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OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials

Q: How much funding can be received?

OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials Funds up to $1,000 of admissible expenses.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The application deadline for this grant program was January 30, 2026.

Q: Who is eligible for the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials program?

To be eligible for the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials program, you must: Organizations are not eligible; the program is only open to individual Indigenous artists and Culture Carriers.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials?

You can contact Ontario Arts Council (OAC).

Q: Where is the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials available?

The OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials program is available the province of Ontario.

Last Update: December 4, 2025

ON, Canada

Funding for Indigenous visual artists' materials and supplies

Grant and Funding

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals

Increasing community impact

Eligible Funding

Maximum amount : 1,000 $
Minimum amount : 500 $

Timeline

Open Date : September 1, 2025
Closing date : January 30, 2026

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries

Arts, entertainment and recreation

Location

Ontario

Legal structures

All legal structures

Annual revenue

All revenue ranges

Organisation size

All organization sizes

Audience

Indigenous Peoples

Overview

The OAC Indigenous Visual Artists Materials program provides grants of up to $1,000 to support Ontario-based First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists in purchasing art materials and supplies for visual arts, crafts, or traditional Indigenous art forms. Eligible activities include the creation of artwork and facilitating workshops, covering costs such as materials, small tools, and travel for gathering supplies.

Activities funded

Creation of visual artworks in traditional or contemporary Indigenous art forms.
Facilitation of workshops focused on Indigenous visual arts or craft practices.
Multi-disciplinary art projects involving eligible Indigenous art forms.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 995

Gather bark and weaving materials for traditional birch basketry

$ 970

Create soapstone carvings and engage youth through teaching sessions

$ 990

Purchase materials for beaded regalia and run cultural workshop

Eligibility

The applicant must be an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis) artist or Culture Carrier.
The applicant must be a resident of Ontario.
The application must clearly identify the applicant's Indigenous nation and community, and describe relevant lived experience.
The project must involve the creation of artwork or facilitation of workshops in eligible visual arts, crafts, or traditional/customary Indigenous art forms.
The application must be submitted through an Indigenous organization designated as a recommender in the Ontario Arts Council's online system (Nova).

Who is eligible?

Individual First Nations artists working in visual arts, crafts, or traditional/customary Indigenous art forms
Individual Inuit artists working in visual arts, crafts, or traditional/customary Indigenous art forms
Individual Métis artists working in visual arts, crafts, or traditional/customary Indigenous art forms
Indigenous Culture Carriers (such as Elders, knowledge keepers, traditional educators, or language holders) recognized for contributing to Indigenous cultural practice

Who is not eligible

Non-Indigenous organizations and companies.
Ad hoc groups and collectives.
Any organizations or businesses, as the program is intended for individual Indigenous artists and culture carriers only.

Eligible expenses

Purchase of art materials and supplies (e.g., wood, fabric, thread, stone, leather hides, sinew, beads, needles, photographic printing, inks, metals, paint, canvas, paper, pencils).
Acquisition of small tools required for making artwork or for harvesting/gathering materials (e.g., blades, carving tools, awls, scissors).
Materials or tools necessary for running or participating in workshops.
Transportation or shipping costs related to materials and supplies.
Individual travel expenses for gathering materials, such as collecting beading/sewing supplies or natural materials.

Eligible geographic areas

Ontario

How to apply

Create or update Nova profile

Create or update your profile in Nova, the Ontario Arts Council's online grant application system
Ensure your profile contains up-to-date personal and contact information

Prepare application materials

Prepare your application responses, clearly stating your Indigenous nation, community, and lived experience
Select the Indigenous organization recommender you are applying to
Gather artistic examples (maximum 8 images or video documentation) of your own work
Prepare a support document, such as an artist resumé (optional but recommended)

Complete and submit application in Nova

Log in to Nova and complete the application for the Indigenous Visual Artists' Materials grant
Attach required documentation and artistic examples
Select and name the chosen recommender in your application

Await notification of results

Your application is reviewed and assessed by the selected recommender organization
Notification of results will be provided up to two months after deadline or submission date, depending on recommender process

Receive grant approval and funding

If successful, you will receive a confirmation of your grant approval
Follow instructions to access grant funds and begin funded activities

Complete funded project

Complete your project and use the grant funds as proposed for eligible expenses
Keep records and images of artworks created using funded materials

Submit final report in Nova

Submit a final report in Nova after project completion
Include a short description of the work created, images, and proof of OAC recognition

Additional information

Applicants may only receive one grant from this program per program year but can apply to multiple recommenders.
If awarded a grant greater than $500, recipients will receive a T4A slip from OAC.
Awarded grants count towards the three-grant limit for the 2025 program year.
Applicants must not submit more than one application per recommender per program year.

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.