Arts, Culture and Heritage Funding

Community Grant Program

The City of Oshawa's Community Grant Program offers support under the following four programs:

• Arts, Culture and Heritage Events – funds to support the development and delivery of events, festivals, celebrations and gatherings in Oshawa.
• Arts, Culture and Heritage – Development Projects and Special Initiatives – one-time funding to support the development and presentation of an event, project or initiative within the arts, culture, heritage and environmental sectors.
• Strong Inclusive Communities – funds to support initiatives/events that support healthy, safe and inclusive community development.
• Fundraising Events – in-kind services support for fundraising events held in Oshawa, including facility rental fees, equipment rentals, road closures and other City support.

Durham Community Foundation
Durham Community Foundation offers a broad grantmaking program to create a healthy and vibrant place for all to live. To effectively fulfill its philanthropic responsibilities within the limits of its resources, Durham Community Foundation's community grants program prioritizes the needs identified, based on data, in their Vital Signs Reports and Vital Data Dashboard.

Government of Ontario
Grants Ontario is your source for grants provided by the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming; and, the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario; and, selected grants from the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and the Ministry of Energy and Mines. 

Ontario Arts Council
Ontario Arts Council offers more than 65 funding programs for Ontario-based artists and arts organizations, with funds from the Ontario government. Grants provide assistance for a specific activity, support for a period of time or for ongoing operations. Ontario Arts Council also offers awards, prizes and scholarships from private funds managed by the Ontario Arts Foundation. 

Ontario Arts Foundation
The Ontario Arts Foundation holds over 300 endowments and funds established by individuals, Foundations, corporations and arts organizations. We focus on investments to support the arts in Ontario over the long term. 

Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund has three aims: (1) to increase cultural tourism by providing investments to assist Ontario organizations to develop, promote and present one-off or first time events, or a significant expansion of an existing activity, which are designed to attract new tourists and visitors to cultural events; (2) increase the earned revenue capability of the applicant organization; (3) support events that foster economic growth and contribute to job creation.

Ontario Trillium Foundation
The Ontario Trillium Foundation distributes its funding to charities and not-for-profits based upon six different action areas: encouraging more active lifestyles, building inclusive and engaged communities together, encouraging people to support a healthy and sustainable environment, enriching people's lives through arts, culture and heritage, supporting the positive development of children and youth, and enhancing people's economic wellbeing.

The Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts offers a broad range of grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations in music, theatre, writing and publishing, visual arts, dance, media arts and integrated (multidisciplinary) arts. It also seeks to raise public awareness of the arts through its communications, research and arts promotion activities. 

Canadian Heritage
Apply to one of a myriad of Canadian Heritage funding programs that support culture, history, heritage, sport and official languages in Canada. 

Canada Cultural Investment Fund
The Canada Cultural Investment Fund encourages private sector investment, partnership and sound business practices to ensure arts and heritage organizations be better rooted and recognized in their communities.

Business for the Arts
Business for the Arts is a national charitable organization that shows the power of partnership between business and arts. The Business for the Arts partners with arts leaders, the government and the business community to ensure a thriving Arts and Culture sector. 

Inspirit Foundation - Media and Arts Impact Grants
The Media and Arts Impact Grants support media and arts initiatives that promote inclusion and pluralism or challenge discrimination and exclusion. The aim of this fund is to open minds and shift attitudes that perpetuate prejudice and exclusion based on ethnicity, race and religion, and to build good relations between diverse groups or communities.

McLean Foundation
Grants made by the McLean Foundation are restricted to organizations that are recognized by Canada Revenue Agency as charitable organizations. The McLean Foundation will only accept applications from organizations that have first submitted a letter of inquiry and then been asked to submit a full proposal. They endeavour to maintain a flexible policy, with particular emphasis on projects showing promise of general social benefit but which may initially lack broad public appeal.

Scotiabank Foundation
Scotiabank recognizes the importance of access to opportunities that enrich Canadian communities. They prioritize support of hockey, the arts, marathons and many other community initiatives that celebrate unique passions and embrace our diversity.

National Association of Friendship Centres 

The National Association of Friendship Centres (N.A.F.C.) is a network of 125 Friendship Centres and seven Provincial and Territorial Associations (P.T.A.s). The Friendship Centre Movement (FCM) is Canada's most significant national network of self-determined Indigenous owned and operated civil society community hubs offering programs, services and supports to Indigenous people living in urban, rural and remote settings, and specifically for First Nations living off-reserve, Métis living outside of the Métis Homelands, and Inuit living in the south. They offer a variety of programs and funding.

Telefilm Canada

Telefilm is proud to play a role in amplifying the voices of Indigenous creators with their Indigenous Funding program. As a result of this investment, Indigenous talent have become the driving force behind some of Telefilm’s most successful films, garnering acclaim and recognition at national and international film festivals, and receiving worldwide distribution. To remain relevant and receptive to the needs of Indigenous storytellers, Telefilm engages the Indigenous film & television industry through discussions, outreach, consultations, and opportunities for feedback. 

ArtsBuild Ontario
ArtsBuild Ontario is dedicated to realizing long-term solutions to building, managing and financing the sustainable arts facilities needed in Ontario communities. They are a non-profit arts service organization that provides organizations with training, tools and resources that support the development and management of creative spaces such as theatres, galleries, concert halls, museums and other creative spaces.

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund supports the improvement of physical conditions for artistic creativity and innovation.

Canada History Fund
The Canada History Fund supports the development of learning materials and activities that contribute to increasing Canadians' knowledge about Canada.

The National Trust for Canada
The National Trust for Canada is a national charity that inspires and leads action to save historic places, and promotes the care and wise use of our historic environment. Our sites, projects and programs enhance community and quality of life and inspire Canadians to identify, conserve, use, celebrate and value their heritage buildings, landscapes, natural areas and communities for present and future generations.

Parks Canada's National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program
This Parks Canada program provides assistance to national historic sites that are neither federally owned nor administered and that are deemed to have commemorative integrity. Parks Canada established the National Historic Sites of Canada Cost-Sharing Program through which the site owner may be reimbursed up to 50% of eligible costs incurred in the conservation and preservation of a national historic site. 

Veterans Affairs Canada
The Commemorative Partnership Program (C.P.P.) provides funding to organizations undertaking remembrance initiatives.

CIBC Bank Foundation
CIBC is committed to supporting causes that matter to our clients, our employees and our communities. They aim to make a difference through corporate donations, sponsorships and the volunteer spirit of our employees. 

Canada Post Community Foundation
The Canada Post Community Foundation provides grants to Canadian schools, charities and community organizations to make a difference in the lives of children and youth (up to age 21).

Community One Foundation
Community One Foundation provides funding to foster new and innovative services and programs for the LGBTTIQQ2S community in the GTA, specifically in the areas of education, health, human rights, arts and culture, and research and advocacy (non-governmental). 

Telus
Telus Community Investment efforts are focused in three areas - youth, education and community. Their community boards are located in regions across Canada to better administer the company's community investment program.

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program was created to help you celebrate your community - both its past and its present. This program increases opportunities for local artists, artisans, heritage performers or specialists to be involved in their community through festivals, events and projects. It also allows local groups to commemorate their local history and heritage.

Canada Arts Presentation Fund
The Canada Arts Presentation Fund provides financial assistance to organizations that professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series (arts presenters) and organizations that offer support to arts presenters.

Celebrate Canada
Celebrate Canada provides funding for activities organized on National Aboriginal Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day. 

Canadian Conservation Institute Internship Programs
The Canadian Conservation Institute offers paid post-graduate internships and curriculum internships that provide learning opportunities for the conservation community in Canada and abroad. 

Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Program
The Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Program assists eligible Canadian art galleries, museums, archives and libraries by assuming financial responsibility for loss or damage to objects or appurtenances in eligible travelling exhibitions.

Museums Assistance Program
The Museums Assistance Program supports heritage institutions and workers in the preservation and presentation of heritage collections. The program fosters the preservation of Indigenous culture and facilities access to heritage collections for all Canadians. It also promotes professional knowledge, skills and practices related to key museum functions.

Movable Cultural Property Grants
Movable Cultural Property Grants help designated organizations acquire cultural property of outstanding significance and national importance to Canada, as outlined in the Cultural Property Export and Import Act. Designated organizations are located in Canada and demonstrate the ability to ensure the long-term preservation of cultural property.

Grants can be used to purchase cultural property:

• for which an export permit has been denied; or
• that is important to Canada's national heritage and available for purchase outside the country. 

Canada Book Fund 
The Canada Book Fund ensures access to a diverse range of Canadian-authored books nationally and internationally, by fostering a strong book industry that published and markets Canadian-authored books. The Canada Book Fund has three components, (1) Support for Booksellers, (2) Support for Organizations and (3) Support for Publishers.

Canada Media Fund 
The Canada Media Fund (C.M.F.) fosters, promotes and finances Canadian content across all audiovisual platforms and helps share it with the world. The C.M.F. supports innovation and Canada's full range of diversity, perspective and independence of thought. The C.M.F. opens doors through industry and private sector partnerships.

Canada Music Fund
The Canada Music Fund ensures that a diversity of Canadian music artists connect with audiences everywhere. There are two components: Individual Initiatives and Collective Initiatives.

The Individual Initiatives component provides financial assistance exclusively to undertake activities that are central to the development of Canadian artists, the promotion of their music and the expansion of their audience.

The Collective Initiatives component provides financial assistance to undertake activities that help Canadian artists and industry professionals gain a greater profile at home and abroad, increase their artistic and business skills, and build their export‑readiness and overall competitiveness.

Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit
The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit provides eligible productions with a fully refundable tax credit, available at a rate of 25 per cent of the qualified labour expenditure. Jointly administered by the Canadian Audio-Visual Certification office (C.A.V.C.O.) and the Canada Revenue Agency, the C.P.T.C. encourages the creation of Canadian film and television programming and the development of an active domestic independent production sector. 

Canadian Film Centre
The Canadian Film Centre (C.F.C.) is a charitable cultural organization and a place of learning, community and imagination for a growing network of Canadian talent in the screen industry. They work with Canadian filmmakers, actors, writers, composers, singer-songwriters and entrepreneurs to advance their careers in film, television and digital media.

FACTOR

FACTOR's programs provide financial support to Canadian recording artists, labels, songwriters, publishers, event producers and distributors. FACTOR is committed to reflecting the diversity of the Canadian population in its programs and operations. They are committed to ensuring universal access to all funds and services, including all musical expressions and talent. They also encourage values of diversity and inclusiveness within the broader Canadian music sector. 

Musication

Musication is a non-profit organization. For 30 years, the Foundation has encouraged the development of music by supporting the production and marketing of sound recordings as well as collective promotion activities. Musication's programs are designed to meet the needs of independent music production, which produce the majority of French-speaking artists' albums across the country. 

Ontario Media Development Corporation

The Ontario Media Development Corporation (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.

Ontario Creates is committed to delivering high-impact support that creates jobs and economic opportunities for Ontarians and that contributes to an advantageous business environment for growth. Through targeted programs and services, support for innovation, and by leveraging public and private partnerships, Ontario Creates builds the capacity and competitiveness of the Province’s creative industries to deliver award-winning content that is enjoyed by audiences across Ontario and around the world.

SOCAN Foundation

SOCAN Foundation provides grants for Canadian music creators and publishers working to promote appreciation for Canadian music in today's society. These grants support the spread of our music both within Canada and abroad, ensuring our voices are heard all over the world and in our own backyards. 

Telefilm Canada

Telefilm Canada serves as financing partner. They support all stages of feature film from development to production and post-production, to marketing to audiences both at home and abroad. They also offer a large pool of creators and technicians that can contribute to the success of projects. 

The Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit

The Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit promotes Canada as a location of choice for film and video productions employing Canadians, as well as strengthen the industry and secure investment.

The Hal Jackman Foundation
The Hal Jackman Foundation awards grants to institutions and organization. Grant requests are by invitation only. The Foundation believes cultural activities are essential tools in fostering vibrant, livable communities. It is committed to the development and presentation of compelling artistic programs in the visual and performing arts. It focuses on increasing access to and appreciation of arts and culture, as well as building the audiences of the future.

Metcalf Charitable Foundation
The mission of the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation is to enhance the effectiveness of people and organizations working together to help Canadians imagine and build a just, healthy, and creative society.

Canada Arts Training Fund
The Canada Arts Training Fund (C.A.T.F.) supports the training of artists with high potential in Canada. The C.A.T.F. provides financial support for the ongoing operations of Canadian Arts organizations that specialize in training artists for professional, national or international artistic careers, at the highest levels.

Canadian Heritage Information Network
Special Operating Agency within the Department of Canadian Heritage, offers valuable collections management resources to the Canadian museum community and online public access to millions of collections records. CHIN assists Canadian museums in documenting, managing, and sharing information about their collections, which in turn ensures that this information is accessible now and in the future.

Cultural Human Resources Council (C.H.R.C.)
The C.H.R.C. offers student workplace Internships subsides for the cultural sector! The Student Work Placement program supports cultural sector employers in hiring post-secondary students with wage subsidies of 50%-70% of the full wage cost to a maximum of $5000-$7000 per placement. 

Young Canada Works
Young Canada Works (Y.C.W.) offers a variety of summer job and internship programs to job seekers and employers.

Fusion: The Ontario Clay and Glass Association
Honouring diversity, equity and inclusion, the FUSION Scholarships Fund encourages applications from people of all cultures and regions across Ontario, racialized communities, abilities, identities and others who wish to the further their educational development. 

The Hal Jackman Foundation
The Hal Jackman Foundation awards grants to institutions and organization. Grant requests are by invitation only. The Foundation believes cultural activities are essential tools in fostering vibrant, livable communities. It is committed to the development and presentation of compelling artistic programs in the visual and performing arts. It focuses on increasing access to and appreciation of arts and culture, as well as building the audiences of the future.

RBC Bank Foundation
RBC Bank Foundation includes RBC Emerging Artists funding program has been supporting organizations that provide the best opportunity to advance an artist's career trajectory in genres such as visual arts, music, theatre, dance, literature and film since 2007.

Royal Canadian Academy of Arts Foundation
The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts Foundation is a registered charitable trust that operates as the fundraising vehicle of the Academy. The R.C.A. Trust Fund provides grants to public galleries across Canada to purchase and exhibit works of living Canadian artists. The R.C.A. Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to promising Canadians for post-graduate study in the visual arts and design. The R.C.A. Program Fund mounts exhibitions, produces publications and other public activities to foster awareness and appreciation of the visual arts.

Exchanges Canada
The Exchanges Canada program helps youth to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Canada, while connecting with other young Canadians.

Gainey Foundation
The Gainey Foundation provides grants to federally registered charities for environmental and youth arts programs.

Laidlaw Foundation
The Laidlaw Foundation supports young people impacted by justice, education and child-welfare systems to become healthy and engaged by investing in innovative ideas, convening interested parties, advocating for systems change and sharing learning across the sector. The Laidlaw Foundation offers a variety of different grant opportunities for youth and Indigenous communities. 

S'Cool Life Fund
The S'Cool Life Fund supports DREAMS - Drama, Recreation, Extra-Curricular, Arts, Music or Sports. S'Cool does not look to fund core academic subjects, but instead those areas that fall outside of the core curriculum but are no less important for a child's development. 

Youth Opportunity Fund
The Youth Opportunity Fund is an annual program that provides grants and capacity-building, supports to youth-led grassroots groups and collaboratives to help improve the well-being of youth and families with a focus on Indigenous and Black communities.