Cultural Funding - Equity and inclusion in the arts fund

• Seed Award: Maximum grant amount is $2,000 per project for individuals; two application deadlines per year.
• Grow Grant: Funding available from $2,000 to $20,000 per project for both individuals and organizations; one application deadline per year.
• Typical Grow Grant awards range from $5,000 to $12,000 per project.
• Annual operating funding: The maximum operating funding an organization may receive is 90% of its total operating budget.

• The applicant must be a not-for-profit organization, a collective, or a group mandated in the arts and/or representing or celebrating an Indigenous or equity-seeking community.
• The organization must have its office and mailing address within the limits of the City of Ottawa, the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, or Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation.
• The majority of programming and events must occur within the City of Ottawa or an Anishinabe Algonquin First Nation (or within the Ottawa region for organizations led by Anishinabe Algonquin members).
• For incorporated organizations, there must be an active board of directors with at least three members, at least 50% of whom reside in the Ottawa region.
• The organization must operate in a non-discriminatory manner in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Who is eligible?

• Not-for-profit organizations with an arts mandate representing or celebrating Indigenous or equity-seeking communities
• Unincorporated collectives of artists, cultural workers, community connectors, or elders/cultural keepers recognized by their peers
• Organizations and collectives operating within the city of Ottawa, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, or Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation

Who is not eligible

• For-profit companies or commercial entities.
• Government agencies of any level (municipal, provincial, federal).
• Organizations whose primary purpose is fundraising for third parties.
• Organizations involved in activities under the jurisdiction of other City departments (e.g., Business Improvement Associations, Ottawa Tourism, Ottawa Film Office) or other public institutions such as school boards, hospitals, universities, and military programs.
• Political parties and organizations making participation conditional on religious or political activity.

Eligible expenses

• Artist fees and compensation for cultural workers, elders, and cultural keepers directly involved in the project.
• Purchases of materials necessary to create or produce artistic work.
• Professional development or mentorship fees.
• Costs of hosting performances, exhibitions, film screenings, and book readings.
• Expenses for arts workshops, training sessions, or mentorship projects.
• Support services for accessibility (such as support for disability artists).
• Costs incurred for networking events or community showcases.
• Documented production costs directly associated with project delivery.
• Promotional and marketing expenses for sharing or celebrating the project results.

Eligible geographic areas

• Within the city of Ottawa
• Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation
• Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation
• Within a 150 km radius of Ottawa (for individual members of an Anishinabe Algonquin First Nation)

• Impact: Contribution to artistic growth, celebration, and connection within communities; emphasis on equity and inclusion.
• Planning: Clarity of goals, realistic budgeting, and detailed project planning.
• Artistic Programming: For organizations, alignment with organizational mandate, clear artistic goals, and relevance to the targeted community.
• Community Engagement: Degree to which the project engages and connects communities, and supports local artists and cultural workers.
• Viability: Demonstrated project feasibility, strength of the project team, and practical implementation plan.

• Grant recipients are encouraged to apply for direct deposit for faster disbursement of funds.
• Feedback on unsuccessful applications can be requested within six months of receiving the result letter.
• All required documents, including support materials, must be uploaded through the online portal in the correct format; certain file types and links are not accepted.
• The Equity and Inclusion Committee provides ongoing guidance and peer evaluation and offers honoraria for community members who participate.