Arts Across Canada and Abroad — Public Outreach

This is the Canada Council stream for putting work in front of people at home: concert series, festivals, one-off performances, artist talks, panels, community engagement work, and non-literary publishing. The test is public engagement — if an activity has no audience-facing element, or is purely service and support work, it does not qualify here.

It is for groups and organisations rather than solo artists: artistic groups and collectives, presenting organisations, supporting organisations, First Nations, Inuit and Métis groups and organisations (both not-for-profit and for-profit), and business cultural connectors. Organisations already receiving core funding can still apply. You need a validated profile in the Council portal, which takes time, so start that early.

Grants go up to $75,000 per project, and it is a grant rather than a reimbursement. You can apply twice per calendar year. Eligible costs include artist and professional fees, honoraria for Elders and Knowledge Keepers, childcare where the activity requires it, safety costs and accessibility costs such as interpretation, captioning or relaxed performances. Equipment purchases are capped at 15% of the amount you request.

Applications close at 11:59pm Eastern on the deadline, and results usually take about five months. A peer assessment committee scores you on artistic vision and quality (40%), impact — particularly whether the project reaches underserved audiences (40%), and feasibility, including a budget showing other revenue and fair pay (20%). You must clear a minimum score in each block, and satisfy a separate requirement on respectful treatment of Indigenous cultural material.