Cultural Funding - Cultural Facilities Fund

• Minor capital projects: Funding covers up to 90% of the total project cost, to a maximum of $15,000.
• Major capital projects: Funding covers up to 25% of total eligible costs for renovation, construction, restoration projects, or purchase of specialized equipment.
• Feasibility studies under major capital projects: Funding covers up to 50% of eligible costs.
• Only one application may be submitted at a time per organization.

• The applicant must be a local, Ottawa-based, not-for-profit organization mandated in arts, heritage, festivals/fairs, or culture.
• The organization must operate in a non-discriminatory manner as set out by the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005 or similar legislation.
• The organization must have an active board of directors with at least three members, with at least 50% residing in the Ottawa region.
• The majority of the organization's programming and events must occur within the city of Ottawa or an Anishinabe Algonquin First Nation.
• The organization must have its office and official mailing address within the city of Ottawa.

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)

• Respect of the mandate and alignment of the project with the objectives of the organization.
• Goals and objectives addressing an identified critical need.
• Quality of leadership proposed for project management.
• Impact on the community or targeted discipline, notably participation and benefits for members and the community.
• Organizational effectiveness, including planning, management, evaluation, and financial stability of the project.

• 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.