Closed
Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund
Supports upgrades and development of Ottawa's local cultural spaces
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 15,000
Timeline
- Open Date : June 13, 2025
- Closing date : August 13, 2025
Location
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Cultural Facilities Fund offers grants of up to $15,000 for minor capital projects to help improve cultural venues in Ottawa, supporting activities such as equipment purchases, facility renovations, restorations, and feasibility studies. The program aims to enhance local arts, heritage, and cultural spaces through targeted funding for eligible non-profit organizations.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Renovate or expand facilities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : June 13, 2025
- Closing date : August 13, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Ottawa
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
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
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Upgrading or improving local cultural facilities or venues.
- Purchasing specialized equipment to support cultural programming and exhibitions.
- Renovation, expansion, or restoration of existing cultural spaces.
- Conducting feasibility or capital studies related to the development or improvement of cultural facilities.
- Acquiring facilities that provide space for cultural activities and public access.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Not-for-profit cultural organizations based in Ottawa
- Not-for-profit organizations mandated in arts
- Not-for-profit organizations mandated in heritage
- Not-for-profit organizations mandated in festivals or fairs
- Not-for-profit organizations mandated in culture (including Anishinabe Algonquin organizations)
Who is not eligible
- Government agencies and for-profit organizations.
- Organizations whose sole purpose is to fundraise for the benefit of a third party.
- Organizations under the jurisdiction of other City departments (e.g., Business Improvement Associations, Ottawa Tourism, Ottawa Film Office) or other government levels (school boards, hospitals, universities, military programs).
- Political parties.
- Organizations where activities are solely for their membership or where participation is conditional upon religious or political activity.
Eligible expenses
- Purchase of fixed equipment (e.g., lighting grids, staging, ventilation systems, sprung flooring).
- Purchase of non-fixed equipment associated with programming (e.g., sound boards, spotlights, mobile stage, storage, computers).
- Equipment for exhibitions or displays (e.g., bleachers, exhibition cases).
- Costs related to renovation, alteration, or addition to existing facilities to enhance cultural spaces and public access.
- Restoration of heritage facilities or artifacts linked to a heritage facility.
- Professional needs assessment studies for facilities (e.g., evaluations for technical or architectural requirements).
- Feasibility studies for new or existing facility development or equipment upgrades.
- Capital fundraising study and planning for major campaigns related to facility upgrades or construction.
- Acquisition costs for local cultural facilities used for public cultural programming.
Eligible geographic areas
- Within the limits of the City of Ottawa
- Anishinabe Algonquin First Nation
- Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation
- Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation
- Ottawa region (for board members' residency requirements)
Additional information
- Late or incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.
- Cultural Funding Officers are available to review draft applications prior to the final deadline, with draft review available up until July 25, 2025.
- Funding recipients are required to submit a final report through the online portal before becoming eligible for subsequent grants.
- The online application portal opens two months before the deadline, and all materials must be submitted electronically by 4 pm on August 13, 2025.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund. 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 Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund?
The Cultural Facilities Fund offers grants of up to $15,000 for minor capital projects to help improve cultural venues in Ottawa, supporting activities such as equipment purchases, facility renovations, restorations, and feasibility studies. The program aims to enhance local arts, heritage, and cultural spaces through targeted funding for eligible non-profit organizations.
How much funding can be received?
Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund Funds up to 90% of admissible expenses, capped at $15,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was August 13, 2025.
Who is eligible for the Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund program?
To be eligible for the Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund program, you must:
Must be a not-for-profit, Ottawa-based cultural organization.
Active board of at least three members, majority residing in Ottawa.
Mandated in arts, heritage, festivals/fairs, or culture.
What expenses are eligible under Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund?
Upgrading or improving local cultural facilities or venues.
Purchasing specialized equipment to support cultural programming and exhibitions.
Renovation, expansion, or restoration of existing cultural spaces.
Conducting feasibility or capital studies related to the development or improvement of cultural facilities.
Acquiring facilities that provide space for cultural activities and public access.
Who can I contact for more information about the Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund?
You can contact City of Ottawa by email at infoculture@ottawa.ca or by phone at 613.580.2424.
Where is the Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund available?
The Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund program is available the province of Ontario.