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OAC — Northern Arts Projects - ON - Canada

OAC — Northern Arts Projects

Last Update: July 22, 2025
ON, Canada
Supports creation, presentation, and development of northern Ontario arts

OAC — Northern Arts Projects at a glance

Eligible Funding
  • Max. $15,000
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 — Northern Arts Projects program

The OAC Northern Arts Projects program offers up to $15,000 in funding to support the creation, production, and presentation of artwork, professional development, and community-engaged arts initiatives benefiting northern Ontario communities. Eligible activities include new artistic works, public presentations, skills and career development, as well as collaborative community arts projects.

Financing terms and conditions

  • Maximum grant amount is $15,000 per project for each of the following categories: New Works, Presentation, Skills/Career Development, and Working with Community.
  • Grants awarded may be less than the amount requested, depending on application volume and available funds.
  • If a co-application is submitted and successful, the grant is divided equally between the two applicants.
  • If a final project budget shows a surplus of more than $250, the excess may need to be repaid to the Ontario Arts Council (OAC).

Eligible projects & activities

  • Creation and production of new works in any artistic discipline.
  • Presentation of artistic works, including concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and literary readings.
  • Skills and career development initiatives for artists, such as workshops, conferences, seminars, and mentorships.
  • Community-engaged arts projects, including collaborations, residencies, and creative initiatives involving community members.
  • Publishing projects for eligible arts or literary books or magazines, including editorial, production, marketing, and promotion activities.
Examples of admissible projects:

$ 15,000

Developing hybrid community education program for adult literacy centre

$ 30,000

Scaling up production and packaging for local eco-friendly cleaning brand

$ 42,000

Launching inclusive employment program for adults with disabilities

$ 87,500

Purchasing electric delivery vans for local food distribution initiative

$ 12,000

Implementing digital booking and POS systems for artisan bakery

$ 95,000

Retrofitting building for energy efficiency at urban housing co-op

Eligibility criteria of the OAC — Northern Arts Projects program

  • The applicant must have its head office based in northern Ontario.
  • Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, Canadian-controlled professional arts and literary publishers (including eligible for-profit publishers), ad hoc groups and collectives with at least 50% of members residing in northern Ontario, and northern Ontario-based First Nations and schools run by First Nations or Indigenous Education Authorities.
  • Non-arts organizations must demonstrate appropriate arts expertise and directly involve arts professionals as paid artists or advisory committee members.
  • The project must support the creation, production, or presentation of artwork, professional development, or community-engaged arts initiatives that benefit communities in northern Ontario.

Who is eligible?

  • Not-for-profit organizations with a head office in northern Ontario (including non-arts organizations that have appropriate arts expertise and involve arts professionals)
  • Canadian-controlled professional arts and literary book and magazine publishers with a head office in northern Ontario (including eligible Canadian-owned for-profit publishers)
  • Ad hoc groups and collectives based in northern Ontario consisting primarily of professional artists and/or arts professionals
  • Northern Ontario-based First Nations
  • Schools run by First Nations or Indigenous Education Authorities in northern Ontario

Who is not eligible

  • Colleges, universities, and municipalities.
  • For-profit organizations, except for eligible arts and literary publishers headquartered in northern Ontario.
  • Organizations currently receiving Ontario Arts Council (OAC) operating funding; these organizations may participate in group projects but cannot act as the applicant or co-applicant.

Eligible expenses

  • Costs for creation and production of new works in all artistic disciplines.
  • Expenses related to the presentation of artistic work, including exhibitions, concerts, literary readings, book fairs, festivals, and publications.
  • Fees for professional development opportunities, such as conferences, workshops, seminars, mentorships, and short-term courses (for individuals and organizations).
  • Costs for community-engaged arts projects, including collaborations, residencies, and initiatives involving community members in creative processes.
  • Editorial, production, circulation, marketing, and promotion expenses for publishing eligible arts or literary books or magazines.
  • Sales, distribution, and administrative costs if directly related to an eligible publication.
  • Purchase of small-scale equipment, software, electronics, and materials required to carry out the project.
  • Childcare and dependant care fees that allow individuals to participate in the project (excluding regular ongoing expenses).
  • Costs associated with making the project accessible to audience members and participants who are Deaf or have a disability (other than the applicant).

Eligible geographic areas

  • Northern Ontario, including the Far North, Northwest, and Northeast regions
  • Manitoulin District
  • Parry Sound District
  • Nipissing District
  • All regions north of Manitoulin, Parry Sound, and Nipissing districts

Eligibility criteria of the OAC — Northern Arts Projects program

  • Project's contribution to the development and growth of the arts in northern Ontario.
  • Recognition and support of the distinctive nature of arts produced in Ontario’s northern regions.
  • Support for northern Ontario artists at various career stages, with emphasis on creation, production, and promotion of their work.
  • Inclusion of fees paid to artists residing in northern Ontario.
  • Accessibility and inclusiveness of the project for audiences, participants, and community members.

How to apply to the OAC — Northern Arts Projects program

  • Step 1: Review Guidelines and EligibilityRead the Guide to OAC Project Programs to understand eligibility requirements and restrictions.
  • Consult supporting resources such as the Guide to OAC Assessment and the Nova User Guide.
  • Step 2: Prepare Your Profile in NovaCreate or update your applicant profile in Nova, the Ontario Arts Council’s online grant application system.
  • Step 3: Gather Application MaterialsCollect all required information about your project.
  • Prepare answers to application questions.
  • Draft a project budget.
  • Prepare artistic examples such as audio or video documentation, writing samples, or images as appropriate.
  • Gather support documents including résumés, bios, organizational history, letters of reference or confirmation, commitment letters, and sample session or lesson plans as applicable.
  • Step 4: Complete the Application in NovaFill out the application form in Nova when it becomes available (approximately two months before the relevant deadline).
  • Input all project information, upload supporting and artistic documents, and provide required answers and budget details.
  • Step 5: Submit the ApplicationSubmit the completed application through the Nova system before the deadline (April 30 or November 4, 1 p.m. ET).
  • Step 6: Await NotificationWait to be notified of the grant decision, usually about four and a half months after the deadline.
  • Step 7: Complete Final Reporting (if awarded)Upon project completion, submit a final report in Nova, including a description of outcomes, final budget, and supporting materials as required by OAC.

Additional information

  • The application form becomes available in the Nova system approximately two months before each deadline.
  • Grant results are communicated about four and a half months after each application deadline.
  • If the final project budget shows a surplus exceeding $250, repayment of the surplus to the Ontario Arts Council may be required.
  • Applicants are required to provide documentation demonstrating how the OAC and Government of Ontario logos were used for project recognition.

Contact Ontario Arts Council (OAC)

aforslund@arts.on.ca
807-700-6227
Apply to this program

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