
OAC — Northern Arts Projects
grant_single|update May 24, 2025
ON, Canada
Supports creation, presentation, and development of northern Ontario arts
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grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
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- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
grant_single|grantors
- Ontario Arts Council (OAC)
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grant_card_status|open
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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.
grant_single_labels_website|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).
grant_single_labels_website|projects
- 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.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 30,000
Scaling up production and packaging for local eco-friendly cleaning brand
$ 12,000
Implementing digital booking and POS systems for artisan bakery
$ 15,000
Developing hybrid community education program for adult literacy centre
$ 95,000
Retrofitting building for energy efficiency at urban housing co-op
$ 42,000
Launching inclusive employment program for adults with disabilities
$ 87,500
Purchasing electric delivery vans for local food distribution initiative
grant_single_labels_website|admissibility
- 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.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- 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
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- 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.
grant_eligibility_criteria|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).
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
- 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
grant_single_labels_website|criteria
- 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.
grant_single_labels_website|apply
- 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.
grant_single_labels_website|otherInfo
- 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.
grant_single_labels_website|contact
aforslund@arts.on.ca
807-700-6227
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