Funding for Arts, Culture & Heritage
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: November 21st, 2023.
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 orgs in tier 1, applicants must provide a minimum of 25% of eligible costs.
Deadline: Ongoing intake from April 1st until fully allocated, must apply before December 1st, 2023.
Website: Culture Innovation Fund
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 thier website-building platform. Up to $25,000 is available.
Deadline: December 1st, 2023.
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; 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 from April 1st until fully allocated, must apply before December 31st, 2023.
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: January 19th, 2024
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: Applications for 2024-25 open in January 2024.
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 to 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 are in need of repair.
Deadline: April 1st or October 1st (Annually)
Website: Community Memorials Programme
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
Website: Community Museum Assistance Program
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.
Website: Community Anniversaries
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: DCCF: April 15th, June 15th, September 15th. CCIF companion program: May 31st, August 31st, October 31st, December 31st.
Legacy Fund
Department - Organization: Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: The program provides funding for community-initiated capital projects that restore, renovate, or transform an existing building or exterior space intended for community use. Recipients may receive up to 50% of eligible project expenses up to a maximum of $500,000.
Example(s): Such as a statue, community hall, monument, garden or work of art.
Deadline: Continuous intake. Projects must be submitted before the anniversary date of the event or personality to be commemorated.
Website: Legacy Fund
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
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
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 thier website.
Deadline: Continuous intake
Website: R. Howard Webster Foundation
If you can't find a grant that suits your needs, please reach out. Similarly, if you are applying to any of the listed opportunities, I am readily available to provide assistance throughout the application process.
