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Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream
Funding for Canadian creative industry exports
Last Update: May 11, 2026
Funding available
$ 2,500,000
Timeline
- Open Date : May 11, 2026
- Closing date : June 10, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
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.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop an online presence
- Access new markets
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 2,500,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : May 11, 2026
- Closing date : June 10, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- $ 500,000,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
- 1 employees minimum
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
- International Activities
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- LGBTQ+ community
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Artists / creatives
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- National
- International
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- 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.
Eligibility
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
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.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream?
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.
How much funding can be received?
Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $2,500,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is **June 10, 2026**. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.
Who is eligible for the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream program?
To be eligible for the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream program, you must:
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).
What expenses are eligible under Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream?
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.
Who can I contact for more information about the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream?
You can contact Canadian Heritage (PCH) by email at creativeexportcanada-exportationcreativecanada@pch.gc.ca or by phone at 819-997-0055.
Where is the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream available?
The Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream program is available across Canada.