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Creative Export Canada (CEC)  — Export-Ready Stream - Canada

Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream

Last Update: July 22, 2025
Canada
Funding for Canadian creative industry exports

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
Funds Providers
Unspecified
Program status
Open

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.

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).

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.
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

  • 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

Selection criteria

  • 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

1

Verify eligibility requirements

  • Review the application guidelines in full before starting
  • Ensure your organization and project meet eligibility requirements
2

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
3

Complete the application form

  • Complete, sign, and date the official Application Form
  • Attach all required supporting documents
4

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
5

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
6

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.

Contacts

creativeexportcanada-exportationcreativecanada@pch.gc.ca
819-997-0055
Apply to this program

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?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream a grant, loan, or tax credit?

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

Who is eligible for the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream program?

Who can I contact for more information about the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream?

Where is the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream available?

Are women eligible for the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream program?

Are Indigenous Peoples eligible for the Creative Export Canada (CEC) — Export-Ready Stream program?

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