Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts is a federal Crown corporation created in 1957 to "foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts." To fulfill this mandate, the Canada Council provides grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations in:
- dance
- inter-arts
- media arts
- music
- theatre
- visual arts
- writing and publishing
Who Is Eligible?
Professional Artists
Many grant programs are for individual artists. The most common types of grants for individuals are:
- creation/production
- professional development
- residency
- travel
Generally you must be a professional artist and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada (as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada) to apply.
A professional artist is someone who:
- has specialized training in the field (not necessarily in academic institutions),
- is recognized as such by peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition), and
- has a history of public presentation or publication.
If you receive a grant, you will be required to devote a substantial portion of your time to your program of work or activity, as outlined in your application.
Arts Collectives, Companies and other Canadian, Non-Profit Arts Organizations
Grants offered include:
- operating funds
- organizational development assistance
- project assistance
- presenting and dissemination assistance
An applicant organization must be staffed by arts professionals who create artistic works, or present them to the Canadian public. Each program has its own eligibility criteria, but examples of eligible organizations are:
- theatre companies,
- art museums
- public galleries
- artist-run centres
- dance companies
- orchestras and
- film co-operatives.
