Closed
Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists
Supports Ottawa artists in creating and producing new works
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 15,000
Timeline
- Closing date : May 27, 2026
Location
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Creation and Production Fund for Artists provides up to $10,000 for creation projects and up to $15,000 for production projects to support the development, completion, and public presentation of new artistic work. This municipal grant is open to individual artists in Ottawa, funding activities such as research, writing, composing, choreography, staging performances, mounting exhibitions, and other creative or production-related initiatives.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
Timeline
- Closing date : May 27, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Ottawa
- Ontario
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Newcomers to Canada
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Creation of new artistic works, such as writing, composing, choreographing, or developing original material in any artistic discipline.
- Production and public presentation of completed artistic works, including staging performances, mounting exhibitions, or producing concerts or recordings within Ottawa or Anishinabe Algonquin Nation territories.
- Independent film and video projects, covering script development, documentary research, and the production process.
- Interdisciplinary arts projects that combine different artistic forms, such as digital media with dance or visual arts, and the development of graphic novels or multimedia productions.
- Completion of works in progress in the fields of literary, visual, media, performing, or interdisciplinary arts.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Individual artists in the literary, visual, media, interdisciplinary, and performing arts
Who is not eligible
- Collectives, organizations, and groups cannot apply (only individual artists are eligible).
- Producers and presenters are not eligible for this fund.
- Managers or agents applying on behalf of artists, ensembles, groups, or bands are not eligible.
- Cover bands and projects involving the manufacture and distribution of products in multiple copies are not eligible.
- Businesses or organizations applying for commercial purposes, fundraising, or arts education activities are not eligible.
Eligible expenses
- Artist fees and payments to collaborators directly involved in the project
- Cost-of-living expenses for the artist during creation (such as rent, food, or caregiving)
- Materials and supplies necessary for the creation or production of the artistic work
- Studio or rehearsal space rental fees
- Technical or equipment expenses essential to the project (excluding purchases of equipment, instruments, computers, or software)
- Venue rental for production-related activities (for production projects only)
- Insurance expenses related to production activities
- Administration and mentor fees directly related to the project
Eligible geographic areas
- City of Ottawa residents
- Anishinabe Algonquin artists living within a 150 km radius of Ottawa
- Residents of Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation or Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation
Selection criteria
- Artistic merit, including the strength of the proposed body of work and its relationship to previous work.
- Strength of artistic vision and goals, as well as artistic excellence and innovation.
- Technical competence and artistic impact of the project.
- Effectiveness of planning, including the viability of the project and realistic budgeting.
- Track record of the applicant and the contribution to the artistic discipline.
How to apply
1
Review guidelines and confirm eligibility
- Read the program guidelines and terms and conditions
- Contact a Cultural Funding Officer if you are a first-time applicant to confirm eligibility and discuss the application process
- Decide if you will apply for a creation or production project
2
Prepare application materials
- Prepare written responses to all required application questions, ensuring you do not exceed the word limits
- Gather all supporting and required documents, including your artistic résumé, budget, and support material by discipline (maximum 6 samples)
- If needed, request assistance or an accessible budget template from the support unit
3
Submit application through online portal
- Complete the online application form using the portal
- Upload all required documents and support material
- Submit all materials no later than 4 pm on the published deadline date
- Ensure your application is complete before submitting; late or incomplete applications will not be considered
4
Await assessment and results
- Wait for the Cultural Funding Support Unit to review and assess your application
- Peer assessment committee will evaluate based on published criteria
- Notification of results will be sent by email within six months of the application deadline
Additional information
- There are two application deadlines per year, and applicants can only submit to one deadline each year.
- Application results are communicated by email within six months of the deadline; there is no appeal of funding decisions except in cases of procedural error.
- Support material total review time is limited to seven minutes for audio and video content per application—cue times must be provided.
- Recipients must submit a final report detailing the use of funds, and failure to do so will render the applicant ineligible for future funding.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists Program
What is the Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists?
The Creation and Production Fund for Artists provides up to $10,000 for creation projects and up to $15,000 for production projects to support the development, completion, and public presentation of new artistic work. This municipal grant is open to individual artists in Ottawa, funding activities such as research, writing, composing, choreography, staging performances, mounting exhibitions, and other creative or production-related initiatives.
How much funding can be received?
Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists Funds up to $15,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists program?
To be eligible for the Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists program, you must:
No eligibility for organizations or businesses; this fund is for individual artists only.
What expenses are eligible under Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists?
Creation of new artistic works, such as writing, composing, choreographing, or developing original material in any artistic discipline.
Production and public presentation of completed artistic works, including staging performances, mounting exhibitions, or producing concerts or recordings within Ottawa or Anishinabe Algonquin Nation territories.
Independent film and video projects, covering script development, documentary research, and the production process.
Interdisciplinary arts projects that combine different artistic forms, such as digital media with dance or visual arts, and the development of graphic novels or multimedia productions.
Completion of works in progress in the fields of literary, visual, media, performing, or interdisciplinary arts.
Who can I contact for more information about the Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists?
You can contact City of Ottawa by email at infoculture@ottawa.ca or by phone at 613.580.2424.
Where is the Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists available?
The Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Cultural Funding - Creation and production fund for artists is a Grant and Funding