How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 20000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the OAC — Music Production and Presentation Projects?

OAC — Music Production and Presentation Projects is funded by Ontario Arts Council (OAC)

What are OAC — Music Production and Presentation Projects's eligibility criterias?

The applicant must be an incorporated not-for-profit organization with a head office in Ontario. For-profit businesses are not eligible.

OAC — Music Production and Presentation Projects

Last Update: May 24, 2025

ON, Canada

Funding for Ontario-based professional music production and presentation

OAC — Music Production and Presentation Projects at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $20,000

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Arts, entertainment and recreation

Grant Providers

Ontario Arts Council (OAC)

Status

Open

Overview of the OAC — Music Production and Presentation Projects program

The OAC Music Production and Presentation Projects program offers up to $20,000 in funding to support the development and public presentation of live and virtual music across all genres by Ontario-based professional musicians, groups, and organizations. Eligible activities include rehearsal and repertoire development, single concerts, concert series, music festivals, and opera productions.

Financing terms and conditions

Individual professional musicians and programmers may receive up to $20,000 per project.
Professional ad hoc music groups, collectives, and music organizations may receive up to $20,000 per project.
Semi-professional, community, and choral training organizations may receive up to $5,000 per project.
Northern semi-professional and community orchestras are eligible for up to $20,000; other semi-professional and community orchestras can receive up to $15,000.
Grant requests should be proportional to the scope of the project; awarded amounts may be less than requested due to available funds.

Eligible projects & activities

Rehearsal and repertoire development, including first-stage opera workshops.
Production and presentation of single music performances or concerts.
Development and delivery of concert series.
Organization of music festivals.
Opera production and second-stage opera workshops.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 90,000

Implementing bilingual digital customer service kiosks in local branches

$ 68,500

Procuring a delivery van and refrigeration unit for meal programs

$ 80,000

Replacing factory lighting systems with high-efficiency LED fixtures

$ 96,000

Upgrading HVAC system to increase energy efficiency and air quality

$ 95,000

Purchasing accessible manufacturing equipment for inclusive employment program

$ 54,200

Launching a bilingual e-commerce website for local fair trade goods

Eligibility criteria of the OAC — Music Production and Presentation Projects program

The applicant must be a professionally-led, incorporated non-profit music organization with a head office in Ontario, or a not-for-profit professional ad hoc group, collective, or music producer/presenter operating on a not-for-profit basis.
Projects must support the production and presentation of live or virtual music in Ontario, involving professional musicians.
For non-music arts organizations, the project must feature a primary music curatorial leadership role and a curated artistic vision for a music series or festival.
Projects must pay professional fees to musicians and ensure most participants are professional artists, except for community orchestras and choirs led by a professional artistic leader.

Who is eligible?

Professional musicians and music programmers based in Ontario
Not-for-profit bands, ensembles, orchestras, opera companies, choirs, and other music producers or presenters
Music festivals operating on a not-for-profit basis
Professionally-led music presenters and producers of concerts, series, and festivals
Non-music arts organizations requesting support for music presenting activities, with music curatorial leadership

Who is not eligible

Colleges, universities, schools, and municipalities.
Religious institutions.
Record companies, music labels, managers, agents, and lawyers.
Organizations that receive ongoing operating grants from the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), except those mandated to serve OAC priority groups.
Youth orchestras and volunteer-run series or festivals not led by professional artists or curators.

Eligible expenses

Artistic fees (for example, conductor, accompanist, section lead, royalty fees for professional musicians and similar roles)
Production costs
Venue and equipment rental
Purchase of small-scale equipment, software, electronics, and similar materials required for the project (up to $500)
Marketing, publicity, promotion, and administrative costs
Audio/visual recording costs directly associated with virtual presentations that are part of the project
Modest audio/visual recording costs for documenting live presentation activities (archival recording)
Childcare and other dependant care fees enabling participation in the project (excluding regular, ongoing expenses)
Expenses related to making the project accessible to audience members and participants who are Deaf or have a disability

Eligible geographic areas

Ontario
Northern Ontario, including Far North, Northwest, and Northeast regions, as well as Manitoulin, Parry Sound and Nipissing districts, and all regions north of these

How to apply to the OAC — Music Production and Presentation Projects program

Step 1: Review Program GuidelinesRead the Guide to OAC Project Programs to understand eligibility requirements and restrictions.
Consult program deadlines and ensure your project aligns with timing requirements.
Step 2: Register or Update Profile in NovaCreate or update your personal or organizational profile in Nova, the Ontario Arts Council’s online grant application system.
Step 3: Prepare Application MaterialsGather essential project information such as project description, budget, and timeline.
Prepare answers to application questions regarding your project.
Compile artistic examples: upload a minimum of one and maximum of three audio and/or video examples.
Collect supporting documents, including CVs, résumés or bios of artists and programmers, score excerpts and/or lyrics/libretto (for Opera projects), and a programming/repertoire list.
Step 4: Complete Application in NovaLog in to your Nova profile when the application becomes available (approximately two months before the deadline).
Fill out all required fields in the application form, including project budget and supporting documents.
Step 5: Submit ApplicationReview your application for completeness and accuracy.
Submit the completed application through Nova before the posted deadline (March 26 or September 25, 2025, 1 p.m. ET).
Step 6: Receive Confirmation and Await ResultsConfirmation of your submission will be provided via Nova.
Await notification of grant results, which occurs approximately four and a half months after the deadline.

Additional information

Program deadlines may change before it opens in Nova, so applicants should check the page for updated information.
Acknowledgement of OAC support with logo placement or verbal recognition is required for all funded projects.
If a project's final budget shows a surplus over $250, repayment of the surplus to OAC may be necessary.
Applicants identifying as Deaf or having a disability may access supplementary funds for their own accessibility expenses via the Accessibility Fund: Project Support.