Cultural Funding - Youth in Culture Program

Who is eligible?

• No specific company or industry is eligible for this program, as it is intended exclusively for individuals and not for businesses or organizations.

Who is not eligible

• Organizations, including collectives
• Businesses and companies (the program is only open to individual applicants)
• City of Ottawa employees or elected representatives

Eligible expenses

• Artist fees associated with the project.
• Living expenses related to project activities.
• Expenses for research, creation, production, and presentation of artistic, heritage, or cultural works.
• Costs for participation in masterclasses, workshops, residencies, or other training opportunities, including travel related to these activities.
• Fees for mentorship, including payments to mentors or knowledge keepers and expenses for language preservation projects.

Eligible geographic areas

• Residents of the City of Ottawa who have lived in Ottawa for at least one year prior to the application deadline date.
• Individuals from the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation living within a 150 km radius of Ottawa.

• Relevance of the project in relation to the applicant’s previous cultural experiences.
• Strength of project goals and objectives, demonstrating a clear intent to pursue a career in arts, heritage, or culture.
• Benefit and impact of the project on the applicant’s professional career.
• Realistic project planning, including well-defined goals and timelines.
• Effectiveness and appropriateness of the proposed project budget.

• Step 1: Review Program Guidelines and Terms
  • Read the Information for Applicants.
  • Review the Terms and Conditions of the Youth in Culture Program.
• Step 2: Prepare Application Materials
  • Draft responses to the listed application questions (merit, project description, timeline, résumé/bio, impact, budget planning).
  • Gather all required documents, including your résumé or bio.
  • If your project involves mentorship, obtain a letter of approval from your mentor and their résumé/bio.
  • Select and prepare support material relevant to your project (e.g., brochures, photos, media coverage).
  • Ensure all electronic materials are readable, follow submission rules for file naming, and include descriptions and necessary cue times for media files.
• Step 3: Draft Review (Optional)
  • If desired, submit a draft application for feedback (prior to the specified date).
  • Contact infoculture@ottawa.ca for assistance or to arrange an information session.
• Step 4: Complete Application via Online Portal
  • Access the City of Ottawa’s online funding portal.
  • You may complete the application in writing, audio, or video format.
  • Fill in all fields and answer all mandatory questions.
  • Upload all required documents, answers, and support material directly or provide URLs as required.
• Step 5: Submit Application
  • Submit your completed application, with all required supporting material, through the online portal by 4:00 pm on the deadline date.
• Step 6: Confirmation and Follow-Up
  • Await confirmation or follow-up from the Cultural Funding Support Unit.
  • Contact infoculture@ottawa.ca for questions or assistance regarding your submission.

• First-time applicants are encouraged to apply to this program.
• Submission formats include written, audio, or video applications through the online portal.
• Application deadlines are strictly enforced; late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Applicants may request feedback on draft applications in advance of the deadline.