How much funding can be received?

The Canada Arts Presentation Fund – Programming: Professional Arts Festivals and Performing Arts Series Presenters provides up to $100,000 per year in grants to support not-for-profit organizations in presenting professional arts festivals and performing arts series across Canada. Eligible activities include artistic performances, audience development, community outreach, professional development for presenters, and collaborative partnerships.

Financing terms and conditions

The total government assistance (federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal) cannot exceed 90% of total project-related costs.
Professional Arts Festivals: funding of up to 25% of eligible expenses, with a maximum of $100,000 per year (grants) or $500,000 per year (contributions); in exceptional cases, up to $1,000,000 for festivals with eligible expenses above $5,000,000.
Performing Arts Series Presenters: funding up to 25% of eligible expenses, with a maximum of $100,000 (grants) or $200,000 (contributions).
In rare circumstances, funding may cover up to 50% of eligible expenses for underserved or barrier-facing communities or disciplines, subject to program validation.
In-kind contributions are recognized as real contributions but are not reimbursable.

Eligible projects & activities

Presenting a minimum of three distinct professional shows as part of a performing arts series, featuring works from more than one province or territory.
Organizing festivals that present at least three distinct professional performances or events in one or several artistic disciplines and from more than one province or territory.
Carrying out community engagement activities, including audience development and outreach initiatives.
Facilitating professional development or networking activities for arts presenters, such as workshops and conferences.
Establishing partnerships and collaborations with other arts presenters, not-for-profit arts organizations, or educational institutions.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 48,000

Launching bilingual e-commerce site for eco-friendly cosmetics startup

$ 62,500

Implementing green packaging solutions for artisanal food producers

$ 35,500

Expanding after-school STEM program with robotics kits for youth

$ 55,500

Developing accessible guided tours using an inclusive mobile app

$ 75,000

Upgrading recycling infrastructure at a worker-owned urban brewery

$ 40,000

Digitizing equipment booking for community arts studios

Eligibility criteria of the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF) – Soutien à la programmation : Festivals artistiques et diffuseurs de saisons de spectacles professionnels program

The applicant must be a Canadian not-for-profit organization, a provincial, territorial or municipal institution, or an Indigenous institution or organization.
The organization must have a clear focus on professional arts presentation in its mandate and governance documents.
The mission must include the presentation of works by professional artists.
The organization must have been in continuous professional operation for at least one year before the application deadline.
The organization must present works originating from more than one province or territory and pay guaranteed fees to professional artists for their presentations.

Who is eligible?

Not-for-profit organizations professionally presenting arts festivals or performing arts series
Provincial, territorial, or municipal institutions (including agencies and public educational institutions organizing arts presentations)
Indigenous institutions or organizations (Inuit, Métis, First Nations)

Who is not eligible

For-profit companies and organizations (the program is only open to not-for-profit entities, government institutions, and Indigenous organizations).
Organizations whose main activity is commercial, or whose mandate does not focus on professional arts presentation.
Companies or entities seeking support for book fairs, galas, competitions, receptions, hospitality events, tours, creation or production activities, infrastructure projects, deficit reduction plans, feasibility studies, literary reading series, and film, video, or media arts series.
Organizations receiving funding for the same festival or activities under the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program.
Entities whose projects specifically celebrate Canada Day, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, or Multiculturalism Day.

Eligible expenses

Costs related to the selection of artists, including artists’ fees, per diems, accommodation, and travel for artists.
Salaries or fees for administrative and presenting staff.
Promotion and marketing expenses, including social media campaigns.
Rental of halls and venues or equivalent operating costs.
Technical and front of house expenses.
Expenses for community engagement activities, including audience development and outreach.
Costs for organizing volunteer participation and related training materials.
Training and professional development costs for arts presenters, such as workshop facilitation, registration fees, materials, coordination, mentorship, business-related travel, accommodation, and per diems.
General administration costs directly related to the project.

Eligible geographic areas

All regions of Canada

Eligibility criteria of the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF) – Soutien à la programmation : Festivals artistiques et diffuseurs de saisons de spectacles professionnels program

Relevance of programming (30%): Alignment between the organization's mandate, artistic vision, proposed programming, and CAPF objectives; contribution to a diversity of professional artistic offerings for Canadians; and demonstration of the organization's role within local, regional, national, or international arts presentation.
Impact on audiences, artists, and communities (40%): Ability to retain, expand, or diversify audiences; development of partnerships that connect arts and communities; presenting conditions for professional artists; and suitability of the marketing and communication plan, including a fair ticket policy if applicable.
Management and financial health (30%): Adequacy of resources and expertise to implement proposed activities; and realistic, balanced budget with diversified public and private sector funding, and evidence of sound financial performance.

How to apply to the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF) – Soutien à la programmation : Festivals artistiques et diffuseurs de saisons de spectacles professionnels program

Review guidelines and confirm eligibility

Read the official Application Guidelines in full
Contact your nearest Department of Canadian Heritage office to verify organizational and project eligibility

Prepare application and documents

Gather all required supporting documents as listed in the guidelines
Complete the General Application Form
Prepare supplementary information (budget template, board resolution, financial statements, etc.)

Finalize and review application package

Sign and date the complete General Application Form
Verify that all supporting documents are attached
Ensure the application package is complete and accurate

Submit application to regional office

Submit your application by mail, courier, hand-delivery, or email to the appropriate regional office
Ensure submission by the deadline (postmark or electronic timestamp must meet requirements)

Await application review and follow-up

Receive acknowledgment of application receipt from the Department of Canadian Heritage
Provide any additional information if requested within five business days

Additional information

Application deadlines are April 1 and October 15, with specific timeline criteria for project start dates.
In-kind contributions are considered part of the project budget but are not reimbursable.
The CAPF reserves the right to target funding at specific activities, and decisions regarding funding amounts are final.
Organizations must acknowledge the financial support received in both English and French in all communications and promotional materials.