Closed
Source verified July 31, 2026
CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)
Supports arts festival production and operations
Latest source updateLast Update: July 31, 2026Latest change: The Emerging Festivals guideline now shows detailed eligibility requirements and application instructions, including an information session date of Thursday, 16 April 2026 at 5:00 PM.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 31, 2026
Latest change: The Emerging Festivals guideline now shows detailed eligibility requirements and application instructions, including an information session date of Thursday, 16 April 2026 at 5:00 PM.
CKAF Emerging Festivals guideline updated
The CKAF 2026 Festival Grant Guidelines for Emerging Festivals now show detailed eligibility requirements and application instructions that were not visible in the earlier page view. The supporting guideline also lists the information session as Thursday, 16 April 2026 at 5:00 PM, compared with the earlier festival-page date of Tuesday, 14 April 2026 at 5:00 PM. The updated guideline text clarifies eligible applications, applicant responsibilities, and submission expectations for emerging festivals, including the supporting document list and review conditions.
Funding available
$ 10,000 - $ 55,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Who can apply
Non-profit organizations and collectives may apply for Emerging Festivals.
See full eligibility
Overview
CKAF Festival Grants supports non-profit organizations, collectives, and incorporated non-profit arts organizations in the City of Kingston through annual grants, with grants from $10,000 to $55,000 for Established Festivals and from $10,000 to $20,000 for Emerging Festivals. It funds the production, presentation, and operations of arts festivals between September 2026 and December 2027.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
- Develop a new program or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 55,000 $
- Minimum amount : 10,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Kingston
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- $ 55,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Production, presentation, and operations of arts festivals that have a city-wide impact
Documents Needed
- Application Form (signed)
- Budget Form
- Supplementary Material (5 pieces)
- Partnership Letters, if applicable
- Year-End Financial Statements
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Non-profit organizations and collectives may apply for Emerging Festivals.
- Incorporated non-profit arts organizations may apply for Established Festivals.
- Organizations registered in nearby areas, including First Nation or Indigenous communities, may be considered eligible at the discretion of the Kingston Arts Council and the City of Kingston, provided the majority of festival activities occur within the City of Kingston.
Who is not eligible
- Festivals not primarily focused on the arts.
- Commercial, for-profit businesses and/or festivals.
- Organizations or collectives based on fundraising or building awareness for a third party, such as a charitable cause or political movement, focused on religious practice, or the goal to change religious belief.
- Organizations or collectives that directly deliver curriculum-based education (such as a school) or which are based on the pursuit of a postsecondary diploma or degree.
- Organizations already receiving funding from the City of Kingston through other sources including grants or Service Level Agreements; organizations may only receive funding through one CKAF grant stream annually.
Eligible expenses
- Artists fees
- Travel and Accommodations
- Production and technical (including equipment and venue rental)
- Marketing, promotion, and audience development
- Administration, insurance, staffing, accessibility, security and policing, and volunteer program development and training
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Capital projects
- Furthering a for-profit venture or to advantage a for-profit partner
- Alcohol
- Major equipment purchases
- Fundraising or recovering the costs of an applicant’s financial deficits
Selection criteria
- Jurors assign each assessment criterion a score on a scale of 1 to 5.
- Emerging Festivals: Artistic Merit, Artistic Programming and Service Quality, Impact and Benefit to Kingston Residents, Financial Management and Viability, and Administration and Viability.
- Established Festivals: Artistic Mandate, Artistic Programming and Service Quality, Impact and Benefit to Kingston Residents, Financial Management and Viability, and Leadership, Administration, and Governance.
How to apply
- Review the 2026 CKAF Festival Grant Guidelines.
- Established Festivals must book a consultation with KAC staff before Thursday, 23 April 2026 to assess eligibility for this application type, unless they received a CKAF 2025 Operating Grant.
- Applications must be submitted by email to grants@artskingston.ca.
- All application files should be attached and submitted in one (1) email; if the attachments are too large, send them as a ZIP folder.
- Review the detailed application instructions and application checklist before submitting to ensure all required materials are included.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by a jury of artists and arts professionals.
- Results Expected Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
Additional information
- This program has two categories, based on years of operation and festival history.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- ADAPT (2021) - Adapt GrantsSupport for pandemic-related arts projects in Kingston
- CKAF Operating Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)Operating support for Kingston arts organizations
- CKAF Project Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)Supports Kingston arts projects and creative activities
- Resiliency Grants (2021)Funding for Kingston professional artists
Frequently Asked Questions about the CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) Program
What is the CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)?
CKAF Festival Grants supports non-profit organizations, collectives, and incorporated non-profit arts organizations in the City of Kingston through annual grants, with grants from $10,000 to $55,000 for Established Festivals and from $10,000 to $20,000 for Emerging Festivals. It funds the production, presentation, and operations of arts festivals between September 2026 and December 2027.
How much funding can be received?
CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) Funds up to $55,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) program?
To be eligible for the CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) program, you must:
The festival must be arts-focused and meet the program’s definition of a festival.
The festival must take place in the City of Kingston for one day to one month between September 2026 and December 2027.
Programming must be open to the broader public, with some free or discounted access.
What expenses are eligible under CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)?
Production, presentation, and operations of arts festivals that have a city-wide impact
Who can I contact for more information about the CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund)?
You can contact Kingston Arts Council (KAC) by email at grants@artskingston.ca or by phone at 613-546-2787.
Where is the CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) available?
The CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
CKAF Festival Grants (City of Kingston Arts Fund) is a Grant and Funding