Indigenous Arts Projects
Until this program opens in Nova, the Ontario Arts Council’s online granting system, program information may change. This includes deadline dates and specific information on eligibility.
Purpose
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. There are 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
This program gives higher priority to projects that involve the presentation of music in Northern Ontario.
Deadline dates
March 4 and September 15, 2021, 1 p.m. ET
- Applications are available in Nova approximately two months before the deadline.
- Grant notification will be available approximately 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
- Grant notification is now available approximately four and a half months after each deadline. Refer to the “Activity timing” section on this page to understand how this may affect the timing of eligible activities.
- 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
- applicants must have a permanent physical address in Ontario
Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for more eligibility information.
Ineligible applicants
- students
- municipalities, colleges and/or universities
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:
- child care and other dependant care fees (this does not include regular, ongoing expenses)
- expenses related to making the project accessible to audiences 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.
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 submit a final report upon completion of the project. See Terms and Conditions — receipt of OAC project grant funds for more information on reporting obligations. Complete and submit the report in Nova.
Final reports for this program require grant recipients to provide:
- description of the project undertaken and its outcomes, including details on any minor or approved changes to what had been outlined in the application
- 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 acknowledged or will acknowledge OAC support for your project
You must include the OAC logo or written acknowledgement on promotional materials produced in conjunction with the project, such as press releases, publications, brochures, posters, invitations, websites, social media, videos and films. You must provide documentation of this (screen captures are accepted for online promotional material).
Describe any verbal acknowledgement of OAC support that has been made at public events.
Provide an explanation of how you intend to acknowledge OAC in associated future activities and promotional materials.
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, you must:
- read the Guide to OAC Project Programs
- read the Guide to OAC Assessment
- create or update your profile in Nova
Your application includes:
- basic information about the project
- your answers to application questions
- project budget
- artistic examples: up to two audio/video examples (maximum of three minutes each), writing samples, or images (up to 10). These videos will help you:
- Preparing Effective Support Material for Theatre, Dance and Performance-Based Multi and Inter-Arts
- Preparing Effective Support Material for Visual Arts and Craft Grant Applications
- Support documents: résumés or bios.
Complete instructions and requirements are in the application in Nova.
For information on how assessors rate applications see the Evaluation Rubric – Activity Projects.
For help 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.