[Skip to Content]
close mobile menu
Contact Us
-A +A+A
Ontario Arts Council (OAC)
Close
Grants Advanced Search
Clear Search Text
Grants Advanced Search
Grants Advanced Search
Grants Advanced Search
Apply Now
Home Grants Activity Creating and Presenting

Contact

Reception

Information Services
reception@arts.on.ca
416-961-1660
Toll-free in Ontario: 1-800-387-0058

Creating and Presenting

Photo Credit
Close
The creation, production and presentation of artistic work are the foundation of OAC’s funding model.  We fund these activities through discipline-specific programs, and programs created to serve specific priority groups. We believe that works of artistic merit are created by artists from all communities, regions and cultural backgrounds and that access to the arts makes all of our lives richer.
OAC’s key funding objectives for Creating and Presenting are to:  
 
  • Support artists in creating, producing and presenting innovative and diverse work.
  • Foster healthy and resilient arts organizations and communities.
  • Support new ways of creating and working, as well as new organizational models.
  • Showcase high-quality, relevant artistic work that inspires and engages audiences.
  • Empower new and emerging voices, approaches and perspectives.
  • Ensure access to the arts in regions and communities across Ontario.   
     

Grant Programs

GridList
Arts médiatiques – projets francophones Toggle Expand
What We Fund
This program is available in French only.
Learn More
Arts visuels et métiers d'art – projets francophones Toggle Expand
What We Fund
This program is available in French only.
Learn More
Arts visuels, arts médiatiques et métiers d'art : organismes et centres d’artistes autogérés francophones – fonctionnement Toggle Expand
What We Fund
This program is available in French only.
Learn More
Craft Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports craft-based practices through grants to Ontario-based artists, curators, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations.
Learn More
Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the development of the work of Ontario-based Indigenous curators and curators who are people of colour, and the exhibition infrastructure in Ontario. It aims to increase the ability of Ontario public galleries, artist-run centres and other organizations to present projects by Indigenous curators and curators who are people of colour in contexts determined by the participants.
Learn More
Dance Organizations: Operating Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, professional dance organizations in Ontario.
Learn More
Dance Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the development, production and presentation of dance by Ontario’s professional dance artists.
Learn More
Deaf and Disability Arts Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports Ontario-based artists and arts professionals who are Deaf and/or have a disability, or ad hoc groups/collectives and arts organizations mandated to serve and led by artists and/or arts professionals who are Deaf and/or have a disability. It funds all contemporary and traditional art practices that are supported at OAC.
Learn More
Édition francophone – fonctionnement Toggle Expand
What We Fund
This program is available in French only.
Learn More
Exhibition Assistance Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports Ontario-based artists and artist collectives working in visual arts, craft and media art practices in the presentation of their art work in a confirmed public exhibition.This is a third-party recommender program. Artists apply to galleries and organizations designated as recommenders for the program. These recommenders assess applications and submit grant recommendations to OAC.
Learn More
Indigenous Arts Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) artists to research, develop and create new work and engage with their communities, as well as opportunities for Indigenous organizations and communities to strengthen their relationships with the arts.
Learn More
Indigenous Visual Artists' Materials Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports Ontario-based First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists working in the visual arts, crafts or traditional/customary Indigenous art forms to create artwork. Grants of $500 help cover the cost of buying art materials and supplies.This is a third-party recommender program. Artists apply to the Indigenous organizations designated as recommenders for the program. Recommenders assess applications and submit grant recommendations to OAC.
Learn More
Literary Creation Projects (Works for Performance) Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports Ontario-based literary artists to complete new works for book-length publication or for public performance, and literary performers who wish to record their own repertoire.
Learn More
Literary Creation Projects (Works for Publication) Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports Ontario-based literary artists to complete new works for book-length publication or for public performance, and literary performers who wish to record their own repertoire.
Learn More
Literary Organizations Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the presentation, promotion, and publication of written and oral Canadian literatures through literary festivals, performance series, trade book publishers, literary magazines, and sector development initiatives.
Learn More
Literary Organizations: Operating Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, professional literary organizations in Ontario, except for book and magazine publishers.
Learn More
Littérature – projets francophones Toggle Expand
What We Fund
This program is available in French only.
Learn More
Media Artists Creation Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports individual professional Ontario-based media artists/directors working with film, video, audio, digital, new media, video and electronic games, and virtual reality as independent artist-controlled art forms in the production and post-production phases of their projects.
Learn More
Media Arts Organizations: Operating Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, professional media arts organizations in Ontario.
Learn More
Media Arts Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports not-for-profit organizations and ad hoc groups/collectives that present, document or disseminate the work of professional Ontario media artists, or that provide media artists with professional development opportunities.
Learn More
Multi and Inter-Arts Organizations: Operating Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit professional multi- and inter-arts organizations in Ontario.
Learn More
Multi and Inter-Arts Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the creation, production and presentation of multi- and inter-arts work by professional Ontario artists, ad hoc groups/collectives and organizations working in all art forms and initiatives that benefit the professional multi- and inter-arts community.The program supports the creation, production and presentation of multi- and inter-arts work by professional Ontario artists, ad hoc groups/collectives and organizations working in all art forms and initiatives that benefit the...
Learn More
Music Creation Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports Ontario-based professional artists creating original musical works.
Learn More
Music Organizations: Operating Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, opera companies, orchestras, choral organizations and other music-mandated producers and presenters in Ontario.
Learn More
Music Production and Presentation Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
This program supports the development and presentation of all genres of music by Ontario-based professional musicians, ad hoc groups/collectives and organizations.
Learn More
Music Recording Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the recording of music by Ontario-based musicians including composers, songwriters and beat producers.The program supports the recording of music by Ontario-based musicians including composers, songwriters and beat producers.
Learn More
Musique – projets francophones Toggle Expand
What We Fund
This program is available in French only.
Learn More
Northern Arts Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the creation, production and presentation of artwork; professional development; and community-engaged arts initiatives that benefit communities in northern Ontario.
Learn More
Public Art Galleries: Operating Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, professional public art galleries in Ontario.
Learn More
Publishing Organizations: Operating Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports Ontario-based, Canadian-owned book and magazine publishers that publish works of literary, artistic or cultural importance for the general public.
Learn More
Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators Toggle Expand
What We Fund
To assist theatre creators to develop new work. This is a third-party recommender program. Applications are made to and funding decisions are made by the theatre companies enrolled in the program.
Learn More
Recommender Grants for Writers Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports Ontario writers in the creation of new work and creates and strengthens connections between Ontario writers, publishers, and literary organizations. This is a third-party recommender program. Applications are made to and funding recommendations are made by the publishers and organizations designated as recommenders for the program. Grants made from this program are made by OAC. Recommenders may not award grants in lieu of payment or impose conditions on applicants or grant r...
Learn More
Théâtre – projets francophones Toggle Expand
What We Fund
This program is available in French only.
Learn More
Théâtre francophone – fonctionnement Toggle Expand
What We Fund
This program is available in French only.
Learn More
Theatre Organizations: Operating Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, professional theatre organizations in Ontario.
Learn More
Theatre Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports professional exploration, creation, development, production and presentation, regardless of theatrical tradition, as well as initiatives that benefit the Ontario professional theatre community.
Learn More
Visual Artists Creation Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports professional Ontario-based visual artists to create new work and to continue work in progress. The program aims to reflect the range of artistic practices in the visual arts, and to support excellence, regional activity, diverse artists and communities.
Learn More
Visual Arts Artist-Run Centres and Organizations: Operating Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports the ongoing operations of not-for-profit, professional visual arts organizations in Ontario.
Learn More
Visual Arts Projects Toggle Expand
What We Fund
The program supports organizations, ad hoc groups/collectives and independent curators to present projects that exhibit, document or disseminate the work of professional Ontario visual artists or provide professional development for artists.
Learn More
© Ontario Arts Council 2016-2025. Website Design By Inorbital
OAC Office Locations
OAC Office Locations - Map of Ontario
Toronto Location
121 Bloor Street East, 7th Floor Toronto, ON M4W 3M5
Thunder Bay Location
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Ontario Arts Council


For more than 60 years, the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians. The OAC reached 27.4 million people through events and arts education activities across the province in 2021-22. In 2023-24, OAC invested its grant program budget of $53.3 million in 219 communities across all 124 Ontario ridings, providing 2,149 grants to individual artists and 1,043 grants to organizations.

Ontario Logo