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Source verified July 11, 2026
Intercultural Conversations
Intercultural theatre funding for diverse voices
Latest source updateLast Update: July 9, 2026Latest change: The Intercultural Conversations page now shows a new deadline of Friday, October 16, 2026 at 5pm and says application documents will be updated for the upcoming competition.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 9, 2026
Latest change: The Intercultural Conversations page now shows a new deadline of Friday, October 16, 2026 at 5pm and says application documents will be updated for the upcoming competition.
Intercultural Conversations deadline and application update
The Intercultural Conversations program page now shows the next competition deadline as Friday, October 16, 2026 at 5pm instead of the previous March 20, 2026 deadline. It also says the application documents will be updated for the upcoming competition, and the application page now shows placeholder instructions instead of the prior submission guidance. A linked Google Form for the Spring 2026 application is still present, but no material funding terms or scope details changed in the visible content.
Funding available
$ 25,000
Deadline
October 16, 2026
Location
Montreal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Overview
Intercultural Conversations supports professional theatre companies in Montreal and the greater Montreal area with grants up to $25,000 for intercultural productions, commissions, and translations. It also funds talk-back discussions, workshop readings, additional rehearsals, and other activities directly related to the production, creation, or translation of a play.
/100
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
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Montreal
- Montréal
- Quebec
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
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Professional theatre productions
- Production, creation, or translation of plays
- Original script commissions
- Translations into French and/or English
- Audience talk-back discussions and workshop readings
Documents Needed
- Online application form
- Budget showing projected revenues and expenses
- Script file for Production grants, or a synopsis, outline, and samples of the author and/or translator's past work for Commission or Translation grants
- Supporting documents, including biographies of key participants, contracts with the playwright or translator, and a press kit if available
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Professional theatre companies
- Young audience companies
Who is not eligible
- Companies that have already received a grant from the Cole Foundation, completed their project, and never submitted their artistic and financial report.
Eligible expenses
- Expenses directly related to production, creation, or translation of a play
- Readings, additional rehearsals, and audience engagement activities
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Talk-back discussions for young audience shows where talkbacks are part of the performance.
Selection criteria
- Quality of the play.
- Depth and significance of the intercultural themes raised in the script.
- Racial, religious, linguistic, and cultural composition of the creative team.
- Budget, outreach strategies, and postproduction activities.
How to apply
- Complete the online application form.
- After completing the form, wait for Katie to send a personalized Google Drive folder link, then upload your materials to your private Google Drive folder as four separate PDF files with the exact file names required.
- Submit the Google Form by Friday, March 20th, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
- Upload the files to the assigned drive folder no later than March 23rd at noon.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by bilingual theatre/arts professionals and members of the artistic community, and the decision will be announced after the board meeting in June.
- Production grants are paid 90% at the start of rehearsals and 10% after the closing night of the play and submission of the final artistic and financial reports.
- Talk-Back Grants are included in the final grant payment after the reports are completed.
- Commissioning grants are paid 50% at the start of the writing process, 25% after the first draft is accepted by the theatre company, and 25% on the opening night of the play; translation grants are paid 50% at the start of the translation process, 25% after the first draft of the translation is complete, and 25% on the opening night of the play.
- A credit of the Cole Foundation's contribution must appear in printed programs, publications, broadcasts, and any other media disseminating the work; for commissions and translations, this credit is to appear in perpetuity, and any substantial change to the project, the budget, or its work schedule must be reported immediately.
Additional information
- Applications are accepted twice a year, in Fall and Spring.
- Companies or artists may apply for more than one grant.
- Awards are project specific.
- The Foundation is not an arts council and does not offer operational funding.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Intercultural Conversations Program
What is the Intercultural Conversations?
Intercultural Conversations supports professional theatre companies in Montreal and the greater Montreal area with grants up to $25,000 for intercultural productions, commissions, and translations. It also funds talk-back discussions, workshop readings, additional rehearsals, and other activities directly related to the production, creation, or translation of a play.
How much funding can be received?
Intercultural Conversations Funds up to 25% of admissible expenses, capped at $25,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Intercultural Conversations program?
To be eligible for the Intercultural Conversations program, you must:
Professional theatre companies with professional actors and a history of past performances.
Young audience companies if students can understand the intercultural themes.
Translation applicants must have at least one published literary translation, written permission from the author, and a work that is already complete.
What expenses are eligible under Intercultural Conversations?
Professional theatre productions
Production, creation, or translation of plays
Original script commissions
Translations into French and/or English
Audience talk-back discussions and workshop readings
Who can I contact for more information about the Intercultural Conversations?
You can contact The Cole Foundation by email at kjohn@colefoundation.ca or by phone at 5144098125.
Where is the Intercultural Conversations available?
The Intercultural Conversations program is available Montréal, Quebec.
Is the Intercultural Conversations a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Intercultural Conversations is a Grant and Funding