Cultural Development Fund

• The organization must be legally constituted or in the process of being so and located in one of the 13 municipalities of the MRC of La Vallée-du-Richelieu.
• The proposed project must be new or have an original dimension.
• The project must take place within the territory of the MRC of La Vallée-du-Richelieu.
• The project must align with at least one of the orientations of the Cultural Policy of the MRCVR and contribute to the promotion of the territory.
• For visual arts organizations, budget for the costs of installation, lighting, and maintenance, with prior agreements for the implementation site.

Who is eligible?

• Non-profit organizations (related to the cultural sector)
• Non-profit cooperatives working in culture
• Artists, professional authors, and self-employed workers in the cultural sector

Who is not eligible

• School boards and schools.
• Municipalities.
• Private companies (for-profit companies).

Eligible expenses

• Remuneration and social charges of personnel dedicated exclusively to the project as well as regular staff for the time spent on the project (supporting documents required).
• Professional fees and honoraria.
• Costs of renting equipment or premises.
• Purchase of specialized materials or equipment essential for the completion of the project (limited to 50% of the project cost, except for digital projects, when renting is not possible or less economical).
• Study and consulting fees.
• Promotion costs related to the project.
• Purchases of rights related to the project.
• Specialized training costs directly related to the project.
• Travel costs necessary for the completion of the project.
• Any other justified expense recognized as eligible by the selection committee.

Eligible geographic areas

• Businesses or organizations located in one of the 13 municipalities of the MRC of La Vallée-du-Richelieu: Beloeil, Carignan, Chambly, McMasterville, Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Otterburn Park, Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu, and Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil.

• Scope of the project on the community, including qualitative and economic impacts, significant outreach throughout the MRCVR, the number of people and municipalities affected, as well as community support.
• Relevance of the project in relation to the existing cultural offering, its complementarity and contribution to the enrichment of regional identity, and alignment with the objectives of the MRCVR's Cultural Policy.
• Innovative character of the project, regarding its originality or the introduction of new elements in the proposed activities.
• Realism of the presented budget and diversity of revenue sources, including the involvement of partners.
• Applicant's capacity to carry out the project, in relation to overall quality, available resources, team skills, confirmed collaborators or partners, and the feasibility of the timeline.

• Step 1: Preparation of required documents
  • Download and complete the project submission form.
  • Gather all mandatory documents related to the application (resume, letters of support, funding confirmations, resolution excerpts, letters patent, updated list of directors, etc. as applicable).
  • Attach any submission or bids related to eligible expenses, if necessary.
  • Ensure the file is complete and complies with the requirements.
• Step 2: Submission of the application
  • Submit the duly completed project submission form and all required documents by email to the attention of the cultural development advisor of the MRCVR at the following address: dev.culturel@mrcvr.ca.
  • Send it before the deadline (Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM).
• Step 3: Verification and follow-up
  • Check with the cultural development advisor that all mandatory documents accompany the application before the submission deadline.

• The Cultural Development Fund was established in 2012, with interruptions in 2016 and 2017.
• The current project submission period runs from December 8, 2025, to February 8, 2026.
• The fund operates through an agreement with the Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCC).
• Applicants are required to submit all mandatory documents alongside the project submission form.