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Source verified August 11, 2026
Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse
Support for Indigenous and culturally diverse curators
Funding available
$ 30,000
Deadline
October 7, 2026
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse offers up to $30,000 for Ontario-based Indigenous curators and curators who are people of colour. It supports exhibitions, related publications, arts education or outreach activities, mentorship opportunities, and accessibility expenses.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Other Racialized Persons
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- Artists / creatives
- Nonprofits / charities
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Visual, media arts and craft exhibitions presented in Ontario
- Related publications, arts education or outreach activities
- Mentorship opportunities to develop capacity such as research, writing, design, administration, networking and documentation
- Inclusion of international or non-Ontario artists or mentors, if a clear rationale is provided
Documents Needed
- Project budget
- Artistic examples: images, videos, or curator writing samples
- Curator CV
- Brief artist bio and co-applicant organization board list
- Commitment letters from the presenting organization, the curator, and, if applicable, the mentor
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Ontario-based, professional, independent Indigenous curators
- Ontario-based, professional, independent curators who are people of colour
- Not-for-profit organizations with a head office in Ontario
Who is not eligible
- Curators who are staff or board members at the co-applicant organization or the presenting venue
- Curators who are full-time students
- Municipalities, colleges and universities
- Commercial galleries
Eligible expenses
- Fees for the curator, mentor and artists
- Publication expenses
- Exhibition production costs
- Childcare and other dependant care fees enabling individuals to take part in the project
- Expenses related to making the project accessible to audience members and project participants who are Deaf or have a disability
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Exhibitions or activities that take place outside Ontario
- Projects that do not include the payment of professional artists’ fees at or above CARFAC standards
- Mentor fees for staff of the co-applicant organization
- Fundraising activities, student projects or exhibitions featuring work by students, art acquisitions or commissions, and activities that take place in a commercial gallery
- Costs related to the creation of art work; major capital expenditures, including buying, leasing or renovating buildings and purchase of major equipment; and ongoing operating or administrative costs of organizations
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
How to apply
- Read the Guide des programmes de projets du CAO and create or update your Nova profile.
- Complete and submit the application in Nova.
Processing and Agreement
- If awarded, the lead applicant receives the cheque and completes the final report in Nova.
- The final report must include a description of the project and its results, the final budget, and documentation or an explanation of how funding recognition requirements were met.
- If the final budget shows a surplus of more than $250, you may have to repay the excess amount to the OAC.
Additional information
- Indigenous individuals self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.
- Culturally diverse refers to people of colour based on the Government of Canada’s definition of visible minorities.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse Program
What is the Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse?
Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse offers up to $30,000 for Ontario-based Indigenous curators and curators who are people of colour. It supports exhibitions, related publications, arts education or outreach activities, mentorship opportunities, and accessibility expenses.
How much funding can be received?
Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse Funds up to $30,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse program?
To be eligible for the Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse program, you must:
The application must be a shared application between the curator and the organization.
The curator must be an Ontario-based, professional, independent Indigenous curator or a professional, independent curator who is a person of colour and must be an Ontario resident.
The organization must be a not-for-profit organization with a head office in Ontario and must partner with an Ontario public art gallery, artist-run centre or other not-for-profit arts presenter.
What expenses are eligible under Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse?
Visual, media arts and craft exhibitions presented in Ontario
Related publications, arts education or outreach activities
Mentorship opportunities to develop capacity such as research, writing, design, administration, networking and documentation
Inclusion of international or non-Ontario artists or mentors, if a clear rationale is provided
Who can I contact for more information about the Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse?
You can contact Ontario Arts Council (OAC) by email at nmansour@arts.on.ca or by phone at 416-969-7447.
Where is the Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse available?
The Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse is a Grant and Funding