Live Performance Funding Holds Steady in Federal Budget 2025
Yesterday, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne presented Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first federal budget, titled “Canada Strong,” which confirmed that supplementary funds for performing arts presenters and festivals have been renewed in the 2025 federal budget.
Ontario Presents, in partnership with CAPACOA and other provincial presenting and art service organizations, participated in the Canadian Coalition for the Arts’ Campaign for Culture — a collective advocacy effort that inspired more than 52,000 letters to Members of Parliament, calling for continued investment in the Canada Council for the Arts and Canadian Heritage.
Yesterday’s announcement — an investment of $769 million over five years in arts and culture programs, agencies, and special initiatives beginning in 2025-2026 — is a testament to the dedication, collaboration, and advocacy of Canada’s arts and culture communities. Thank you to everyone who sent a letter, email, or placed a call to their MP in support of this important work.
The 2025 budget extends supplementary funding for the Canadian Arts Presenting Fund (CAPF) and Building Communities through Arts and Heritage (BCAH), this time over three years. While spending reductions are anticipated across departments as part of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review — including Canadian Heritage — no budget cuts are expected to the Canada Council for the Arts.
Key Takeaways from 2025 Budget
- $21 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Program to support local festivals, community anniversaries, and community-initiated capital projects;
- $46.5 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to support professionally presented arts festivals or performing arts series;
- $48 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Canada Music Fund to enhance the careers of Canadian artists while strengthening the competitiveness and stability of the Canadian music sector;
- $6 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage to support the purchase of Canadian content for the TV5MONDEplus platform;
- $150 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Telefilm Canada to support Canada’s vibrant film industry;
- $127.5 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Canadian Heritage for the Canada Media Fund to support Canada’s audio-visual content creators;
- $26.1 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to the National Film Board to produce and share Canadian content with the world;
- $6 million over three years, starting in 2026-27 for the Canada Council for the Arts to support professional artists and arts organisations; and,
- The government announces its intent to amend the Copyright Act to create an Artist’s Resale Right in Canada, ensuring Canadian visual artists benefit from future sales of their work.
More information is available in Chapter 3 of the 2025 Budget: Protecting Canadian Culture, Values, and Identity.