Open
Source verified July 23, 2026
Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations
Money for artistic activities
Latest source updateLast Update: July 6, 2026Latest change: The Artist-Driven Organizations funding opportunity now shows full eligibility, assessment, funding, and application details, and the help page now points applicants to guidance links instead of a case form.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 6, 2026
Latest change: The Artist-Driven Organizations funding opportunity now shows full eligibility, assessment, funding, and application details, and the help page now points applicants to guidance links instead of a case form.
Artist-Driven Organizations details now visible
The Artist-Driven Organizations funding opportunity now shows full program content, including who can apply, eligible activities, assessment criteria, required information, and deadline guidance where applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the deadline date. The funding terms now visible include maximum funding up to 60% of total annual revenues, averaged over the last 3 years, 1 application per calendar year, and a 4-year multi-year cycle. The guidance/help page also changed materially: applicants are now pointed to deadline, funding, and portal resources, and help requests are described as taking 3 to 5 business days for a response.
Funding available
Up to 60% of project cost
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
If you’re an artistic organization, you could get a grant equal to 60% of your total annual revenues, averaged over the last 3 years, to pay for research, creation, and production through to dissemination.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Conduct research and development activities
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Up to 60% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- From $ 75,000 to $ 75,000 in revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- General public
- Artists / creatives
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Artistic development
- Creative research
- Creation
- Production
- Dissemination
Documents Needed
- Information and support materials requested in the application form under the Support materials section
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Artistic organizations.
- Organizations that create, produce, present or exhibit the work of artists.
- Organizations driven by the vision and voice of an artistic leader or group of artists.
- Organizations that support the development and dissemination of works by Canadian artists.
Eligible expenses
- Artistic development
- Creative research
- Creation
- Production
- Dissemination
Eligible geographic areas
The grant covers activities aimed at developing and disseminating artistic works by Canadian artists.
- Artistic development expenditures.
- Creative research costs.
- Creation-related expenses.
- Production expenses.
- Dissemination costs.
Selection criteria
- Artistic vision and the alignment of activities with that vision.
- Quality of the artistic works or activities.
- Potential of the activities to contribute to the experience and development of the artists involved.
- Potential of the activities to advance artistic practice.
- Potential of the activities to engage the intended public with the work.
How to apply
- Click Apply Now to open the application form.
- Navigate to the Support materials section to review the required information and support materials.
- If you meet the eligibility criteria in the WHO CAN APPLY section, click on NEED HELP? to request access.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are assessed by a peer assessment committee.
- The assessment uses Artistic, Impact, Resilience, and Respectful and ethical cultural and artistic practices (RECAP) criteria.
- Minimum scores are required in the Artistic, Impact, and Resilience categories.
- Your application must satisfy the RECAP criterion in order to receive funding.
Additional information
- An organization that has undergone a change in key artistic leadership and is currently receiving core support may be treated as a new applicant, with no commitment to maintaining the organization’s current level of funding.
- If your organization meets the eligibility criteria in the WHO CAN APPLY section, you can request access through the help page.
- It may take up to 3 to 5 business days to receive a response after you submit a help request.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations Program
What is the Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations?
If you’re an artistic organization, you could get a grant equal to 60% of your total annual revenues, averaged over the last 3 years, to pay for research, creation, and production through to dissemination.
How much funding can be received?
Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations Funds up to 60% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations program?
To be eligible for the Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations program, you must:
The organization must be an incorporated not-for-profit arts organization.
It must have at least 5 years of continuous professional artistic activities that are accessible to the public.
It must have had total revenues exceeding $75,000 in each of the last 3 years.
What expenses are eligible under Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations?
Artistic development
Creative research
Creation
Production
Dissemination
Who can I contact for more information about the Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations?
You can contact Canada Council for the Arts (CCA).
Where is the Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations available?
The Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations program is available across Canada.
Is the Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Explore and Create — Artist-Driven Organizations is a Grant and Funding