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Source verified July 8, 2026
Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals
Supports mid-career museum learning and exchanges
Latest source updateLast Update: June 27, 2026Latest change: The bursary form and guidelines now show new applicant categories, support limits, and submission/contact instructions.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: June 27, 2026
Latest change: The bursary form and guidelines now show new applicant categories, support limits, and submission/contact instructions.
Bursary form and rules updated
The bursary form now lists Conference Professional Development and Learning & Engagement instead of Emerging Professional and Mid-career Professional, and the rules now limit support to two individuals per institution per fiscal year rather than five. The application materials, email submission instructions, and contact details also changed, and the form now shows updated maximum amounts of up to $800 per event and up to $1,000 in remote areas for the current bursary options. The guidelines still keep the core eligibility framework, but the per-institution cap and the form’s third-employee restriction materially narrow who can receive support. The old mid-career funding structure of 50% of eligible expenses up to $1,500 is no longer the active form language; the new form content emphasizes the updated bursary categories and funding maximums.
Funding available
$ 1,500
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
The Mid-Career Bursary supports individual museum professionals with funding of up to $800 per event, or up to $1,000 in a remote area, for specialized museum studies and professional development. Eligible costs include travel, accommodation, registration fees, resource material required for a course, and professional exchanges that encourage continuous learning.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop team skills
- Develop workforce skills
- Strengthen organizational capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 1,500 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Specialized museum studies at national or international level
- Specialized courses, seminars, workshops, and symposia
- Professional exchanges that support continuous learning
Documents Needed
- Learning objectives
- Employer/institution letter of support
- Résumé; volunteers must include a statement of volunteer work with description of work, dates and location(s)
- Job description
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Mid-career museum professionals
Who is not eligible
- As a presenter or speaker at the workshop, seminar, conference or symposia
- For an event that is part of an academic program leading to a university undergraduate degree or graduate degree, or a community college diploma
- As an employee of the Government of Canada, its agencies, and crown corporations, including indeterminate, determinate, and contract staff
- For the same event as last year, for which a CMA bursary was granted
- As a third employee from your institution applying for a CMA Bursary within a one-year period (April-March)
Eligible expenses
- Travel expenses by the most economical means available
- Accommodation
- Per diem expenses
- Registration fees
- Resource material required for the course
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Conference presenters or speakers
- Institutional programs and related exhibition research
- Academic programs leading to a degree or college diploma
- Completed learning activities
- Government of Canada employees, agencies, and crown corporations
Eligible geographic areas
- To be eligible for the remote area amount, the applicant and/or event must be located in a remote area.
Selection criteria
- The applicant's past achievements and demonstrated competence
- The eligibility or relevance of the proposed event to museum studies
- The relevancy of the proposal to the applicant's professional development
- The applicant's ability to carry out the professional development activity
How to apply
- Complete the application form.
- Prepare the required support material.
- Send the completed application by email to bursaries@museums.ca.
Processing and Agreement
- The decision of the Bursary Review Board cannot be appealed.
- If awarded a bursary, it must be used only for the project described in the application.
- If the event is cancelled or postponed, or if you are otherwise unable to attend, you must renounce all claims to the funds awarded.
Additional information
- Applications are assessed on a first-come, first-served basis.
- No bursary funding is available for events between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.
- CMA membership status is informational only and does not affect bursary application status.
- The decision of the Bursary Review Board cannot be appealed.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals Program
What is the Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals?
The Mid-Career Bursary supports individual museum professionals with funding of up to $800 per event, or up to $1,000 in a remote area, for specialized museum studies and professional development. Eligible costs include travel, accommodation, registration fees, resource material required for a course, and professional exchanges that encourage continuous learning.
How much funding can be received?
Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $1,500 per project.
Who is eligible for the Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals program?
To be eligible for the Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals program, you must:
5+ years museum experience
Canadian citizen or landed immigrant for 12 months
Individual professional development only
What expenses are eligible under Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals?
Specialized museum studies at national or international level
Specialized courses, seminars, workshops, and symposia
Professional exchanges that support continuous learning
Who can I contact for more information about the Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals?
You can contact Canadian Museums Association (CMA) by email at bursaries@museums.ca or by phone at 613-567-0099.
Where is the Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals available?
The Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Scholarship for mid-career museum professionals is a Grant and Funding