Open
Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund
Supports museums hosting travelling exhibitions and borrowing artefacts
Last Update: May 28, 2026
Funding available
$ 15,000
Timeline
- Open Date : February 3, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
The Museum Assistance Program – Exhibition Circulation Fund provides up to $15,000 per project to support the costs associated with hosting travelling exhibitions and borrowing artefacts from Canadian institutions. This funding is intended for non-profit museums and Indigenous organizations to facilitate access to heritage by covering expenses such as transportation, installation, security, promotion, and translation.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Launch or market a product/service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : February 3, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
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
- Children & youth
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- LGBTQ+ community
- Rural / Remote communities
- Artists / creatives
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Municipal
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Hosting travelling exhibitions that originate from another Canadian non-profit organization, Indigenous organization, or federal heritage institution, provided eligible expenses have not already been reimbursed to the lending institution.
- Borrowing artefacts from a federal institution for the purpose of public exhibition.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Incorporated, non-profit Canadian museums
- Indigenous governing bodies with a mandate to preserve and support Indigenous heritage
- Indigenous organizations within Canada focused on heritage preservation
Who is not eligible
- Federal departments, Crown corporations, and agencies.
- Organizations whose principal mandate is not related to heritage.
- Contemporary visual art organizations seeking funding for exhibitions primarily featuring current works of living artists (unless the exhibition is retrospective or has a historical perspective).
Eligible expenses
- Rental fees related to exhibitions or borrowing artefacts.
- Pro-rated salaries and wages specific to project activities.
- Transportation, packing, and crating costs for exhibitions or artefacts.
- Installation and dismantling expenses, including temporary storage when necessary.
- Additional security and insurance expenses required for the project.
- Equipment rental and incremental project administration costs.
- Promotion, communication, and marketing costs.
- Translation of public-facing materials into both official languages and other relevant languages.
- Creation of educational materials, media kits, and marketing materials linked to the exhibition.
Eligible geographic areas
- Organizations located anywhere in Canada.
Selection criteria
- Relevance and community engagement, including alignment with the organization’s mandate and documented support or interest from funders or partners.
- Project planning and management, assessing the organization’s capacity and the adequacy of the timeline and resources.
- Project budget, evaluating justification of expenses, comprehensiveness, and identification of all contributions.
- Impact and evaluation strategy, ensuring outputs and outcomes are clear, measurable, and linked to an articulated evaluation method.
- Organization’s capacity, such as demonstrated financial stability and professional management structure.
How to apply
1
Read the Application Guidelines
- Carefully review the Application Guidelines for the Exhibition Circulation Fund
- Ensure you understand the eligibility, project, and expense requirements
2
Consult a program advisor
- Contact the nearest regional office of the Department of Canadian Heritage
- Discuss your project and confirm eligibility with a program advisor
- Address any questions or concerns before proceeding
3
Gather required documents
- Gather the completed application form, including budget, application checklist, and Declaration and Attestation
- Prepare all supporting documents, such as signed loan agreements and most recent financial statements
- Obtain copies of all procurement quotes as required
4
Access or request application forms
- Create or access an account with the Canadian Heritage Funding Portal (for hosting exhibitions)
- For borrowing artefacts, request application forms from the Museums Assistance Program national office
5
Complete the application package
- Complete all sections of the application form, ensuring accuracy and completeness
- Attach all required supporting documents
6
Submit the application
- Submit your application and all supporting documents electronically via the Canadian Heritage Funding Portal (for hosting exhibitions)
- For borrowing artefacts, send the application by email to map-pam@pch.gc.ca
7
Await results of evaluation
- Wait for the evaluation of your application by the program
- Monitor for requests for additional information or clarification
Additional information
- Applicants are encouraged to contact a regional program advisor before submitting due to limited funds available.
- There is no set deadline; applications are reviewed on a continuous basis.
- Funding may be provided either as a grant or a contribution, depending on project specifics.
- Products and communications developed with funding must be available in both official languages.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund Program
What is the Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund?
The Museum Assistance Program – Exhibition Circulation Fund provides up to $15,000 per project to support the costs associated with hosting travelling exhibitions and borrowing artefacts from Canadian institutions. This funding is intended for non-profit museums and Indigenous organizations to facilitate access to heritage by covering expenses such as transportation, installation, security, promotion, and translation.
How much funding can be received?
Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses, capped at $15,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund program?
To be eligible for the Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund program, you must:
Incorporated, non-profit Canadian museum or Indigenous governing body/organization with a heritage mandate
Museum applicants must have policies for key museum functions
Museum applicants for travelling exhibitions must employ at least one paid professional staff (excluding students)
What expenses are eligible under Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund?
Hosting travelling exhibitions that originate from another Canadian non-profit organization, Indigenous organization, or federal heritage institution, provided eligible expenses have not already been reimbursed to the lending institution.
Borrowing artefacts from a federal institution for the purpose of public exhibition.
Who can I contact for more information about the Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund?
You can contact Canadian Heritage by email at map-pam@pch.gc.ca or by phone at 819-997-0055.
Where is the Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund available?
The Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund program is available across Canada.
Is the Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Museum Assistance Program - Exhibition Circulation Fund is a Grant and Funding