Not a definitive list! Please send any info on grants you feel we should be including to info [at] ontariopresents.ca (info[at]ontariopresents[dot]ca)
Table of Contents
Accessibility & Inclusion
- Access Support Fund – CCA
- Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program (MARP) – Events Component
- Market Access Strategy – OLMCF
Presenting & Touring
- Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF) – Canadian Heritage
- Ontario Arts Presenters Projects – OAC
- Concept to Realization – CCA
- Core & Project Grants – CCA
- Micro-Grants – CCA
Community Development
Professional Development
Venue & Infrastructure
- Canada Cultural Spaces Fund – Canadian Heritage
- Community Events Program – NOHFC
- Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF)
- Capital Grant – Ontario Trillium Foundation
Music-Specific Support
Accessibility & Inclusion
Need accessibility support for your project?
Access Support Fund – Canada Council for the Arts
Supports accessibility-related costs (e.g., interpreters, assistants, adaptive equipment) for artists and organizations receiving Canada Council project funding. Apply alongside your main grant application.
Access Support Fund – Canada Council
Hosting a cultural or anti-racism event?
Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program (MARP) – Events Component
Funds community-based events that celebrate diversity, foster inclusion, and combat racism. Eligible for nonprofits, small municipalities, and Indigenous organizations. Events must be free, open to the public, and support intercultural understanding.
Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program (MARP) – Events
Serving a French or English minority-language audience?
Market Access Strategy – Official Language Minority Communities Fund
Canada Council strategic fund supporting official‑language minority (OLMC) presenters to expand national and international market access and audience engagement. Rolling intake until May 2025.
Presenting & Touring
Presenting professional performances or festivals?
Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF) – Canadian Heritage
Funding for professional arts festivals and presenter organizations, including programming and presenter-support initiatives. Enhanced funding (approx. $31M over two years starting 2024–25) is now available.
CAPF – Programming & Development Streams
Based in Ontario and presenting live arts?
Ontario Arts Presenters Projects – Ontario Arts Council
Supports presentation of professional artists in Ontario regions outside Toronto, including audience development and other presentation expenses. Grants up to ~$7,500 for volunteer-led groups, ~$5,000 for municipalities or institutions.
Ontario Arts Presenters Projects
Bringing a full-scale artistic project to life?
Concept to Realization – Canada Council for the Arts
Supports the full cycle (from production to presentation) of major artistic projects intended for presentation. Open to artists, groups, and arts organizations. Part of the Explore and Create program.
Concept to Realization – Canada Council
Creating, presenting, or supporting the arts professionally?
Core & Project Grants – Canada Council for the Arts
Programs like Explore and Create, Supporting Artistic Practice, Arts Across Canada, and Creating, Knowing and Sharing support creation, touring, public outreach, and organization-building for presenters and artists.
Canada Council Core & Project Grants
Testing a new arts idea or outreach model?
Micro-Grants – Canada Council for the Arts
Small-scale strategic grants that can support accessibility initiatives, market development, or presentation opportunities. Rolling intake and quick turnaround.
Community Development
Starting or building a community-based initiative?
Seed Grant – Ontario Trillium Foundation
Helps organizations, municipalities, and First Nations improve how they deliver programs and services that directly benefit community members. Applicants can apply for funding to carry out projects focused on organizational planning, piloting a new program or building their capacity for the future.
Seed Grant – Ontario Trillium Foundation
Expanding an existing program or initiative?
Grow Grant – Ontario Trillium Foundation
Providing a higher level of funding over 2 or 3 years to help proven community programs and services increase their impact. Funds programs and services that have a proven track record of success and meet a community need.
Grow Grant – Ontario Trillium Foundation
Looking for deadlines and funding opportunities for Indigenous presenters and artists?
IPAA Grant Deadlines – Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance
A continuously updated calendar and resource catalog listing national, provincial, and discipline-specific grant programs relevant to Indigenous performing arts practitioners and presenters. Last updated January 2025.
IPAA Grant Deadlines – Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance
Professional Development
Looking to grow your artistic skills or career?
Professional Development for Artists – Canada Council for the Arts
Supports individual artists and cultural professionals to build their practice through mentorships, workshops, training, and other career development activities. Part of the Explore and Create program.
Professional Development for Artists – Canada Council
Working in music and need PD support?
Professional Development Assistance – SOCAN Foundation
Grants to support Ontario-based music creators, publishers, and presenters in attending conferences, workshops, and training. Grant amounts typically up to $1,500 (first-time applicants).
SOCAN Professional Development Assistance
Venue & Infrastructure
Upgrading your venue or cultural space?
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund – Canadian Heritage
Supports capital projects that improve physical spaces for arts and culture, including renovations, accessibility upgrades, and specialized equipment purchases. Open to nonprofit arts organizations, municipalities, and Indigenous governments.
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund – Canadian Heritage
Hosting a community or tourism event in Northern Ontario?
Community Events Program – Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
Supports community-based events (in-person or virtual) that showcase Northern Ontario culture and attract tourists. Offers up to 30% of eligible costs (maximum $15,000). Eligible for municipalities, Indigenous communities, non-profits, and Local Services Boards in Northern Ontario.
Community Events Program – NOHFC
Running a cultural event that boosts tourism?
Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF)
Provides repayable investment to support Ontario cultural events and festivals that boost local tourism, sponsorship, and earned revenue. Useful for larger-scale presenter-led programming.
Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
Improving your venue or purchasing equipment?
Capital Grant – Ontario Trillium Foundation
Improve community facilities and physical spaces with funding over one year. Supports infrastructure upgrades, equipment purchases, renovations, and accessibility improvements that strengthen community spaces, including arts venues and studios.
Capital Grant – Ontario Trillium Foundation
Music-Specific Support
Funding music projects or touring in Canada?
FACTOR – Various Music Funding Programs
Offers a range of grants for music creators, presenters, and companies, including artist development, touring, marketing, and business development. Deadlines vary by program.