organizations or collectives.
For-profit businesses and organizations.
Organizations and collectives that already receive Operating funding from the Toronto Arts Council (TAC).
Schools that are part of Ontario’s public or private education system.
Educational and religious institutions, unless arts activities are clearly separate from their regular activities and budgets.

Eligible expenses

Artistic, production, and administrative fees and costs, including venue, publicity, marketing, and outreach.
Fees paid to collaborators, mentors, and creative resources.
Studio costs, materials, and essential production elements.
Rental of space or software for research and interviews, as well as access to support materials such as archives.
Costs for visiting sites of significance.
Exhibition, presentation, and installation expenses, including rehearsal and production costs.
Dissemination costs, including promotional materials and outreach activities.

Eligible geographic areas

City of Toronto

Selection criteria

Artistic merit of the project.
Contribution of the project to the development of the applicant.
Financial viability and the ability of the applicant and participants to carry out the project.
For presentation projects: public impact, including the quality and effectiveness of publicity, marketing, outreach, and audience development strategies.
Contribution of the project to the development of the Black arts community (for presentation projects).

How to apply

Review guidelines and verify eligibility

Review the Black Arts Projects Program Guidelines to understand objectives and eligibility
Confirm your project fits the program's goals and requirements
Ensure you meet all residency and applicant criteria

Register and prepare application

Register for a TAC Grants Online account at https://tac.smartsimple.ca
Gather required personal and project information for application
Contact the Program Manager for clarification or accessibility support if needed

Complete application form

Fill out the online application, providing Artistic Statement, Project Description, Budget Information, and Support Materials
Include mentorship component if applicable, identifying mentor(s) and rationale
Request TAC Accessibility Grant or Application Accessibility Support if required

Review and finalize application

Review your application to ensure all sections are complete and accurate
Attach all necessary support materials and documentation
Confirm all relevant program requirements are addressed

Submit application online

Submit your completed application via TAC Grants Online before the program deadline
Ensure receipt of confirmation email acknowledging application submission

Await results notification

Wait approximately 3-4 months for the notification of results
Check your TAC Grants Online portal and email for updates

Additional information

Applicants will receive notification of results approximately 3 to 4 months after the submission date.
Grant recipients are required to submit a final report through the TAC's online granting portal.
Support material such as audio-visual files or written documents should be uploaded via the TAC application portal; Google Drive submissions are not accepted.
Questions and application answers may be submitted in written, audio, or video format, subject to length restrictions.

Contacts

onika@torontoarts.org

416-392-6802

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Black Arts Projects Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Black Arts Projects. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.