OAC — Visual Artists Creation Projects

• Résumé
• Artistic examples
• Completed Nova application

Who is eligible?

• Professional visual artists based in Ontario (including emerging, mid-career, and established artists)
• Artist collectives or collaborative teams, provided all members meet eligibility criteria

Who is not eligible

• Companies and organizations; this program is for individual professional visual artists only.
• Student organizations or businesses whose staff are enrolled as full-time undergraduate or graduate students.
• Businesses whose main activity is in education or training (student or educational projects are not funded).
• Companies applying for exhibition presentation, marketing, publication, or fundraising projects.

Eligible expenses

• Materials and supplies required to create new work.
• Production costs directly related to the creation of the project.
• Studio space or equipment rental necessary for project execution.
• Purchase of small-scale equipment, software, or electronics needed for the project.
• Artist fees, including payment to yourself or other artists engaged in creating the work (excluding living and personal expenses).
• Travel expenses only if required to create the work (for example, travel to the location of the subject of the work).
• Childcare and other dependant care fees specifically to enable participation in the project (excluding regular, ongoing expenses).

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Exhibition presentation costs
• Marketing materials and activities
• Publications and books
• Student or educational projects
• Travel to exhibitions and events

Eligible geographic areas

• Ontario

• Excellence of the artistic project presented.
• Diversity and scope of the artistic practices reflected in the application.
• Value of the project's contribution to the regional artistic community and the diversity of artists.

• Step 1: Review Program Guidelines
  • Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for detailed eligibility requirements and program restrictions.
  • Review specific terms for your artist category and ensure your project and expenses are eligible.
• Step 2: Prepare Nova Online Profile
  • Create or update your profile in Nova, the Ontario Arts Council’s online grant application system.
• Step 3: Gather Application Materials
  • Prepare basic information about your project.
  • Answer all required application questions in detail.
  • Compile artistic examples (up to 8 images or up to 8 minutes of video).
  • Prepare a support document: résumé (maximum three pages).
• Step 4: Complete Online Application
  • Access Nova approximately two months before the application deadline.
  • Fill out the online application form in Nova, providing all requested information and uploading required materials.
• Step 5: Submit Application
  • Review all information and attached files for completeness and accuracy.
  • Submit the application in Nova before the deadline (May 13 or November 3, 2026, 1 p.m. ET).
• Step 6: Application Acknowledgment
  • You will receive notification from OAC after submission confirming your application has been received.

• You will find out whether you got a grant about four and a half months after each deadline.
• This program does not provide juror comments or feedback to either successful or unsuccessful applicants.
• Grant recipients must submit a final report in Nova after completing the project.

• The program does not provide juror comments or feedback to applicants, whether successful or unsuccessful.
• Partial grants are not awarded; only full grant amounts by category are given.
• If awarded, grant recipients must wait a year before reapplying to the program.
• Applicants must have creative control and copyright over the proposed work.