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Source verified October 3, 2026
Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management
Supports improved collections management in Canadian museums and heritage organizations
Latest source updateLast Update: September 19, 2026Latest change: The Collections Management page now shows a new intake window of September 8, 2026 to November 2, 2026, adds a 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time submission cutoff, and revises applicant and funding guidance.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: September 19, 2026
Latest change: The Collections Management page now shows a new intake window of September 8, 2026 to November 2, 2026, adds a 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time submission cutoff, and revises applicant and funding guidance.
Collections Management guidance and intake dates updated
The Collections Management page now shows the intake period as September 8, 2026, at 8 am ET to November 2, 2026, at 4 pm ET, and the application guidelines add a 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time submission cutoff on the deadline date. The application guidelines also tighten the exceptional-applicant wording so the organization must have a primary mandate to preserve and support heritage, and they now refer to organizations originating from underserved communities. In the funding guidance, the minor capital asset limit increased from 25% to 50% of MAP funding, and the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund reference was removed from the ineligible capital-projects section.
Funding available
$ 200,000
Deadline
November 2, 2026
Opened September 8, 2026
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Incorporated non-profit Canadian museums with at least 1 paid professional staff and policies for key museum functions.
See full eligibility
Overview
The Museums Assistance Program – Collections Management provides up to $50,000 in funding to support projects that enhance knowledge, skills, and practices related to key museum functions. Eligible activities include improving collections management systems, policies, and storage, as well as supporting research, documentation, and the rematriation or repatriation of Indigenous cultural heritage.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop team skills
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 1 employees minimum
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- LGBTQ+ community
- Rural / Remote communities
- Artists / creatives
- Nonprofits / charities
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 3
Activities funded
- Improving the management of heritage collections through the development or implementation of systems, policies, procedures, or practices.
- Optimizing storage conditions for collections or upgrading collections management systems, including associated staff training.
- Cataloguing and documenting specific collections for defined purposes (not related to general ongoing operations).
- Developing or renewing emergency plans, protocols, or policies to support key museum functions, including those enabling the rematriation or repatriation of Indigenous cultural belongings and ancestral remains.
- Carrying out projects that support the sharing of best practices, professional development, and the creation of tools or resources that benefit multiple museums or heritage organizations.
Official resources
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Incorporated non-profit Canadian museums with at least 1 paid professional staff and policies for key museum functions.
- Incorporated non-profit Canadian service organizations related to the museum sector with at least 1 paid professional staff.
- Indigenous governing bodies or Indigenous organizations within Canada with a mandate to preserve and support First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis heritage.
Who is not eligible
- Federal departments, Crown corporations, and federal agencies.
Eligible expenses
- Pro-rated salaries and wages, including salaries from municipal and provincial governments that are eligible but not reimbursable.
- Travel for the personnel working on the project, excluding attendance to professional development activities; honorarium, fees and travel for consultants, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and cultural practitioners; equipment rental, shipping fees, promotion and communication expenses; materials and supplies; purchase of software; staff training; hospitality and gifts associated with traditional Indigenous ceremonies and protocol; project audit fees; and any other direct cost.
- Translation of material aimed at the public in both official languages, and in other languages if applicable, including Indigenous languages.
- Minor capital asset costs for equipment, with no more than 50% of the project funding provided by Museums Assistance Program used for the acquisition of minor capital assets.
- Incremental administration costs, limited to a maximum of 15% of eligible project expenses.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Ongoing operations.
- Professional development activities created and delivered on a one-to-one basis, sharing of best practices projects benefiting only one museum, and costs related to participants’ attendance, including travel, to professional development activities.
- Collection acquisition costs, except when directly related to the rematriation or repatriation of Indigenous belongings, and costs related to the conservation or restoration of artefacts or artworks, except when directly related to the rematration or repatriation of Indigenous belongings.
- Costs to develop project proposals or applications under the MAP or other federal programs, capital projects, and feasibility studies to create or expand an institution or facility.
- Hospitality, except costs associated with traditional Indigenous ceremonies and protocol, and salaries from federal departments, Crown corporations and agencies.
Eligible geographic areas
- All provinces and territories in Canada
Selection criteria
- Link between proposed activities and Program objectives.
- Relevance of the proposed activities.
- Community engagement (if applicable).
- Feasibility of the proposed activities, including management and planning.
- Capacity of the applicant organization to carry out the project, including financial stability, governance, and heritage activities.
How to apply
- Step 1: Review Application Guidelines
- Read the complete Collections Management – Museums Assistance Program Application Guidelines.
- Familiarize yourself with all funding requirements and procedures.
- Step 2: Contact Regional Office
- Contact the nearest regional office of the Department of Canadian Heritage to discuss your project.
- Confirm eligibility of your organization, project, and proposed expenses with a program advisor.
- Step 3: Gather Required Documents
- Prepare all required documents, including:
- Completed application form, including checklist and Declaration and Attestation, signed by an authorized person.
- Project Budget Form.
- Comprehensive project timeline.
- Financial statements for the past two years (audited if available).
- All supporting documents required in the application checklist (e.g., letters of intent/support/confirmation, agreements, quotes, reports, confirmation of other sources of funding, etc.).
- If submitting more than one project, clearly indicate the order of priority.
- Step 4: Complete Online Application
- Access the Canadian Heritage Funding Portal to complete the application process.
- Upload all required forms and supporting documents via the portal.
- Step 5: Submission and Confirmation
- Submit your complete application electronically through the Canadian Heritage Funding Portal before the deadline.
- If unable to submit online, contact info@pch.gc.ca or call 1-866-811-0055 for alternative submission methods.
- After submission, you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt within two weeks.
Additional information
- Products developed for the public must be available in both official languages, and applicants are encouraged to include other relevant languages as appropriate.
- Funding requests for emergency assistance related to natural disasters are accepted year-round.
- Donated goods and services may be counted as in-kind contributions if they meet specific criteria.
- Recipients must publicly acknowledge financial support from the Government of Canada in both English and French in all communications materials and promotional activities.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management Program
What is the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management?
The Museums Assistance Program – Collections Management provides up to $50,000 in funding to support projects that enhance knowledge, skills, and practices related to key museum functions. Eligible activities include improving collections management systems, policies, and storage, as well as supporting research, documentation, and the rematriation or repatriation of Indigenous cultural heritage.
How much funding can be received?
Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $200,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is November 2, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.
Who is eligible for the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management program?
To be eligible for the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management program, you must:
Incorporated non-profit Canadian museum with at least one paid professional staff and policies for key museum functions
Incorporated non-profit Canadian service organization related to the museum sector with at least one paid professional staff
Indigenous governing body or organization in Canada with a mandate to preserve First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis heritage
What expenses are eligible under Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management?
Improving the management of heritage collections through the development or implementation of systems, policies, procedures, or practices.
Optimizing storage conditions for collections or upgrading collections management systems, including associated staff training.
Cataloguing and documenting specific collections for defined purposes (not related to general ongoing operations).
Developing or renewing emergency plans, protocols, or policies to support key museum functions, including those enabling the rematriation or repatriation of Indigenous cultural belongings and ancestral remains.
Carrying out projects that support the sharing of best practices, professional development, and the creation of tools or resources that benefit multiple museums or heritage organizations.
Who can I contact for more information about the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management?
You can contact Canadian Heritage by email at map-pam@pch.gc.ca or by phone at 1-866-811-0055.
Where is the Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management available?
The Museum Assistance Program - Collections Management program is available across Canada.