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Partners in Art Funding Programs

Support for artists with confirmed Canadian exhibitions

Offered by
Partners in Art (PIA)
Official source: partnersinart.ca

Source change captured

Funding available
$ 5,000 - $ 150,000
Up to 50% of project cost
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Who can apply
Canadian (citizens or permanent residents) visual artists
See full eligibility

Overview

Artist-Direct Grants award $5,000 to GTA-based visual artists with confirmed exhibitions in Canada. It supports emerging and mid-career artists to cover supplies, studio rentals, exhibition expenses, production costs, and up to 50% of the grant for their time and labour.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding
$150,000
Minimum funding
$5,000
Maximum share of project costs
50%
Financing goals
  • Develop strategic partnerships
  • Increase social or community impact
  • Reach a new target audience
  • Raise awareness or mobilize a population

Eligible candidates

Location
  • Toronto
  • Ontario
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
All revenue ranges
Organisation size
All organization sizes
Audience
All groups
Legal structures
Non-profit
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
Culture and Arts
Target groups
Artists / creatives, Nonprofits / charities
Revenue structures
100% donations / grants
Scope
National

Receipt of requests is now closed

Get notified about updates to this grant.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 5

Latest changes

Artist-Direct grant details expanded

The Artist-Direct grant guide now shows detailed eligibility, expense, assessment, and timeline information, including the Jan. 1-15, 2026 submission window and the $5,000 award amount.

See more

The Artist-Direct grant guide is now visible with full program details, including the Jan. 1-15, 2026 submission window and the $5,000 grant amount. It also adds the eligibility rules, ineligible applicants and exhibitions, eligible expenses, assessment criteria, final report expectations, and definitions for GTA residency and artist career stage. The guide specifies that applicants must be Canadian visual artists with a confirmed public exhibition in Canada opening after May 1, 2026 and closing by May 1, 2027, and it introduces the 15-year exhibition-history cutoff used to distinguish emerging and mid-career artists. It also states that applicants will be notified by May 1, 2026 and that the activity must not start before May 1, 2026 and must be completed by May 1, 2027.

Official source: partnersinart.ca
July 31, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Canadian (citizens or permanent residents) visual artists
  • GTA-based artists
  • Emerging or mid-career artists

Who is not eligible

  • Undergraduate, graduate, or doctorate students enrolled full-time at an educational institution
  • Recipients of a 2025 Artist-Direct Grant must wait one calendar year to apply again

Eligible expenses

  • Material, supplies, production, production assistance, and post-production costs
  • Studio space or equipment rental
  • Purchase of small-scale equipment, software, electronics and similar materials required to carry out the projects
  • Exhibition presentation costs, including shipping, crating, installation and framing
  • Artist fees, up to 50%, and production assistance

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Exhibitions in venues that are not open to the public
  • Fundraising projects
  • Art fairs
  • Publications or books without an accompanying exhibition
  • Virtual or online exhibitions

Eligible geographic areas

  • Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
  • Canada

Activities funded

  • Confirmed upcoming public exhibitions in Canada
  • Solo or group exhibitions
  • Creation of new work for the exhibition

How to apply

  • Step 1: Review the relevant funding stream
    • Identify whether your project fits Project Development, Artist-Direct, or Special Project funding.
    • Check the deadlines and eligibility for the specific stream.
  • Step 2: Prepare the application
    • Complete the correct application form for your funding stream.
    • Prepare the required project budget and supporting information.
  • Step 3: Submit the application
    • Send the application within the relevant intake window.
    • Use the application form and documents provided on the funding page.
  • Step 4: Await the decision
    • Wait for the adjudication result or response timeline for your stream.

Documents Needed

  • Completed application form
  • Full project budget
  • Details of other sources of income
  • Application and eligibility documents for the relevant funding stream

Selection criteria

  • Artistic Merit - 50%, including artistic quality of past and current work and potential artistic outcomes from the exhibit or project
  • Impact - 40%, including artistic development, importance at the stage of the applicant’s career or practice, impact on discourse of contemporary art, and impact on the artistic community and community at large
  • Innovation + Experimentation - 20%, including demonstration of new works, materials or productions and conceptual rigour and originality

Processing and Agreement

  • Applications for this grant will be juried internally by the Artist-Direct Committee of PIA
  • Successful candidates will be notified by May 1, 2026
  • Successful applicants must fill out a brief Final Report after their exhibition is complete, including project impact and budget information
  • Successful artists will be asked to add the PIA logo to their website and project/exhibition website as acknowledgement of support
  • If successful artists and PIA are interested in organizing a studio, exhibition or virtual tour, this can be arranged based on availability, but is not required

Additional information

  • Applications are accepted twice per year.
  • Successful partners receive a letter of agreement.
  • Application information is kept confidential within PIA committees.
  • The committee may provide feedback if requested after a rejection.

Contacts

admin@partnersinart.ca

Official sources

Funding - Partners in Art

Program guide

Artist-Direct Grants Overview, Eligibility + Expenses (2026)Project Development Funding FAQ - Partners in Art

Application form

Artist-Direct GrantsPartners in Artrequest for Funding FORM
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Partners in Art Funding Programs Program

What is the Partners in Art Funding Programs?

Artist-Direct Grants award $5,000 to GTA-based visual artists with confirmed exhibitions in Canada. It supports emerging and mid-career artists to cover supplies, studio rentals, exhibition expenses, production costs, and up to 50% of the grant for their time and labour.

How much funding can be received?

Partners in Art Funding Programs Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $150,000 per project.

Who is eligible for the Partners in Art Funding Programs program?

To be eligible for the Partners in Art Funding Programs program, you must: Canadian (citizens or permanent residents) visual artists Confirmed upcoming public exhibition in Canada Applicants must live in the Greater Toronto Area at the time of application

What expenses are eligible under Partners in Art Funding Programs?

Material, supplies, production, production assistance, and post-production costs Studio space or equipment rental Purchase of small-scale equipment, software, electronics and similar materials required to carry out the projects Exhibition presentation costs, including shipping, crating, installation and framing Artist fees, up to 50%, and production assistance

Who can I contact for more information about the Partners in Art Funding Programs?

You can contact Partners in Art (PIA) by email at admin@partnersinart.ca.

Where is the Partners in Art Funding Programs available?

The Partners in Art Funding Programs program is available the province of Ontario.

Is the Partners in Art Funding Programs a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Partners in Art Funding Programs is a Grant and Funding