OAC — Media arts – French-language projects
Last Update: May 24, 2025
ON, Canada
Supports French-language independent media arts projects in Ontario
OAC — Media arts – French-language projects at a glance
Eligible Funding
- Max. $40,000
Timeline
- Continuous Intakes
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Grant Providers
- Ontario Arts Council (OAC)
Status
Open
Overview of the OAC — Media arts – French-language projects program
The Ontario Arts Council's Media Arts – French-language Projects grant supports Ontario-based Francophone media artists developing or producing independent works in film, video, digital arts, audio art, and new media, with projects required to be in French and aimed at a Francophone audience. Eligible applicants can receive up to $40,000 for activities such as research, development, production, and post-production of innovative and original media arts projects.
Financing terms and conditions
- Development category: Funding up to $7,000 per project.
- Production category (early-career artists): Funding up to $25,000 per project, with a project budget cap of $125,000.
- Production category (mid-career and established artists): Funding up to $40,000 per project, with a project budget cap of $300,000.
- Grants in production categories are disbursed only upon confirmation of all other sources of financing within one year of the grant notification.
- If the final project budget has a surplus over $250, repayment of the excess amount to the funding body may be required.
Eligible projects & activities
- Development or production of new French-language media art works, including film, video, audio art, digital media, new media, and electronic/video games.
- Creation of animation projects.
- Production of sound art or video art.
- Creation of experimental, documentary, dramatic, or comedic films or videos.
- Development of dance films/video, media art installations, media art performance projects, virtual reality, and interactive web art projects.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 21,000
Procurement of high-efficiency appliances for a seniors’ residence kitchen
$ 32,000
Development of an online marketplace for regional cooperative products
$ 59,500
Installation of solar panels on a community recreation center roof
$ 26,500
Launch of zero-waste packaging for a small artisan bakery
$ 17,500
Establishing a community bicycle repair and lending workshop
$ 55,000
Upgrade to energy-efficient LED lighting at a frozen foods plant
Eligibility criteria of the OAC — Media arts – French-language projects program
- The applicant must be a media artist or filmmaker who is the principal creator and holds full copyright and creative control over the project.
- The applicant must reside in Ontario.
- The project must be in French and intended for a Francophone audience.
- The project must be an independent work in media arts, digital media, or related fields, submitted by the main artist or filmmaker.
- Applicants must submit their application in French and meet the required career profile (emerging, mid-career, or established artist) as defined by the program.
Who is eligible?
- Independent Francophone media artists residing in Ontario
- Independent Francophone film directors residing in Ontario
Who is not eligible
- Organizations, including government agencies, non-profit companies, and private businesses, that commission or produce projects (projects commissioned or produced by these entities are not eligible).
- Companies or producers directing or controlling the creative content (the applicant must retain full creative freedom and copyright).
- Entities producing projects for commercial cinema, television, or the commercial video game industry.
Eligible expenses
- Rental costs for equipment and workspace.
- Expenses related to technical experimentation or development of techniques.
- Professional fees and honoraria for the applicant, actors, artists, technicians, and participants involved in development or production phases.
- Travel expenses directly related to the project.
- Mentorship costs.
- Video and audio recording, filming, and editing expenses.
- Production and post-production costs, including artist and staff fees, insurance, and promotional documentation.
- Prototyping expenses.
- Royalty payments for images, audio, or music rights.
- Material and space rental costs specific to the project.
- Subtitling expenses.
- Purchase of minor equipment, software, or electronic materials needed for the project.
- Child or dependent care costs required for project participation (excluding regular or ongoing care).
- Accessibility-related costs to make the project accessible to Deaf or disabled audiences or participants (other than the applicant).
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Eligibility criteria of the OAC — Media arts – French-language projects program
- Demonstration of innovation in content, perspective, form, style, technique, or creative approach.
- Contribution to the artistic development and evolution of the applicant as a creator.
How to apply to the OAC — Media arts – French-language projects program
- Step 1: Review Program GuidelinesRead the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) Project Programs Guide to understand eligibility requirements and restrictions.
- Familiarize yourself with application deadlines and available funding categories.
- Step 2: Create or Update Nova ProfileAccess Nova, the OAC's online grant management system.
- Create a new profile or update your existing information in Nova.
- Step 3: Gather Required DocumentsPrepare samples of artistic work (1 sample for emerging artists, 2 for mid-career/established artists).
- Compile a CV or biographical note for yourself and key collaborators/participants (including mentors, if applicable).
- Develop a detailed project budget or budget notes.
- Collect letters of agreement, confirmation, or recommendations.
- For specific project types: prepare design sketches, treatment, or scenario documents as needed.
- Step 4: Complete Application Form in NovaAccess the application form in Nova approximately two months before the deadline.
- Provide basic project information and answer all application questions.
- Upload artistic samples and all supporting documents.
- Step 5: Submit ApplicationReview your application for completeness and accuracy.
- Submit the completed application through Nova by the deadline (e.g., October 2, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET).
- Step 6: Await NotificationYou will be informed of the results approximately four and a half months after the application deadline.
- Step 7: Report and Acknowledge Funding (if successful)Complete the funded project within two years of receiving results.
- Submit a final report via Nova, including project description, results, and a final budget.
- Provide documentation or explanation of how OAC and Ontario government support was acknowledged in project materials.
Additional information
- The application form becomes available in Nova approximately two months before the submission deadline.
- Supporting guidelines and resources, such as explanatory guides and required documentation details, are provided online and should be reviewed before preparing your application.
- Excess funds of more than $250 must be reimbursed to the Ontario Arts Council if project revenues exceed expenses.
- Recent changes now allow inclusion of non-commercial commissioned works, television episodes, and web series as admissible supporting materials.
Contact Ontario Arts Council (OAC)
nchorney@arts.on.ca
416-969-7440
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