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OAC — Visual Artists Creation Projects
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Ontario, Canada
Supports Ontario visual artists in creating new work
Grant and Funding
Overview
The OAC Visual Artists Creation Projects grant offers up to $15,000 to support professional Ontario-based visual artists in the creation of new work. Eligible activities include covering the costs of materials, production, studio rental, and related expenses essential for creating visual art projects.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Integrate new technologies
- Increasing community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
- Minimum amount : 5,000 $
Timeline
- Open Date : May 1, 2025
- Closing date : November 5, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Sole proprietorship
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Persons with Disabilities
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Youth (<40)
Activities funded
- Creation of new visual art works across various practices, including painting, drawing, printmaking, installation, sculpture, performance art, photography, and electronic media.
- Collaborative projects between professional visual artists working together to produce new artistic work.
- Artistic initiatives that require artists to travel specifically for the creation of new work (such as on-site photography or research related to the project).
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 14,750
Large-scale mixed media installation exploring urban transformation
$ 12,600
Development of multi-panel mural depicting regional biodiversity
$ 14,300
Collaborative photography series documenting lakeside communities
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a professional visual artist residing in Ontario, classified as emerging, mid-career, or established based on years of professional practice and public presentation.
- If applying as a collaborative team, all team members must meet the program and category eligibility criteria; one artist must apply on behalf of the group.
- The applicant must have creative control over the project and hold copyright to the proposed work.
- The proposed project must involve the creation of new visual arts work and be completed within two years of receiving the grant.
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).
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- 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.
How to apply
1
Confirm eligibility requirements
- Review the Guide to OAC Project Programs for eligibility and restrictions
- Ensure you meet all specific grant and eligibility criteria
- Verify application timeline and deadlines
2
Create or update Nova profile
- Create or update your applicant profile in the Nova online system
- Gather documentation required for the process
3
Gather and prepare application materials
- Prepare project information in line with application requirements
- Answer all application questions accurately
- Compile artistic examples (max 8 images or 8 minutes of video)
- Prepare and update your résumé (maximum three pages)
4
Complete and review application in Nova
- Complete and review the online application in Nova
- Ensure all attachments are correct and meet requirements
5
Submit application before deadline
- Submit your completed application by the specified deadline
- Check for confirmation of receipt in Nova
Additional information
- 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.
