How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $2500000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2025-04-23T23:59:59Z.

Who are the financial supporters of the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream?

Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream is funded by Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada

What are Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream's eligibility criterias?

Must be incorporated under Canadian federal, provincial, or territorial laws. Must be a for-profit Canadian-owned and -controlled company with annual revenues up to $500M. Must have at least one full-time employee (minimum 30 hours/week).

Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream

Last Update: June 3, 2025

Canada

Funding for Canadian creative industry exports

Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $2,500,000
Up to 75% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : April 1, 2025
Closing date : April 23, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries
Arts, entertainment and recreation

Grant Providers

Canadian Heritage
Government of Canada

Status

Open

Overview of the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream program

The Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream offers up to $2.5 million in non-repayable funding to support Canadian creative industry projects aimed at increasing export revenues and reaching international markets. Eligible activities include marketing, acquisition of digital technologies, professional services, and project-specific administrative and translation costs.

Financing terms and conditions

Maximum financial assistance from all government sources (federal, provincial, territorial, municipal) is capped at 75% of eligible project costs.
The program can fund up to a maximum of $2.5 million per application.
Projects must have a minimum total cost of $150,000, with at least 25% funded by private sources (including the applicant's contribution).

Eligible projects & activities

Export-ready projects that aim to generate export revenues for Canadian creative industries.
Initiatives involving the international marketing and commercialization of artistic craft, audiovisual, design (exhibit, fashion, artistic product, public art, urban), music, performing arts, publishing (books and periodicals), visual arts, or interactive digital media (combined with another creative industry listed above).
Collective initiatives, such as trade events or trade missions, that benefit project participants or third parties who possess or have secured appropriate intellectual property rights for targeted markets.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 45,000

Market analysis and strategy development for exporting organic skincare products to South Korea

$ 123,000

Developing an interactive educational app tailored for German-speaking markets

$ 40,000

Translation and adaptation of a Canadian children's book series for the Japanese market

$ 70,000

Localization of digital educational games for the French-speaking market in West Africa

$ 25,000

Creating promotional materials for a Canadian indie music band touring Europe

$ 40,000

Participation in international trade shows to promote Canadian animation content in Southeast Asia

Eligibility criteria of the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream program

The applicant must be a company or organization incorporated under the laws of Canada, a province, or a territory, or be registered on First Nations reserve lands (with proof of registration).
The applicant must be a for-profit company or a not-for-profit organization.
The company or organization must be Canadian-owned and controlled.
The applicant must have no more than $500 million in annual revenues, including the parent company's revenues if applicable.
The company or organization must have at least one full-time employee (working a minimum of 30 hours a week, salaried).

Who is eligible?

For-profit companies
Not-for-profit organizations
Organizations operating within the following creative industries: artistic craft, audiovisual, design (limited to exhibit, fashion, artistic product, public art, urban), music, performing arts, publishing (books and periodicals), visual art
Organizations in interactive digital media (in combination with at least one of the above creative industries)

Who is not eligible

Individuals (not incorporated as a company or organization).
Public relations agencies or marketing agencies.
Entities or subsidiaries of a parent company with more than $500 million in annual revenues in their most recent fiscal year.
Other financial support programs or funds, either public or private.
Recipients who have received three or more years of Creative Export Canada funding in the last five years (including entities or subsidiaries of a parent company).

Eligible expenses

Development costs and acquisition of digital or other technologies directly related to the project.
Professional services and portion of employees' salaries that are directly attributable to the project.
Travel expenses directly related to the project, within the limits established by the National Joint Council Travel Directive.
Marketing expenses that are linked to the project’s objectives.
Administrative costs associated with the project (e.g., general office supplies, mailing, cloud storage), up to 15% of the total funding requested.
Translation and interpretation costs related to the project, up to 10% of the total funding requested.

Eligible geographic areas

Companies and organizations incorporated under the laws of Canada, a province, or a territory
Entities registered on First Nations reserve lands within Canada

Eligibility criteria of the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream program

Viability and potential of the project to generate export revenue, as detailed in the export plan.
Ability of the project to generate a return on the program’s contribution.
Impact on Canadian creative industries.
Growth potential, including the capacity to expand or be replicated in other international markets.
Innovation and strength of strategic collaborations or partnerships that reinforce the project.

How to apply to the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream program

Verify eligibility requirements

Review the application guidelines in full before starting
Ensure your organization and project meet eligibility requirements

Prepare required application documents

Gather all required documentation, including:
Completed, dated and signed Application Form
Project budget
Export plan (maximum 25 or 50 pages as required)
Incorporation or registration documents
Most recent financial statements (past two fiscal years)
Written confirmation of other sources of funding or partnerships, if applicable

Complete the application form

Complete, sign, and date the official Application Form
Attach all required supporting documents

Submit your application package

Submit your full application package electronically to creativeexportcanada-exportationcreativecanada@pch.gc.ca
Ensure the submission is before the deadline (11:59 p.m. Pacific time on the application deadline)
If files exceed 16MB, send in multiple emails and label accordingly
Do not use file hosting or sharing sites for submissions

Wait for receipt acknowledgment

Await an email acknowledgment of receipt from the program
If you do not receive confirmation within two weeks, contact the program

Application evaluation and decision

Application is assessed by the internal Review Committee
Additional consultations with federal departments or agencies may occur
Receive funding decision notification once assessment is complete

Additional information

A portion of funding is reserved for organizations where at least 50% of owners or board members self-identify as Indigenous or from equity-deserving groups, eligible through a voluntary self-identification questionnaire.
Applications must be submitted electronically and cannot be sent via file hosting or sharing websites; packages over 16MB must be split into multiple emails.
Failure to submit a final report for previously funded projects may impact future application eligibility.
Applicants must retain project-related documentation for five years for potential audit or evaluation.