How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

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

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

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

The company/organization must be incorporated under the laws of Canada, a province, or a territory. It must be Canadian-owned and -controlled, with a maximum of $500M in annual revenues. The company/organization must have a minimum of one full-time employee working at least 30 hours a week.

Creative Export Canada — Export-Ready Stream

grant_single|update April 19, 2025

Canada

Funding for Canadian creative industry exports

grant_single_labels|summary

grant_single_labels|preview

grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions

grant_single_labels|projects

grant_single_labels|admissibility

grant_single_labels|criteria

grant_single_labels|apply

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

grant_single_labels|contact

grant_single_labels|summary

grant_single|eligibleFinancing

grant_single|projectCostPercent

grant_single|deadlines

grant_single|openingDate April 1, 2024
grant_single|closingDate April 23, 2024

grant_single|financingType

Grant and Funding

grant_single|eligibleIndustries

Arts, entertainment and recreation

grant_single|grantors

Canadian Heritage
Government of Canada

grant_single|status

grant_card_status|open

grant_card_status|closingSoon

grant_single_labels|preview

Funding for projects that generate export revenues and help creative industries increase export profitability around the world.

grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions

The total financial assistance from the Export-Ready Stream and all levels of government cannot exceed 75% of eligible project-related costs.
Funded projects will likely receive less than 75% of the total eligible project costs due to the program’s competitive nature.
The maximum funding amount available per application is $2.5 million.

grant_single_labels|projects

Projects that are export-ready at the project start date, with content ready to be marketed and a fully developed export plan.
Projects aimed at generating new export revenues for Canadian creative industries, specifically in the following sectors: artistic craft, audiovisual, design (limited to exhibit, fashion, artistic product, public art, urban), music, performing arts, publishing (books and periodicals), visual art, and interactive digital media (when combined with at least one of the aforementioned industries).

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$ 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

$ 123,000

Developing an interactive educational app tailored for German-speaking markets

$ 45,000

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

$ 40,000

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

grant_single_labels|admissibility

The applicant must be incorporated under the laws of Canada, a province, or a territory, OR be a company/organization registered on First Nations reserve lands with proof of registration.
The applicant must be a for-profit company or not-for-profit organization.
The applicant must be Canadian-owned and -controlled.
The applicant must have a maximum of $500 million in annual revenues.
The applicant must have a minimum of one full-time employee (who works at least 30 hours per week and receives a salary).
The applicant must own the intellectual property rights for the content, or hold rights of usage for third-party intellectual property in the targeted markets.
The project must be export-ready at the start date (content ready to be marketed and export plan fully developed).
The project must expect to generate new export revenues.
The project must export content from eligible creative industries: artistic craft, audiovisual, design (exhibit, fashion, artistic product, public art, urban), music, performing arts, publishing (books and periodicals), visual art, or interactive digital media (in combination with one of the other eligible industries).
The project must have a minimum total cost of $150,000.
The project must be funded at a minimum of 25% by private sources, which may include the applicant’s own contribution.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

For-profit companies
Not-for-profit organizations
Companies/organizations incorporated under the laws of Canada, a province or a territory
Companies/organizations registered on First Nations reserve lands
Canadian-owned and -controlled entities
Entities operating in one or more of the following creative industries:
Artistic craft
Audiovisual
Design (exhibit, fashion, artistic product, public art, urban)
Music
Performing arts
Publishing (books and periodicals)
Visual art
Interactive digital media (in combination with at least one of the industries listed above)

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply

Individuals (not companies or organizations).
Other financial support programs or funds, whether public or private.
Public relations agencies.
Marketing agencies.
Entities or subsidiaries of a parent company with more than $500 million in annual revenues in their most recent fiscal year.
Recipients who have received three or more years of Creative Export Canada funding in the last five years (from 2020-2021 to 2024-2025), including entities or subsidiaries of a parent company.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

Development costs and/or acquisition of digital or other technologies.
Professional services or the portion of employees' salaries directly related to the project.
Travel-related expenses directly related to the project, not exceeding rates permitted for travel on government business (in accordance with the National Joint Council Travel Directive).
Marketing expenses.
Project-related administrative costs (e.g., general office supplies, mailing, and cloud storage costs), limited to a maximum of 15% of the total amount of funding requested from the Export-Ready Stream (ERS).
Project-related translation and interpretation expenses, limited to a maximum of 10% of the total amount of funding requested from the ERS.

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

This grant is available to companies located throughout Canada. Businesses must be incorporated under Canadian federal or provincial/territorial laws to qualify for this opportunity.

All provinces and territories of Canada.

grant_single_labels|criteria

Project’s viability and potential 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.
Project’s growth potential (capacity to expand or be replicated in other international markets).
Degree of innovation involved in the project.
Strength of strategic collaborations/partnerships that reinforce the project.
Applicant’s demonstrated need for funding.
Level of commitment provided by the organization and/or project to empower and/or promote the creative works of Indigenous peoples and/or members of equity-deserving communities.
Support provided by the organization and/or project to promote environmental sustainability practices.

grant_single_labels|apply

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

Funding decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
Funding is provided as a contribution, not as a loan, and is contingent on signing a funding agreement outlining terms and conditions.
If you receive $250,000 or more in funding, you must submit an audited financial report or audited financial statements for the project's costs.
A final report is required up to six months after the project end date; submission of this report is mandatory for future application eligibility.
The Department of Canadian Heritage may require interim reports during the project period.
Failure to submit final or required reports by the specified deadlines may make you ineligible for future funding or require repayment of funds.
You may retain records, documents, and information related to the project for five years for potential audits or evaluations by the Department.
The program reserves funding for applicants with at least 50% Indigenous and/or equity-deserving ownership or board members, contingent on completing the voluntary self-identification questionnaire.
You can only submit one application per deadline, including for subsidiaries or related entities of a parent company.
If you have not received an acknowledgment of receipt within two weeks after submitting your application, it is your responsibility to contact the program.
All communications and public materials resulting from funded projects must acknowledge the Government of Canada's financial support in both English and French.
Applicants must comply with anti-racism, anti-hate, and workplace well-being requirements, and with official languages requirements as outlined in the funding agreement.
The information submitted may be disclosed as per the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act, and for program evaluation and transparency purposes.
Contact for further questions: creativeexportcanada-exportationcreativecanada@pch.gc.ca or the phone numbers provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage.