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Source verified July 23, 2026
Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts
Multi-year support for arts organizations
Funding available
Up to 50% of project cost
Deadline
January 15, 2025
Location
Canada
Overview
Engage and Sustain’s Artistic Catalysts supports artistic organizations in Canada with multi-year funding of up to 50% of total annual revenues, averaged over the last 3 years, to strengthen artistic practice and connect artists with the public. It supports artistic programming, public outreach, and broader support to artistic practice.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Strengthen organizational capacity
Eligible Funding
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- $ 75,000 minimum revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- General public
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Artists / creatives
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Regional
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Developing and promoting artistic programming
- Building public outreach
- Supporting artistic practice, other art forms, and the Canadian arts sector
Documents Needed
- Completed Appendices document
- CADAC data and recent financial statements
- At least 1 item of support material from recent programming
- Most recent Respectful Workplace/Anti-Harassment Policy
- Translation of the application if required, and a deficit reduction plan if applicable
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Artistic organizations
Who is not eligible
- Organizations that are not incorporated not-for-profit arts organizations
- Organizations that already hold another Canada Council core grant at the same time
- Organizations holding both a core grant and a composite grant
Eligible expenses
- All expenses related to eligible activities.
- Eligible translation expenses, when claimed with the required reimbursement form and translator’s invoice.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Activities already funded by another Canada Council program
- Activities on the Canada Council’s general list of ineligible activities
- Translation completed internally by the organization’s employees
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Artistic Merit — 50%: artistic vision, programming quality, and commitment to Canadian artists and work; minimum 39/50 for a first-time grant or increase.
- Engagement — 30%: public impact, diversity and inclusion, contribution to the arts sector, and gender parity; minimum 21/30 for a first-time grant or increase.
- Resilience — 20%: organizational capacity, safe and professional working conditions, and financial planning; minimum 15/20 for a first-time grant or increase.
- Respectful and ethical cultural and artistic practices (RECAP) — mandatory: Indigenous cultural protocols must be respected where applicable, or the activities must contain no Indigenous content.
How to apply
- Click Apply Now to open the application form, then navigate to the Support materials section.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are assessed by a peer assessment committee.
- Results are usually communicated within 8 months of the application deadline.
- If approved, the organization must complete the Grant Acceptance Form before receiving the first payment.
- Successful recipients must submit reports, including CADAC data and financial statements.
- Detailed follow-up requirements are provided in the result letter.
Additional information
- Application assistance is available to individuals or lead applicants for groups who self-identify as Deaf, hard of hearing, having a disability or living with mental illness, or as First Nations, Inuit or Métis facing language, geographic and/or cultural barriers.
- Allow 3 to 5 business days to receive a response after submitting a help request.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts Program
What is the Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts?
Engage and Sustain’s Artistic Catalysts supports artistic organizations in Canada with multi-year funding of up to 50% of total annual revenues, averaged over the last 3 years, to strengthen artistic practice and connect artists with the public. It supports artistic programming, public outreach, and broader support to artistic practice.
How much funding can be received?
Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts program?
To be eligible for the Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts program, you must:
The applicant must be an artistic organization.
The organization must be an incorporated not-for-profit arts organization with professional staff.
It must have at least 5 years of professional programming accessible to the public and offer at least 1 public presentation, exhibition, production or program in its region annually.
What expenses are eligible under Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts?
Developing and promoting artistic programming
Building public outreach
Supporting artistic practice, other art forms, and the Canadian arts sector
Who can I contact for more information about the Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts?
You can contact Canada Council for the Arts (CCA).
Where is the Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts available?
The Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts program is available across Canada.
Is the Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts is a Grant and Funding