Cultural Funding - Youth in Culture Program

• Funding of up to $1,000 per approved project.
• The amount granted may differ from the requested sum.

• The applicant must be an individual aged between 18 and 30 years.
• The applicant must be a current resident of the City of Ottawa for at least one year prior to the application deadline, or be Anishinabe Algonquin and live within a 150 km radius of Ottawa.
• The project must contribute to the applicant's professional career in the arts, heritage, or cultural sectors.
• Eligible projects include creation and production, training, or mentorship activities within the arts, heritage, or cultural fields.

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.

• 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.