Engage and Sustain — Artistic Catalysts

• 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

Who is eligible?

• Artistic organizations
• Canadian not-for-profit arts 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

• 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.

• Step 1: Create portal account and validate profile
  • Create an account in the client portal.
  • Submit one or more organizational profiles for validation at least 30 days before applying.
• Step 2: Confirm eligibility and prepare reporting access
  • Contact a Program Officer to confirm eligibility if required, including for first-time applicants.
  • Register with CADAC as early as possible if your organization is required to report there.
• Step 3: Prepare the application package
  • Complete the application form in the portal.
  • Gather required documents, CADAC information, support material and translation if applicable.
• Step 4: Submit the application
  • Submit the application through the portal.
  • Send it by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the deadline date.

• 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.

• This is a core multi-year program covering 4 fiscal years.
• An organization can hold only 1 core grant at a time from any Canada Council program and cannot hold both a core grant and a composite grant.
• Translation requirements do not apply to literature and theatre organizations.
• Application assistance is available for eligible applicants facing disability, language, geographic or cultural barriers.