Toronto Cultural Festivals Funding Program
Toronto, ON, Canada
Support inclusive, community-building festivals in Toronto with significant free cultural programming
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|noCondition
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
grant_single|grantors
- City of Toronto
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The Cultural Festivals Funding Program (CFFP) aims to support the development of Toronto's festival sector by promoting community-building, cultural engagement, and inclusivity. Eligible activities include cultural festivals with significant programming in performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, and other cultural expressions that are primarily free or offered at a nominal fee, taking place in the public realm. The program offers funding through Multi-Year Operating, Annual Operating, and Project streams.
grant_single_labels|projects
Eligible projects for the Cultural Festivals Funding Program must present significant cultural programming that is mostly free to the public and that occurs in the public realm.
- Performing arts
- Visual arts
- Literary arts
- Interdisciplinary arts
- Craft
- Design
- Expressions of cultural identity
grant_single_labels|admissibility
This grant is available to incorporated not-for-profit organizations, local Indigenous governments, BIAs applying for project funding, and not-for-profit community organizations with prior experience organizing festivals. The cultural programming must be significant, mostly free to the public, and take place in the public realm.
- Be one of the following:
- An incorporated not-for-profit organization
- A local band council, a local tribal council or other local Indigenous government (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) or equivalent authority
- A Business Improvement Area (BIA) applying only to the Project funding stream
- An incorporated not-for-profit community organization partnering with unincorporated individuals or collectives producing a cultural festival
- Apply for a festival that takes place between January 1 to December 31, 2024
- Have successfully organized a prior edition of the festival that meets the eligibility requirements of CFFP
- Present significant cultural programming that is mostly free to the public and that occurs in the public realm
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Yes, there are eligible types of companies for this grant. Below is a list of the eligible entities:
- An incorporated not-for-profit organization
- A local band council, a local tribal council or other local Indigenous government (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) or equivalent authority
- A Business Improvement Area (BIA) (only eligible to apply to the Project funding stream)
- An incorporated not-for-profit community organization partnering with unincorporated individuals or collectives producing a cultural festival
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
The Cultural Festivals Funding Program has specific eligibility criteria that determine which entities are qualified to apply. The following points summarize the types of organizations that are not eligible for this grant:
- Unincorporated organizations or individuals applying independently
- For-profit organizations
- Entities that have not previously organized a festival meeting CFFP's eligibility requirements
- Festivals that do not occur primarily in the public realm
- Festivals that are not predominantly free to the public or offered at a nominal fee
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The eligible geographic zone for this grant is the City of Toronto.
- City of Toronto
grant_single_labels|criteria
The Cultural Festivals Funding Program (CFFP) has specified evaluation and selection criteria that are used to assess and choose which festivals to fund. These criteria help ensure that the supported festivals align with the City of Toronto's strategic priorities and contribute to community building, access, equity, inclusion, and the promotion of emerging and Indigenous artists.
- Alignment with the City of Toronto’s current strategic priorities
- Support for community building
- Engagement with residents of Toronto
- Promotion of opportunities for emerging artists, Indigenous artists, and artists from other equity-deserving groups
- Significant portion of the programming is free to the public or offered at a nominal fee
- Significant programming component occurs in the public realm
- General appeal and public profile of the festival
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Ensure eligibility
- Verify that you are one of the eligible applicant types, such as an incorporated not-for-profit organization or a local Indigenous government.
- Confirm that your festival takes place between January 1 to December 31, 2024.
- Ensure that you have successfully organized a prior edition of the festival that meets the CFFP eligibility requirements.
- Check that your festival presents significant cultural programming mostly free to the public and occurs in the public realm.
- Step 2: Understand funding streams and select the appropriate one
- Determine which funding stream (Multi-Year Operating, Annual Operating, Projects) fits your festival’s needs.
- Step 3: Prepare required documentation
- Gather all the necessary documentation for your application as per the guidelines provided for the selected funding stream.
- Step 4: Submit the application
- Submit your application during the next application window, which reopens in fall 2024.
- Email any questions to CFFP@toronto.ca for additional support.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
The Cultural Festivals Funding Program provides financial support to recurring cultural festivals in Toronto that promote community-building, offer free or nominal fee admission, and highlight emerging and Indigenous artists.
- The program aims to advance the City’s access, equity, and inclusion goals, including reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
- General eligibility includes being an incorporated non-profit organization, a local Indigenous government, or a BIA applying for project funding.
- Applications are currently closed and will reopen in fall 2024.
grant_single_labels|contact
CFFP@toronto.ca
Apply to this program
Cultural Festivals Funding Program Overview
The Cultural Festivals Funding Program (CFFP) provides financial support to recurring cultural festivals in Toronto that focus on community-building, inclusivity, and accessibility. Grants are available through multi-year operating, annual operating, and project funding streams to eligible not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous entities.
Detailed Explanation of the Cultural Festivals Funding Program
In an effort to support the thriving cultural landscape of Toronto, the City has established the Cultural Festivals Funding Program (CFFP). This program is meticulously designed to promote the growth and sustainability of cultural festivals by providing essential financial backing. The funding is geared towards festivals that foster community engagement, inclusivity, and cultural expression while aligning with the City of Toronto’s strategic priorities. Let’s delve deeper into what the CFFP entails, eligibility criteria, funding streams, and the overall application process.
Purpose and Strategic Priorities
The CFFP aims to bolster the cultural festival sector in a manner that is transparent, accountable, and accessible. One of the primary goals of the program is to advance the City’s access, equity, and inclusion goals, with a notable emphasis on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The program is therefore committed to supporting festivals that provide platforms for emerging artists, Indigenous artists, and artists from historically underrepresented groups.
Key Definitions
Understanding the key definitions within the context of this program is crucial for applicants:
- Cultural Festival: A concentrated collection of arts and cultural activities centered around a common theme, presented over a period of at least one day but not exceeding one month. Festivals may span various artistic disciplines and are held annually or biennially. They are primarily free or offered at a nominal fee (less than $5 per person) and occur in public spaces.
- Cultural Festival Programming: This includes an array of artistic expressions such as performing arts, visual arts, literary arts, interdisciplinary arts, craft, design, and cultural identity expressions.
- Public Realm: Publicly owned and accessible spaces including streets, lanes, squares, parks, community centers, and waterfronts.
- Indigenous-led Organizations: Organizations that serve Indigenous communities, operate under Indigenous governance, have Indigenous leadership, and follow Indigenous service models.
- Equity Deserving Groups: These include women, racialized groups, people with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, undocumented individuals, 2SLGBTQ+ people, low-income individuals, and other historically underrepresented groups identified by the City.
Funding Streams
The CFFP offers funding through three specific streams:
- Multi-Year Operating: Provides ongoing support over multiple years to sustain significant cultural festivals.
- Annual Operating: Provides yearly funding to help in the annual execution of eligible festivals.
- Projects: Supports new and innovative festival projects or one-time initiatives. Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) are only eligible to apply under this stream.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for funding under the CFFP, applicants must meet several requirements:
- Applicants must be an incorporated not-for-profit organization, a local band council, a local tribal council, an Indigenous government, or a community organization partnering with unincorporated individuals or collectives.
- The festival must take place between January 1 and December 31, 2024, and applicants need to have successfully organized a prior edition of the festival that aligns with CFFP’s eligibility requirements.
- Significant cultural programming should be presented, which predominantly occurs in the public realm and is mostly free to the public or offered at a nominal fee.
Application Process
While the applications for the current round are closed, the next application window will reopen in the fall of 2024. It is advisable for interested parties to stay updated and prepare in advance by understanding the program’s requirements and ensuring all necessary documentation and festival plans align with the CFFP’s criteria.
Conclusion
The Cultural Festivals Funding Program is a significant initiative by the City of Toronto to support and enhance the cultural vibrancy of the city. By offering targeted financial support across various funding streams, the program not only ensures the sustainability of recurring festivals but also nurtures new and innovative cultural initiatives. Festivals that emphasize community engagement, inclusivity, and accessible cultural expression are highly encouraged to apply.
For further details or specific inquiries related to the application process, interested applicants can reach out via email at CFFP@toronto.ca. As the next round of applications is slated to open in the fall of 2024, potential applicants should use this time to thoroughly prepare, ensuring their proposals align well with the program’s goals and requirements.