Local Festivals – Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
Department - Organization: Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: The program provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists; local artisans; local heritage performers or specialists; and local First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultural carriers. This includes the celebration of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations. Applicants may request up to 100 percent of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $200,000.
Deadline:
October 15 – for festivals starting between July 1 and August 31 of the next calendar year.
January 31 – for festivals starting between September 1 and December 31 of the same calendar year.
April 30 – for festivals starting between January 1 and June 30 of the next calendar year.
Contact: enligne-online@pch.gc.ca
Professional Arts Festivals and Performing Arts Series Presenters – Canada Arts Presentation Fund
Department - Organization: Federal Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: Supports existing professional arts festivals and performing arts series presenters to offer activities that connect artists with Canadians in their communities. This is primarily achieved through performances, as well as through audience development and outreach initiatives such as pre- or post-show panel discussions, public lectures and workshops, residencies, demonstrations, public rehearsals, and other forms of community engagement activities.
Deadline: April 1st and October 15th for projects which will occur after April 1st of the following year. April 1st is the application deadline for projects starting between April 1st and June 30th of the following year.
Email: atlantique-atlantic@pch.gc.ca
Website: Professional Arts Festivals and Performing Arts Series Presenters – Canada Arts Presentation Fund
Museums Assistance Program
Department - Organization: Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: Provides funding to museums and related institutions through several streams, each has its own eligibility criteria
- Access to Heritage: Open till November 1st. Provides funding to heritage organizations for travelling exhibitions in Canada, and to promote access to heritage across different geographic regions.
- Exhibition Circulation Fund: Continous intake. Assists museums with the costs related to the hosting of travelling exhibitions originating from another museum or from a federal heritage institution and the borrowing of artefacts from any of the National museums of Canada.
- Indigenous Heritage: Open till November 1st. . Supports the preservation, presentation and management of Indigenous cultural heritage in Canada.
- Collections Management: Open till November 1st. . provides funding for projects to improve knowledge, skills and practices related to key museum functions.
- Digital Access to Heritage: Closed March, 2024.
- Canada-France: Closed April, 2024.
Deadline: See above. Three streams closing on November 1st, 2024. 5:00 PM AST.
Website: Museums Assistance Program
Digital Museums Canada Investment Program
Department - Organization: Digital Museums Canada
Description: Funding is provided for organizations seeking to develop an online project. There are two streams. 1) The Digital Projects stream helps organizations from the ground up, in collaboration with a web development agency of their choice. Up to $150,000 or $150,000 to $250,000 according to the level of funding requested. 2) The Community Stories stream provides funding and mentorship to develop a Community Stories website using their website-building platform. Up to $25,000 is available.
Deadline: December 1st, 2024
Contact: proposals@digitalmuseums.ca
Community Memorials Programme
Department - Organization: National Wall of Remembrance Association
Description: The Community Memorials Programme is one of the NWORA’s secondary objectives to help communities across Canada either repair/refurbish their local community memorials or build them if they do not already exist. Hundreds of memorials have been built in small towns, villages, and cities across Canada, especially after World War I, and many need repair.
Deadline: April 1st, October 1st (Annually)
Contact: Bruce Ewing, ewing123456789@sympatico.ca
Website: Community Memorials Programme
Diversity and Community Capacity Fund/ Community and Cultural Identities Fund
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The Diversity and Community Capacity Fund invests in capacity-building efforts of organizations that represent traditionally marginalized communities. Through this fund, municipalities should look to increase access to programs and services that support equity, diversity and inclusion. Increase public understanding, through education, of traditionally marginalized groups and communities in Nova Scotia. Build the capacity of your organization to host an event/activity that promotes social inclusion.
The Community and Cultural Identities Fund is a companion program that supports activities which recognize and celebrate the diversity of Nova Scotia’s new, emerging, and established cultural communities. Funding is available for up to $10,000. Larger requests may be considered. Funding requests cannot exceed more than 75% of eligible costs.
Deadlines: April 15th, June 15th, September 15th
Contact: communitiesns@novascotia.ca
Community Anniversaries
Department - Organization: Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: The program provides funding to local groups for non-recurring local events, with or without a minor capital project. Funding is available for non-recurring events that mark the 100th anniversary or greater, in increments of 25 years (e.g., 125th, 150th); of a significant local historical event or personality. Applicants may request up to 100% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $200,000. See the website for specific requirements of events.
Deadline: April 30 for events that will occur during the next calendar year. For example, if your anniversary is in August 2024, you must apply by April 30, 2023.
Email: dcap-bcah@pch.gc.ca
Website: Community Anniversaries
Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program
Department - Organization: Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: The program provides funding to community-based events that: A) promote intercultural or interfaith understanding. P) Promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination. C) celebrate a community’s history and culture such as heritage months recognized by Parliament. A new priority in the program for 2024 will include celebrations and events that recognize the history, culture, accomplishments, contributions and future of Black Canadians and their communities. Municipalities with a population of up to 10,000 are eligible to apply. You can watch a video here for tips on your application.
*The department has consolidated its two programs, the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program and the Anti-Racism Action Program, under a single program.*
Deadline: For the events stream, there is no fixed deadline to submit a funding application, they are accepted continuously. However, to ensure timely assessment, it is advised that your application be submitted 18 weeks before the proposed event start date.
Email: multiatl-atlmulti@pch.gc.ca
Legacy Fund
Department - Organization: Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: The program provides funding for community-initiated capital projects. Recipients may receive up to 50% of eligible project expenses up to a maximum of $500,000. Funding supports community-initiated capital projects that:
- commemorate a significant local historical event or pay tribute to a significant local historical personality;
- mark a 100th anniversary or greater, in increments of 25 years (e.g., 125th, 150th);
- involve the restoration, renovation, or transformation of existing buildings or exterior spaces with local community significance that are intended for community use;
- encourage arts and heritage activities in the local community that are intended for and accessible to the general public.
Deadline: Continuous intake. Projects must be submitted before the anniversary date of the event or personality to be commemorated.
Email: dcap-bcah@pch.gc.ca
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
Department - Organization: Federal Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: The objectives of the fund are to contribute to: improved physical conditions for professional arts and heritage-related collaboration, creation, presentation, preservation, and exhibition; and to increase and improve access for Canadians to arts and culture. The CCSF achieves these objectives by supporting the construction and/or renovation of arts and/or heritage facilities, including creative hubs; and the acquisition of specialized equipment and the development of feasibility studies for the construction or renovation of arts and/or heritage facilities, including creative hubs.
Deadline: Continuous intake
Email: atlantique-atlantic@pch.gc.ca
The McLean Foundation Grant
Department - Organization: The McLean Foundation
Description: 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. Normally in the areas of social welfare, education, environmental conservation and the arts.
Deadline: Continuous intake
Contact: info@mcleanfoundation.ca
Website: The McLean Foundation Grant
R. Howard Webster Foundation
Department - Organization: R. Howard Webster Foundation
Description: The R. Howard Webster Foundation makes grants to outstanding Canadian charitable organizations offering unique and inspiring programs or projects for the benefit, improvement and development of Canadian society. The R. Howard Webster Foundation’s funding interests are within the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Medical, and Social Services.
Example(s): Does not fund capital projects. Previous grantees can be viewed on their website.
Deadline: Continuous intake
Contact: application@rhwfdn.ca
Website: R. Howard Webster Foundation
Currently Closed, Next Intake TBD:
Celebrate Canada Funding Program
Department - Organization: Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: The program provides funding to community-based activities celebrating and promoting National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21st, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on June 24th, Canadian Multiculturalism Day on June 27th and Canada Day on July 1st. These celebrations enable Canadians to appreciate Canada’s cultural, ethnic, linguistic and geographic diversity.
Deadline: Closed November 21st, 2023. Next intake TBD.
Contact: info@pch.gc.ca
Website: Celebrate Canada Funding Program
Culture Innovation Fund
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: Municipalities can submit proposals in collaboration or partnership with eligible organizations. Using culture and creative expression in new and better ways to create value through arts, music, heritage, language, cultural identity, diversity, recreation, museums, libraries, traditions, food, spirituality and much more. Tier 1 funding: Local-level initiatives led by community groups/organizations up to a maximum of $15,000; Tier 2 funding: Larger partnership with organizations in tier 1, applicants must provide a minimum of 25% of eligible costs.
Deadline: Ongoing intake was from April 1st until December 1st, 2023. Next intake TBD.
Contact: Susan Jeffries, Director of Culture and Heritage Development, susan.jeffries@novascotia.ca
Website: Culture Innovation Fund
Strategic Development Initiative
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: Supports projects that encourage and increase heritage/community cooperation including developing new revenue sources to increase financial sustainability; and improving leadership and programming skills of existing heritage-related boards and workers through training. The department may contribute up to 75% of eligible project costs for a maximum of $10,000
Deadline: Ongoing intake was from April 1st until December 31st, 2023. Next intake TBD.
Website: Strategic Development Initiative
Youth Canada Works
Department - Organization: Canadian Council of Archives
Description: The program provides funding to employers to create jobs for students and internships for graduates. These programs help youth acquire skills in the heritage, arts and cultural sector, as well as develop their second language. Eligibility: be a Non-profit organization under municipal government, that has distinct objectives, programs and budget related to heritage.
Deadline: Closed January 19th, 2024. Next intake TBD.
Contact: ycw_jct@archivescanada.ca
Website: Youth Canada Works
Festival and Community Event Development
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The objectives of the program are to improve the sustainability and event-hosting capacity of unique community events and to support home-grown events that promote or strengthen the unique character of the community. Up to $10,000. Applicants can apply for one festival or event per fiscal year.
Example(s): Supports major events being hosted in Nova Scotia that align with the Nova Scotia Events Strategy. Major sporting and cultural events as well as homegrown major events like DEVOUR Food Film Festival.
Deadline: Closed February 28th, 2024, 4:00 PM.
Contact: Stephen MacDougall, Senior Events Advisor, stephen.macdougall@novascotia.ca
Community Museum Assistance Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The program supports community museums that serve to preserve, protect, and interpret Nova Scotia’s heritage resources by improving the quality of community museum collections and programs throughout Nova Scotia.
Deadline: May 13th
Contact: Jessica Peddle, Community Development Officer, jessica.peddle@novascotia.ca, or your regional CCTH manager
Website: Community Museum Assistance Program
National Acadian Day funding
Department - Organization: Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: To organize a community celebration for the National Acadian Day. Funding requests up to $5,000.
Deadline: Curently closed.
Contact: canada5k@pch.gc.ca
Website: National Acadian Day funding
If you can't find a grant that suits your municipality's needs, please reach out. Similarly, if your municipality is applying to any of the listed opportunities, I am readily available to provide assistance throughout the application process.
Lucy MacLeod,
Fund Navigator
lmacleod@nsfm.ca
