How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 15000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2025-10-15T23:59:59Z.

Who are the financial supporters of the Media Artists Program : Creation?

Media Artists Program : Creation is funded by Toronto Arts Council (TAO)

What are Media Artists Program : Creation's eligibility criterias?

The applicant must be a professional artist residing in Toronto for at least one year. The project must involve the creation or production of an independent media work. The applicant must hold Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or protected status.

Media Artists Program : Creation

Last Update: August 19, 2025

Toronto, ON

Supports professional media artists creating or completing new works

Media Artists Program : Creation at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $15,000

Timeline

Closing date : October 15, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries
Arts, entertainment and recreation

Grant Providers

Toronto Arts Council (TAO)

Program status

Open

Overview of the Media Artists Program : Creation program

The Media Artists Program: Creation provides up to $15,000 in funding to support the creation, production, or completion of new or ongoing independent media art projects. Eligible activities include costs related to creation, materials, production, and post-production in disciplines such as film, video, audio, digital media, electronic games, virtual/augmented reality, and new media artworks.

Financing terms and conditions

The maximum grant amount available per project is $15,000.
Additional TAC Accessibility grants of up to $5,000 are available for accessibility costs incurred by Deaf artists and artists with disabilities.
Projects with total budgets exceeding $350,000 are not eligible for funding.

Eligible projects & activities

Creation or production of new independent media art works.
Completion of works in progress in the field of media arts.
Production and post-production of media arts projects, including film, video, audio, digital works, electronic games, virtual and augmented reality, and new media artworks.
Collaborative media arts projects involving co-applicants, provided one principal applicant is designated.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 14,600

Production of short documentary on urban community gardens

$ 14,550

Sound art installation exploring memory using field recordings

$ 14,600

Augmented reality app showcasing stories of local artisans

$ 14,500

Post-production on narrative short film about immigrant experiences

$ 15,000

Development of interactive VR artwork about urban biodiversity

$ 14,800

Creation of experimental animation exploring digital identity themes

Eligibility criteria of the Media Artists Program : Creation program

The applicant must be a professional media artist with specialized training and peer recognition.
The applicant must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, approved refugee claimant (Protected Person), or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status, and provide documentation if requested.
The applicant must be a resident of the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the application deadline, with only temporary absences of up to 12 months considered in certain cases.
The applicant must have created at least one media artwork and spent a minimum of one year developing an independent art practice after full-time studies.
Collaborative proposals are eligible if all co-applicants meet the same criteria and a principal applicant is identified.

Who is eligible?

Individual professional media artists
Collaborative groups with a principal artist applicant

Who is not eligible

Companies or firms, only individual applications from professional media artists are accepted.
Film or video producers (only the director can submit an application).
Organizations or companies seeking funding solely for travel or exhibition expenses, capital purchases, or promotion and marketing.
Applications for projects that are already completed, commercial or educational pilots for television, or music videos.

Eligible expenses

Direct costs of creation or production of new or in-progress media artworks.
Materials required for the creation or production process.
Post-production support and associated expenses.
Accessibility costs for artists, such as ASL interpretation, audio description, closed captioning, communications assistants, attendant care, support workers, and equipment rentals (only for projects involving Deaf artists or artists with disabilities, up to a specified limit).

Eligible geographic areas

City of Toronto

Eligibility criteria of the Media Artists Program : Creation program

Artistic assessment based on past and proposed work by a peer review panel of practicing media arts professionals.
Applications are reviewed in a competitive context, with evaluation of artistic merit relative to other submissions.
Equity Priority Policy: If multiple applications of equal merit are identified, priority is given to applicants who self-identify as belonging to equity priority groups.

How to apply to the Media Artists Program : Creation program

Verify eligibility

Review the eligibility requirements for applicants
Ensure your project type and budget meet program criteria
Confirm your residency and citizenship or status

Register for an account on TAC Grants Online platform
Set up your applicant profile with required details

Prepare application documents

Prepare a detailed project description addressing purpose, themes, and techniques
Compile your artist resume or CV
Develop a complete project budget showing total revenues and expenses
Gather support material, including previous work examples and required documentation

Complete and upload application

Complete the online application form in TAC Grants Online
Upload all required documents and support material in specified formats
Indicate accessibility needs and request support if applicable

Submit application

Submit the completed application via the TAC Grants Online portal before the deadline
Ensure you receive a confirmation email upon submission

Await results

Wait for email notification of the results, expected approximately 3 months after the deadline
Log in to TAC Grants Online to check application decision

Complete funding acceptance process

If successful, sign and upload the Letter of Understanding via TAC Grants Online
Provide required banking information for electronic payment
Submit Declaration of Compliance with Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Legislation if requested

Implement and complete project

Use funds as outlined in the application and adhere to project timeline and scale
Acknowledge Toronto Arts Council support in written project materials
Maintain records and comply with program requirements

Submit final project report

Prepare and submit the final report through TAC Grants Online
Ensure all funding and activities are properly documented

Additional information

Applicants will be notified of application results approximately three months after submission; first notifications are expected by the end of December.
Support materials, such as examples of previous works, are critical for assessment and must be submitted per specified guidelines.
An additional TAC Accessibility grant of up to $5,000 is available for accessibility-related expenses for artists who are Deaf or have disabilities.
Grant recipients must maintain adequate accounting records for funds received from the Toronto Arts Council, and a T4A form will be issued to individual applicants for income tax purposes.