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Source verified July 6, 2026
Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program
Funding for Ontario public art collections
Latest source updateLast Update: July 6, 2026Latest change: The program deadline moved from August 15, 2025 to August 14, 2026, and the 2026 guidelines, application form, and budget files are now visible.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 6, 2026
Latest change: The program deadline moved from August 15, 2025 to August 14, 2026, and the 2026 guidelines, application form, and budget files are now visible.
Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program deadline updated
The Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program now shows a 2026 application deadline of August 14, 2026, replacing the previous August 15, 2025 deadline. The updated intake materials also show 2026 versions of the program guidelines, application form, and budget files. No visible changes were identified to eligibility, funding terms, or the program’s scope. The main update is the new deadline and refreshed application documents for the 2026 intake.
Funding available
$ 25,000
Deadline
August 14, 2026
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program supports public art galleries and museums in Ontario through acquisition and development funding. It fosters permanent collections, Canadian visual art appreciation, community engagement, and collection-related education or outreach activities.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Raise awareness or mobilize a population
- Conduct research or evaluation activities
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
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
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- Artists / creatives
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Acquisition of works of art by living Canadian artists or historical works by Canadian artists
- Acquisition of Canadian works of art commissioned, purchased from a collection, or on consignment from an artist or a Canadian art dealer
- Development initiatives that increase public knowledge of collecting or a gallery or museum’s permanent collection
- Activities that make a gallery or museum’s permanent collection more accessible to the public
- Curatorial research
- Professional development opportunities for gallery staff in collection management best practices
- Education and outreach programs, including touring of a gallery or museum’s permanent collection
Documents Needed
- Application Form
- Application Checklist
- Profile of Institution
- Justification for Acquisition Grant or Development Grant
- Acquisition Policy and Committee Members
- Acquisition or Development Project Budget
- Support Material
- Financial Statements, from most recent completed year end
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Public art galleries or museums based in Ontario
- Organizations eligible to apply to the Ontario Arts Council's Ontario Arts Operating Fund (OAOF) – Visual Arts category
- Registered charities under the Income Tax Act
Who is not eligible
- Agencies of the provincial government
- Agencies of the federal government
Eligible expenses
- The purchase price of works of art
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- The conservation and restoration of works of art
- Ongoing administrative or operating expenses of the gallery or museum
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- The organization’s mandate and vision
- How the organization’s activities embody its mandate and vision
- For Acquisition Grants, the relevance of the work to the organization’s mandate and permanent collection
- For Acquisition Grants, the organization’s commitment to collecting and exhibiting Canadian art
- For Development Grants, the project’s relevance to the institution’s mandate and vision
How to apply
- Read the program guidelines before completing the application.
- Fill out the forms included in the application and prepare the supporting documents described in detail in the application.
- Send the application package to aboyd@oafdn.ca.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are assessed by an Ontario Arts Council jury made up of artists, other arts professionals, and volunteers with direct experience working with public art galleries or museums in their communities.
- Successful applicants must submit an Acquisition Report for each work purchased to receive payment of an approved Acquisition Grant.
- Successful applicants must submit a final report to the Ontario Arts Foundation by the end of the organization’s fiscal year in which the grant is made for Development Grants.
- Successful applicants have 12 months from the notification of a successful application to make the acquisition.
- If an approved acquisition is not made within the 12-month period, the grant will not be made.
Additional information
- Applications are accepted by email to aboyd@oafdn.ca.
- Materials may be sent as email attachments or through file sharing programs like Dropbox or WeTransfer.
- Applications are accepted no later than August 14, 2026.
- Successful applicants are eligible to receive one Acquisition Grant or one Development Grant every year.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program Program
What is the Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program?
The Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program supports public art galleries and museums in Ontario through acquisition and development funding. It fosters permanent collections, Canadian visual art appreciation, community engagement, and collection-related education or outreach activities.
How much funding can be received?
Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program Funds up to $25,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program program?
To be eligible for the Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program program, you must:
Ontario public art gallery or museum
Registered charity
At least 2 years in continuous operation
What expenses are eligible under Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program?
Acquisition of works of art by living Canadian artists or historical works by Canadian artists
Acquisition of Canadian works of art commissioned, purchased from a collection, or on consignment from an artist or a Canadian art dealer
Development initiatives that increase public knowledge of collecting or a gallery or museum’s permanent collection
Activities that make a gallery or museum’s permanent collection more accessible to the public
Curatorial research
Professional development opportunities for gallery staff in collection management best practices
Education and outreach programs, including touring of a gallery or museum’s permanent collection
Who can I contact for more information about the Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program?
You can contact Ontario Arts Foundation by email at aboyd@oafdn.ca or by phone at none.
Where is the Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program available?
The Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Elizabeth L. Gordon Art Program is a Grant and Funding