OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating

Q: How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating a grant, loan, or tax credit?

OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating?

OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating is funded by Ontario Arts Council (OAC)

Q: Who is eligible for the OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating program?

To be eligible for the OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating program, you must: • No eligibility for for-profit businesses; only Ontario-based or national not-for-profit corporations with head office in Ontario are eligible.

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating?

You can contact Ontario Arts Council (OAC) by email at nmansour@arts.on.ca or by phone at 1-800-387-0058.

Q: Where is the OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating available?

The OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating program is available the province of ON.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

ON, Canada

Supports operating costs of Ontario public art galleries

At a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Unspecified

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Arts, entertainment and recreation

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

The OAC Public Art Galleries: Operating grant supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, professional public art galleries in Ontario, with eligible activities including exhibition programming, artist development, and public engagement with contemporary visual art. The program funds organizations that meet strict operational, governance, and professional standards, though the maximum funding amount is not specified.

Activities funded

Ongoing operations and management of professional public art galleries.
Development and delivery of visual arts exhibitions and presentations.
Production and distribution of contemporary visual art content.
Programs and initiatives for artist development.
Public engagement and education activities related to contemporary visual art.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 22,000

Establishing a zero-waste retail pilot program in grocery store

$ 22,000

Creating a bilingual mental health resource platform for youth

$ 22,000

Launching a local food delivery hub using electric vehicles

$ 16,500

Enhancing digital accessibility for a performing arts society

$ 23,000

Expanding local bike repair cooperative with community education space

$ 28,500

Upgrading bakery for energy efficiency and local product sourcing

Eligibility

The applicant must be an Ontario-based not-for-profit corporation, or a national not-for-profit corporation with its head office in Ontario.
The organization must have maintained at least two years of sustained, regular, ongoing programming as of the application date.
The organization must have an active board of directors or governing body.
The public art gallery must have a distinct, secure, and dedicated space solely for gallery purposes, open to the public with visual arts programming for at least 10 months and 1,500 hours per year.
The gallery must employ professional staff, including a full-time director responsible for operations, programs, and services.

Who is eligible?

Ontario-based not-for-profit professional public art galleries
National not-for-profit professional public art galleries with a head office in Ontario

Who is not eligible

Non-arts organizations
Municipalities
Colleges and/or universities

Eligible expenses

Salaries and benefits for professional staff, including a full-time director responsible for gallery operations, programs, and services.
Exhibition, copyright, and reproduction fees paid to professional artists in accordance with recommended fee schedules.
Costs related to the exhibition and interpretation of contemporary visual art, including publication and documentation.
Expenses for maintaining a dedicated gallery space that meets required physical, security, and environmental standards for art storage and collection management.

Eligible geographic areas

Ontario

How to apply

Step 1: Review Program GuidelinesRead the Guide to OAC Operating Programs.
Review the Guide to OAC Assessment.
Step 2: Verify EligibilityContact the program officer to discuss eligibility (required for new applicants).
Step 3: Register and Update ProfilesCreate or update your organization profile in Nova, OAC’s online grant application system.
Register for an account with Canadian Arts Data / Données sur les arts au Canada (CADAC) if you are a new applicant.
Step 4: Prepare Application MaterialsAnswer all application questions as required in Nova.
Submit financial and statistical information through CADAC.
Upload financial statements for your organization’s last completed year to CADAC.
Prepare artistic examples such as images, video documentation of exhibitions and programming, and relevant publications.
Step 5: Submit ApplicationAccess Nova about two months before the deadline to complete the online application.
Ensure all materials are included as per application instructions in Nova.
Submit your completed application by the deadline (June 4, 2025, 1 p.m. ET).
Step 6: Await NotificationGrant notification will be available approximately five months after the application deadline.

Additional information

The deadline for the 2025 program is June 4, 2025, at 1 p.m. ET.
Applications are available approximately two months prior to the deadline on the Nova platform.
Grant notification is typically provided about five months after the application deadline.
This program is in year 3 of a three-year cycle, and new applicants may only apply in the program’s first year of the cycle.

Contacts

nmansour@arts.on.ca

1-800-387-0058

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the OAC — Public Art Galleries: Operating. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.