Purpose
The program supports Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) artists to research, develop and create new work and engage with their communities. It also funds opportunities for Indigenous organizations and communities to strengthen their relationships with the arts. The program has three categories:
- Individuals
- Ad hoc groups and collectives
- Organizations
Grants help cover the costs of:
- research and development that will lead to the creation of new work. Artistic research, exploration and experimentation, including workshops and residencies, are also eligible. All emerging, mid-career and established artists (including curators) working with all art forms are welcome to apply
- creation and production of new work in any art form (film, video, visual arts, new media, cultural arts, dance, theatre, music, pottery, fiction, spoken word and storytelling, etc.). All emerging, mid-career and established artists working in all art forms are welcome to apply
- presentations, exhibitions, publications and festivals in which the primary purpose of the project is the presentation, promotion and distribution of art made by Indigenous artists. Examples include exhibitions, individual and series presentations, publications, tours, festivals and innovative audience development projects
- connections and partnerships that bring artists together through conferences, workshops, gatherings, delegations, exchanges or other activities that will foster artistic relationships, connections and partnerships that strengthen the Indigenous arts community
Priorities
The program gives priority to projects that involve the presentation of music in Northern Ontario.
Deadline dates
April 12 and October 18, 2023, 1 p.m. ET
- The application form will be available in Nova about two months before the deadline.
- You will find out whether you got a grant about four and a half months after each deadline.
Grant amount(s)
- Individuals: maximum $15,000
- Ad hoc groups and collectives: maximum $20,000
- Organizations: maximum $25,000
Important
- Due to the number of applications we receive and the limited funds that are available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested.
- Consult the program officer if you wish to discuss the request amount for your project.
Recent changes
- Individual applicants must be 18 years of age or older to apply.
- Support for Indigenous Presenters in the North: Music Projects is now provided through the Indigenous Arts Projects program and funding the presentation of music in northern Ontario is a priority in this program.
Eligible applicants
- professional artists who self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit, and are Ontario residents
- ad hoc group and collectives comprised of individuals, of whom at least 50 per cent identify as Indigenous
- not-for-profit Indigenous organizations, centres and councils
Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for more eligibility information.
Ineligible applicants
- students
- municipalities, colleges and universities
What this program funds
- research and development activities
- creation and production of new work
- presentation and distribution of art by Indigenous artists
- exhibitions
- publications
- individual and series presentations
- festivals and innovative audience-development projects
This program also supports:
- childcare and other dependant care fees enabling individuals to take part in the project (this does not include regular, ongoing expenses)
- expenses related to making the project accessible to audience members and project participants (other than the applicant) who are Deaf or have a disability
- Note: Applicants to this program who identify as Deaf or as having a disability may apply for supplementary funds for their own accessibility expenses through Accessibility Fund: Project Support.
What this program does not fund
- fundraising activities
- major capital expenditures, including buying, leasing or renovating buildings and purchase of major equipment
Activity timing
The activity for which you are requesting funding:
- cannot start before the deadline
- cannot finish before you receive your grant results
- must be completed no more than two years after you receive the grant results
Note: Project completion schedule should consider the time required to fulfill OAC acknowledgement obligations (see Final report requirements section below).
Final report requirements
If you receive a grant, you must complete the project and submit a final report in Nova. See Terms and Conditions – receipt of OAC project grant funds for more information on reporting obligations.
In your final report, you will need to provide:
- a description of the project undertaken and its outcomes, including details on any approved or minor changes to what had been outlined in the application
- a final budget
- If the budget you submit shows a surplus of more than $250 (revenues as compared to expenses), you may be required to repay the surplus amount to OAC.
- documentation and/or an explanation of how you followed or will follow OAC’s Recognition Requirements for Project Grant Recipients
- This should include samples of any promotional or other materials produced for the project that show the OAC and Government of Ontario logos. Read logo guidelines
- This could also include social media screenshots or a description of how you recognized OAC or plan to do so in future activities or materials tied to the project.
To apply
Complete and submit an application in Nova, OAC’s online grant application system. You will be able to do this approximately two months before the deadline.
Before applying, be sure to:
Your application will include:
- basic information about the project
- your answers to application questions
- a project budget
- artistic examples: up to two audio/video examples (maximum of three minutes each), writing samples, or images (up to 10). These videos may help you:
- support documents: résumés or bios.
Complete instructions and requirements are in the application in Nova.
For information on how assessors rate applications see the Guide to OAC Assessment and the Evaluation Rubric – Activity Projects.
For details on creating a profile or submitting an application in Nova, see the Nova User Guide.
Program-specific definitions
Indigenous: Individuals who self-identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit.
Music Presenter: for the purposes of this program, music presenters are defined as individuals, collectives or organizations that:
- plan and organize public music events
- select and contract artists or groups for a music event or concert
- pay a guaranteed fee to hired artists and groups
- develop and articulate a rationale for programming choices
- book the venue and supply the technical support for the event
- get the community to come out to the event
Northern Ontario: includes the Far North, Northwest, and Northeast regions of the province. This includes the Manitoulin, Parry Sound and Nipissing districts and all regions north of these districts.