Closed
Source verified July 31, 2026
PIA Artist-Direct Program
Funding for GTA-based artists' exhibitions
Latest source updateLast Update: July 31, 2026Latest change: PIA’s Artist-Direct materials now show a much fuller guide with detailed eligibility, ineligible cases, expenses, assessment, and activity timing for the Jan. 1-15, 2026 intake.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 31, 2026
Latest change: PIA’s Artist-Direct materials now show a much fuller guide with detailed eligibility, ineligible cases, expenses, assessment, and activity timing for the Jan. 1-15, 2026 intake.
Artist-Direct guide expanded
PIA’s Artist-Direct materials now include a full Overview + Eligibility + Expenses guide instead of only the brief program summary. The guide confirms the Jan. 1-15, 2026 submission window, the $5,000 grant amount, and the project period of May 1, 2026 to May 1, 2027, while adding detailed eligibility, expense, and assessment criteria. The new guide specifies that applicants must be Canadian visual artists living in the Greater Toronto Area with a confirmed upcoming public exhibition in Canada, and it lists ineligible applicants, ineligible exhibitions, and allowable expense categories. It also adds review and post-award expectations, including a final report and acknowledgement requirements.
Funding available
$ 5,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Overview
PIA Artist-Direct Grants offer $5,000 to GTA-based visual artists with confirmed upcoming exhibitions in Canada between May 1, 2026 and May 1, 2027. The program supports supplies, studio rentals, and production costs for new work and exhibitions. Up to 50% of the funding can also pay artist fees.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Increase production or service capacity
- Develop an online presence
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Minimum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- 2SLGBTQI+
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Confirmed upcoming public exhibitions in Canada
Documents Needed
- Application form
- Eligibility document
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian (citizens or permanent residents) visual artists
- GTA-based artists
- Emerging or mid-career artists
- Collaborative or collective applicants, considered as one applicant
Who is not eligible
- Undergraduate, graduate, or doctorate students enrolled full-time at an educational institution
- Applicants who were recipients of a 2025 Artist-Direct Grant and are applying again within one calendar year
Eligible expenses
- Creation of new work
- Materials, 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, and artist fees up to 50%
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
- Exhibitions presented for credit in a secondary, post-secondary, graduate or doctorate programs; virtual or online exhibitions
Eligible geographic areas
- Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Artistic Merit - 50%: artistic quality of the applicants past and current work; potential artistic outcomes from this exhibit/project
- Impact - 40%: impact on artistic development; importance of project at the stage of the applicant’s career/practice; impact on discourse of contemporary art; impact on artistic community and community at large
- Innovation + Experimentation - 20%: demonstration of new works, materials or productions; conceptual rigour and originality
- Applications for this grant will be juried internally by the Artist-Direct Committee of PIA.
How to apply
- Step 1: Review the application materials
- Read the Application Form and the Eligibility Document.
- Confirm that the project is a confirmed exhibition in Canada.
- Step 2: Prepare the application
- Complete the Artist-Direct application form.
- Make sure the submission fits the program period.
- Step 3: Submit the application
- Send the application during the published application window.
Processing and Agreement
- Successful candidates will be notified by May 1, 2026.
- Successful applicants must fill out a brief Final Report after their exhibition is complete.
- The report will request information regarding the impact of the project and budget report.
- 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.
- Successful artists will be asked to add the PIA logo to their website and project/exhibition website as acknowledgement of support.
Additional information
- A total of ten eligible artists, five emerging and five mid-career, will receive PIA’s Artist-Direct grant in 2026.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the PIA Artist-Direct Program Program
What is the PIA Artist-Direct Program?
PIA Artist-Direct Grants offer $5,000 to GTA-based visual artists with confirmed upcoming exhibitions in Canada between May 1, 2026 and May 1, 2027. The program supports supplies, studio rentals, and production costs for new work and exhibitions. Up to 50% of the funding can also pay artist fees.
How much funding can be received?
PIA Artist-Direct Program Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $5,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the PIA Artist-Direct Program program?
To be eligible for the PIA Artist-Direct Program program, you must:
Canadian visual artists who are citizens or permanent residents
Live in the Greater Toronto Area at the time of application
Have a confirmed, upcoming public exhibition in Canada that opens after May 1, 2026 and closes by May 1, 2027
What expenses are eligible under PIA Artist-Direct Program?
Confirmed upcoming public exhibitions in Canada
Who can I contact for more information about the PIA Artist-Direct Program?
You can contact Partners in Art (PIA) by email at artistdirect@partnersinart.ca.
Where is the PIA Artist-Direct Program available?
The PIA Artist-Direct Program program is available across Canada.
Is the PIA Artist-Direct Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
PIA Artist-Direct Program is a Grant and Funding