Closed
OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials
Funding for Indigenous artists’ materials and supplies
Last Update: March 16, 2026
Funding available
$ 500 - $ 1,000
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Ontario Arts Council offers support of $500 or $1,000 for Ontario-based Indigenous artists and Culture Carriers. The program helps cover materials and supplies for visual arts, crafts, traditional or customary Indigenous art forms, including work created independently or through workshops.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,000 $
- Minimum amount : 500 $
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
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
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
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.
Documents Needed
- Application answers
- Artistic examples of your work
- Artist resumé, optional
- Recommender name
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- First Nations artists
- Inuit artists
- Métis artists
- Indigenous Culture Carriers
Who is not eligible
- Non-Indigenous applicants
- Ad hoc groups and collectives
- Organizations
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.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Artist fees and honorariums
- Workshop registration fees
- Large equipment, studio setup, or renovations
- Business and promotional expenses
- Commercial production, food, body care, and home product creation
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- Artistic merit
- Viability and impact
- Quality of application
How to apply
1
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
2
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)
3
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
4
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
5
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
6
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
7
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
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by Indigenous recommenders and then by OAC for eligibility
- Applicants are notified by email when the notification letter is available in Nova
- Notification is sent up to two months after the recommender deadline or application submission
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials Program
What is the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials?
The Ontario Arts Council offers support of $500 or $1,000 for Ontario-based Indigenous artists and Culture Carriers. The program helps cover materials and supplies for visual arts, crafts, traditional or customary Indigenous art forms, including work created independently or through workshops.
How much funding can be received?
OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials Funds up to $1,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials program?
To be eligible for the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials program, you must:
Indigenous artists only
Ontario residents
Individual applicants only
What expenses are eligible under OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials?
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.
Who can I contact for more information about the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials?
You can contact Ontario Arts Council (OAC).
Where is the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials available?
The OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials a grant, loan, or tax credit?
OAC — Indigenous Visual Artists Materials is a Grant and Funding