Closed
Source verified August 4, 2026
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF)
Supports cultural space improvements and specialized equipment
Latest source updateLast Update: June 29, 2026Latest change: The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund now shows that eligible expenses must fall between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2028, and applications for projects beginning in or incurring expenses after April 1, 2028 are not accepted.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: June 29, 2026
Latest change: The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund now shows that eligible expenses must fall between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2028, and applications for projects beginning in or incurring expenses after April 1, 2028 are not accepted.
CCSF now shows April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2028 intake window
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund now shows a defined intake window on the main program page and in the updates page: eligible expenses must be incurred between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2028, while funds remain available. The same pages also state that applications are not accepted for projects that begin in or have expenses after April 1, 2028. The eligibility focus on renovation, specialized equipment, and the existing exclusions for planning/design, feasibility studies, facility assessments, and construction remains in place.
Funding available
$ 5,000,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Not-for-profit art and/or heritage organizations incorporated under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act or equivalent provincial or territorial legislation, active in the execution of their arts or heritage mandate for over 2 years.
See full eligibility
Overview
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund supports not-for-profit arts and heritage organizations, provincial or territorial governments, municipal administrations, and Indigenous governing bodies with up to 50% of eligible expenses to improve cultural spaces and access. It funds specialized equipment and renovation of arts or heritage spaces, plus accessibility improvements, safety systems, and project-related administrative costs.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Implement environmental initiatives
- Renovate or expand facilities
- Renovate or adapt facilities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- General public
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Rural / Remote communities
- Artists / creatives
- Nonprofits / charities
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Renovation of an arts or heritage space.
- Purchase and installation of specialized equipment for an arts or heritage space.
Documents Needed
- Application form
- All required supporting documents
- Formal business plan, including a financial operating forecast for the three years following project completion, for funding requests over $1,000,000
- Supporting documentation such as quotes and estimates for renovation and construction projects with a total cost of $5 million or more
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Not-for-profit art and/or heritage organizations incorporated under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act or equivalent provincial or territorial legislation, active in the execution of their arts or heritage mandate for over 2 years.
- Provincial/territorial governments, municipal administrations, or one of their agencies, including post-secondary institutions, that have historically demonstrated their commitment to arts or heritage activities.
- Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis) governing bodies or one of their agencies that have historically demonstrated their commitment to artistic or heritage activities.
Who is not eligible
- Federal departments, agencies, and federal Crown corporations.
- Unincorporated organizations.
- For-profit entities.
- Individuals.
Eligible expenses
- Project-related expenses that can be of cash and in-kind value.
- Renovation-related costs, including property acquisition and transfers, project-related interest on short-term financing, demolition and excavation, materials and labour, fire, safety and security systems, accessibility improvements, environmental practices and sustainable construction, fixed seating, purchase of an existing arts or heritage space, Government of Canada Infrastructure Project Signage, and purchase and installation of public art as part of a renovation project.
- Costs related to the acquisition and installation of specialized equipment, including sound and lighting equipment, seating, stage curtains, staging and rigging equipment, multimedia equipment, portable dance floor or stage, integrated data collecting and ticketing system, hygrothermographs and environmental control systems, hanging or storage systems, cases, panels and interactive displays related to a permanent exhibit, and initial trainer fees.
- Project-related administrative expenses up to 5% of eligible expenses, including carrying costs, calls for tender, services to provide materials in both official languages and/or in Indigenous languages, project audit fees, and signage required for acknowledgement of financial assistance.
- In-kind contributions that are essential to the project’s success, eligible, measurable at fair market value, and balanced by an equal revenue in the project budget.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs related to the development of the project proposal and/or application, including fees for professional grant writers.
- Taxes and travel.
- Routine maintenance and repair; operating expenses including fixed costs and staff time; restoration, conservation, reproduction, and refurbishment of artefacts or collections; commissioning and purchasing of works of art; landscaping for beautification; parking lots; and long-term accrued interest on financing.
- Musical instruments and cases; office equipment, furniture and computers dedicated to administrative tasks; administrative systems; and equipment for revenue-generating spaces, including commercial beverage and food facilities and/or gift shop contents.
- Historic building renovations or restorations not directly linked to professional arts or heritage programming; construction or renovations to the physical envelope of buildings not owned by the applicant; projects primarily involving space for worship or congregational purposes, or cemeteries; purchase or replacement of highway or roadway tourism signage; programming of spaces; purchase, design, or production of exhibit content or artistic works; infrastructure planning and design documents; feasibility studies; facility assessments; and construction projects.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Project viability, demonstrated impact in meeting CCSF objectives and expected results, and the extent to which the project addresses the needs of underserved communities and groups such as official-language minority communities, Indigenous communities, and ethnocultural communities.
- Availability and quality of arts and heritage spaces.
- Availability and access to quality arts and heritage experiences.
- Advancement of arts and heritage practice and profession in Canada.
- Long-term sustainability of the organization, including management capacity, financial situation, and ability to manage long-term operational impact.
How to apply
- Read the Application Guidelines in their entirety before completing the application form.
- Contact the nearest Canadian Heritage regional office before applying.
- Complete, sign, and date the application form.
- Attach all required supporting documents.
- Submit the complete application package through only one means, such as email or mail.
Processing and Agreement
- The Department may request additional information for assessment purposes, and it must be provided within ten business days.
- Applications may be consulted with other federal departments or agencies, other provincial or territorial governments, municipal administrations, and provincial or territorial arts boards or arts councils.
- Decisions regarding eligibility and funding amounts are final.
- Funding may be provided as a grant or as a contribution, and a contribution requires a signed funding agreement before payment.
- At the end of the project, a grant may require a report and/or participation in the evaluation of results, while a contribution requires a final report; the Department may also audit accounts and records for compliance.
Additional information
- The current funding envelope has been reduced and reoriented over the next two fiscal years to focus solely on specialized equipment in the cultural sector.
- As of April 1, 2026, projects for completion of infrastructure planning and design documents, feasibility studies, and facility assessments are no longer accepted.
- Construction projects are no longer accepted, although exceptional circumstances may apply.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) Program
What is the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF)?
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund supports not-for-profit arts and heritage organizations, provincial or territorial governments, municipal administrations, and Indigenous governing bodies with up to 50% of eligible expenses to improve cultural spaces and access. It funds specialized equipment and renovation of arts or heritage spaces, plus accessibility improvements, safety systems, and project-related administrative costs.
How much funding can be received?
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $5,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) program?
To be eligible for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) program, you must:
Not-for-profit arts or heritage organizations incorporated under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act or equivalent provincial or territorial legislation, active in their arts or heritage mandate for over 2 years
Provincial/territorial governments, municipal administrations, or their agencies, including post-secondary institutions, with a historical commitment to arts or heritage activities
Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis) governing bodies or their agencies with a historical commitment to artistic or heritage activities
What expenses are eligible under Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF)?
Renovation of an arts or heritage space.
Purchase and installation of specialized equipment for an arts or heritage space.
Who can I contact for more information about the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF)?
You can contact Canadian Heritage by email at info@pch.gc.ca or by phone at 1-866-811-0055.
Where is the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) available?
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) program is available across Canada.
Is the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) is a Grant and Funding