Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream

• Completed, dated, and signed Application Form
• Project budget
• Export plan
• Incorporation documents or proof of registration on First Nations reserve lands, if applicable
• Most recent financial statements and written confirmation of other funding or partnerships, if applicable

Who is eligible?

• For-profit companies
• Not-for-profit organizations
• Canadian creative industry organizations

Who is not eligible

• Individuals.
• Public relations or marketing agencies.
• Entities or subsidiaries of a parent company with more than $500 million in annual revenues.
• Other financial support programs or funds, public or private.
• Recipients with three or more years of Creative Export Canada funding in the last five years.

Eligible expenses

• Development costs and acquisition of digital or other technologies directly related to the project.
• Professional services and salaries directly related to the project.
• Travel, marketing, administrative, translation, and interpretation costs directly related to the project.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Ongoing operating expenses and overhead costs.
• Capital expenses for ongoing operations, such as equipment purchases.
• Content creation and development, and production of export content.
• Hospitality, contingency, in-kind, prizes, gifts, and giveaways.
• Lobbying, public relations, policy work, and government-led trade mission travel.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada
• First Nations reserve lands in Canada

• Applications are reviewed by an internal Review Committee.
• Consultations may be carried out with other federal departments or agencies.
• Applicants are informed of the status of their application after assessment.
• Funding and eligibility decisions are final.
• A funding agreement is signed before payment, and final reporting is required.

• 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.