OAC — Media arts – French-language projects
Last Update: July 22, 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
- Unspecified
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Grant Providers
- Ontario Arts Council (OAC)
Program 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
Apply to this program
Grant and FundingClosed
Ontario, Canada
Funding for international activities for Ontario production companies
Grant and FundingClosed
Ontario, Canada
Cost-share funding for rural economic development
Grant and FundingClosed
Ontario, Canada
Money for music management companies
Grant and FundingOpen
Ontario, Canada
Funding for the Ontario cultural media industry
Tax CreditsOpen
Ontario, Canada
Tax credit for film and television production in Ontario
Grant and FundingClosed
Ontario, Canada
Funding for music service organizations in Ontario
Tax CreditsOpen
Ontario, Canada
Tax credit for Ontario film and television content
Grant and FundingOpen
Ontario, Canada
Funding for Ontario-based media artists' production and post-production projects
Open
Ontario, Canada
AI solutions for research security and open-source intelligence advancement