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Grants for Artists

Whether you are new to grant writing or a grant writing expert, there is always more to learn!
Check out these resources for artists seeking grant funding for projects.

Getting Started: Your Portal Profile

  1. Many of the granting organizations have a portal where you submit your grant information. Check the requirements of the Granting Organization and schedule a call with a program officer if you have questions.
    1. Canada Council for the Arts – Grant Portal
    2. Ontario Arts Council – NOVA
    3. City of Mississauga – Grants Portal
    4. Ontario Trillium Foundation – Online Portal
    5. Factor – Portal
    6. Ontario Creates – Online Application Portal
    7. and many more also have their own granting portals.
  2. Once you have submitted your profile to the funder, it can take up to 4 weeks to have your profile approved, so GET YOUR PROFILE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Often, you cannot see what grants you are eligible for until you have an approved profile, so better to do it right away!
  3. Questions? Reach out to any program officer at the granting organization. They will be able to connect you to the right person to answer your questions.

Grant Writing Resources

Need a hand getting started with grant writing? Don’t worry, there are lots of resources out there to help you. MAC has hosted three TD Culture Lab webinars about Grant Writing, and regularly plan workshops and webinars on the subject.
Watch our previous webinars below.

Get Funded: Grant Writing for Success with Rohit Mehta (2023)
Grant Writing Success: Tips & Tricks with Rohit Mehta (2022)
Effective Grant Writing for Artists with Rohit Mehta and Maura Broadhurst (2021)

Looking for more resources?
ArtReach has a great page here: https://www.artreach.org/resources
There are lots of great budget tutorials online including this one: https://springboardforthearts.org/grants-funding/incubator/budget-tips/

Grant Opportunities for Artists

Need help finding the right grant? View the list below for opportunities that you can take advantage of.

Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)

The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.” 
The CCA helps individual artists, groups and arts organizations engage in projects and activities. Grants are available for Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have specialized training — though not necessarily in an academic setting — and are recognized as professionals by other artists in the field of practice.
https://canadacouncil.ca/

Ontario Arts Council (OAC)

The Ontario Arts Council was established in 1963 to foster the creation and production of art for the benefit of all Ontarians.
The OAC provides grants to Ontario-based individual artists and arts professionals, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations. Grants support a range of arts activities and disciplines.
https://www.arts.on.ca/home

Mississauga Arts Council (MAC)

The Mississauga Arts Council is a service-based arts charity dedicated to supporting the growth of a vibrant and respected cultural community in Mississauga.
MAC’s dynamic and impactful MicroGrant program provides funding for artist-led projects which have a pronounced and impactful connection to the public and bring recognition and increased awareness to the arts across the city. There are typically two (2) funding cycles per calendar year.
https://www.mississaugaartscouncil.com/programs/microgrants/

City of Mississauga – Arts and Culture Grants

The City of Mississauga provides funding to support arts, culture, or heritage activities in Mississauga.
Most City of Mississauga Grants are for Mississauga-based nonprofit Arts, Culture, or Heritage organizations, but opportunities for individual artists are available as well. Two (2) rounds of funding per year.
https://www.mississauga.ca/services-and-programs/community-support-programs/apply-for-a-grant/arts-and-culture-grant/

Ontario Creates

Ontario Creates is an agency of the provincial government whose mandate is to be a catalyst for economic development, investment and collaboration in Ontario’s creative industries including the music, book, magazine, film, television and interactive digital media sectors, both domestically and internationally.
https://www.ontariocreates.ca/

FACTOR

FACTOR (the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings) is a public/private partnership that supports the production of sound recordings by Canadian musicians and helps Canadian music companies make recordings available to a wider public.
Support is provided to Canadian recording artists, songwriters, artist managers, record labels, music publishers, distributors, and event producers through numerous programs.
https://www.factor.ca/

Additional Grant Opportunities for Arts Organizations

Canadian Heritage

The Federal Government of Canada offers a number of programs to support arts and culture across a broad spectrum of disciplines and industries in Canada. Many of their funding programs are facilitated through third party organizations. Learn more about their funding programs and how to apply at the link below.
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding.html

Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)

The Ontario Trillium Foundation builds healthy and vibrant communities throughout Ontario by investing in community-based initiatives and strengthening the impact of Ontario’s non-profit sector.
Grant programs are open to Ontario-based non-profit organizations from all economic sectors.
https://otf.ca/

Community Foundation of Mississauga (CFofM)

The Community Foundation of Mississauga serves the people and neighbourhoods of Mississauga from Port Credit in the south to Meadowvale in the north.
The CFofM has one round of funding for numerous funding streams in the first quarter of the year. Funding is eligible only to registered charities.
https://www.cfofm.org/

Port Credit Community Foundation

The Port Credit Community Foundation is a not-for-profit organization created for the people of Port Credit. The Foundation is dedicated to fund a combination of hard investments, charitable endeavours, event support and other community initiatives.
https://www.portcreditcommunityfoundation.org/

Hazel McCallion Foundation for the Arts, Culture and Heritage

The Hazel McCallion Foundation for the Arts, Culture and Heritage supports a wide spectrum of cultural endeavours through financial grants. 
Applicants must be incorporated or registered not-for-profit organizations based in Mississauga with a duly constituted board of directors and officers. 
https://www.hazelmccallionfoundation.ca/