Grants to Ontario Artists, Curators, Groups, and Nonprofits for Craft-Based Projects
Craft Projects
Agency
State
GrantWatch ID#
153166
Funding Source
Geographic Focus
Canada: Ontario;
Important Dates
Deadline: 11/04/26 1:00 PM ET
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Grant Description
Grants to Ontario artists, curators, ad hoc groups and collectives, craft guilds, and nonprofit organizations for craft-related activities. Funding is intended for craft-based research, creation, production, and development, as well as for projects that connect Ontario craft with wider audiences through workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and other community engagement activities.
The program supports craft-based practices through grants to Ontario-based artists, curators, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations. The program has five categories:
- Research/Creation/Development – Emerging artists and curators: to help cover the costs of research, experimentation, creation, production and/or career development
- Research/Creation/Development – Mid-career artists and curators: to help cover the costs of research, experimentation, creation, production and/or career development
- Research/Creation/Development – Established artists and curators: to help cover the costs of research, experimentation, creation, production and/or career development
- Research/Creation/Development – Collaborations: to help cover the costs of artists to collaborate on research, experimentation, creation, production and/or career development
- Connections: to help cover the costs of projects that connect Ontario craft with audiences and expand the public profile and appreciation for craft; programming that encourages craft-based critical discourse and curatorial practice; and activities that make connections within the Ontario craft community
The program’s priorities are to support:
- A range of craft-based practices including work that is functional, conceptual, sculptural or from an art or design perspective
- Projects that explore new directions or preserve craft traditions
- Indigenous artists working with craft materials in contemporary or customary ways
- Activities that contribute to arts education, public participation and community involvement in craft in Ontario
- Craft artists at all stages of their careers
- Craft artists to create individually or to work with others collaboratively, either within the craft field or in other disciplines
This program also supports:
- Childcare and other dependent care fees enabling individuals to take part in the project
- 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: https://www.arts.on.ca/grants/accessibility-fund-project-support
For a list of funded project types, see the Full Grant Text RFP link.
Categories
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Recipient
Additional Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants:
Research/Creation/Development:
• Artists and curators who are Ontario residents
• Ad hoc groups, collectives and collaborative groups
Connections:
• Artists and curators (including co-applicants)
• Craft guilds (incorporated or not)
• Ad hoc groups and collectives
• Incorporated not-for-profit organizations
Important: For collaborative projects in Research/Creation/Development or Connections categories, you have the option of:
• Selecting one individual or group to submit the application on behalf of those collaborating
• Applying as two co-applicants
• Applying as an ad hoc group or collective
If a project involves non-Ontario artists coming to Ontario or Ontario artists travelling outside the province, you must describe a benefit to Ontario artists or audiences.
Connections projects must pay CARFAC fees to participating professional artists. Projects that do not pay artist fees are not eligible.
Research/Creation/Development:
• Artists and curators who are Ontario residents
• Ad hoc groups, collectives and collaborative groups
Connections:
• Artists and curators (including co-applicants)
• Craft guilds (incorporated or not)
• Ad hoc groups and collectives
• Incorporated not-for-profit organizations
Important: For collaborative projects in Research/Creation/Development or Connections categories, you have the option of:
• Selecting one individual or group to submit the application on behalf of those collaborating
• Applying as two co-applicants
• Applying as an ad hoc group or collective
If a project involves non-Ontario artists coming to Ontario or Ontario artists travelling outside the province, you must describe a benefit to Ontario artists or audiences.
Connections projects must pay CARFAC fees to participating professional artists. Projects that do not pay artist fees are not eligible.
Additional Geographic Information:
OAC Geographic Regions Map: https://www.arts.on.ca/oac/media/oac/OAC-Geographic-Regions-Maps_Cartes-des-regions-geographiques-du-CAO.pdf
Ineligible
Ineligible applicants:
• Undergraduate or graduate students enrolled full-time at an educational institution
• Curators may not apply for research or exhibition activities they have been contracted or employed to do for an organization that receives OAC operating grants in the Visual Arts section
• Municipalities, colleges and universities
• Incorporated for-profit businesses
• Anyone who has received a Chalmers Professional Development grant and not completed and reported on the project
• Organizations that receive an OAC operating grant through one of the following programs:
Public Art Galleries: Operating
Visual Arts Artist-Run Centres and Organizations: Operating
Ontario Arts Operating Fund (Visual Arts Organizations category)
• Organizations that receive another OAC operating grant, except organizations mandated to serve one or more OAC priority groups
Childcare and other dependent care fees do not include regular, ongoing expenses.
For a list of ineligible project types, see the Full Grant Text RFP link.
• Undergraduate or graduate students enrolled full-time at an educational institution
• Curators may not apply for research or exhibition activities they have been contracted or employed to do for an organization that receives OAC operating grants in the Visual Arts section
• Municipalities, colleges and universities
• Incorporated for-profit businesses
• Anyone who has received a Chalmers Professional Development grant and not completed and reported on the project
• Organizations that receive an OAC operating grant through one of the following programs:
Public Art Galleries: Operating
Visual Arts Artist-Run Centres and Organizations: Operating
Ontario Arts Operating Fund (Visual Arts Organizations category)
• Organizations that receive another OAC operating grant, except organizations mandated to serve one or more OAC priority groups
Childcare and other dependent care fees do not include regular, ongoing expenses.
For a list of ineligible project types, see the Full Grant Text RFP link.
Pre-Application Information
Deadline dates: November 4, 2026, 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 the deadline.
Before applying, be sure to:
• Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for basic eligibility requirements and other restrictions: http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/guide-to-project-programs
• Create or update your profile in Nova
For information regarding number of grants permissible per year, see the Full Grant Text RFP link.
Guide to OAC Assessment: http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/guide-to-assessment
Guide to OAC Support Material: https://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/guide-to-oac-support-material
Application questions: http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/guide-to-oac-project-programs/questions-%E2%80%93-activity-projects
Evaluation rubric - Activity Projects: http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/guide-to-project-programs/questions-%E2%80%93-activity-projects/evaluation-rubric-%E2%80%93-activity-projects/
Nova User Guide: http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/nova-user-guide
• 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 the deadline.
Before applying, be sure to:
• Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for basic eligibility requirements and other restrictions: http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/guide-to-project-programs
• Create or update your profile in Nova
For information regarding number of grants permissible per year, see the Full Grant Text RFP link.
Guide to OAC Assessment: http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/guide-to-assessment
Guide to OAC Support Material: https://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/guide-to-oac-support-material
Application questions: http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/guide-to-oac-project-programs/questions-%E2%80%93-activity-projects
Evaluation rubric - Activity Projects: http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/guide-to-project-programs/questions-%E2%80%93-activity-projects/evaluation-rubric-%E2%80%93-activity-projects/
Nova User Guide: http://www.arts.on.ca/grants/general-granting-information/nova-user-guide
Estimated Size of Grant
• Research/Creation/Development – Emerging artists and curators: maximum $5,000
• Research/Creation/Development – Mid-career artists and curators: maximum $7,500
• Research/Creation/Development – Established artists and curators: maximum $15,000
• Research/Creation/Development – Collaborations: maximum $15,000
• Connections: maximum $15,000
Accessibility Fund: Project Support: $5,000
• Research/Creation/Development – Mid-career artists and curators: maximum $7,500
• Research/Creation/Development – Established artists and curators: maximum $15,000
• Research/Creation/Development – Collaborations: maximum $15,000
• Connections: maximum $15,000
Accessibility Fund: Project Support: $5,000
Term of Contract
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
If your project has a public launch, such as an exhibition opening, it must not be scheduled to open to the public before you receive your grant results.
• 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
If your project has a public launch, such as an exhibition opening, it must not be scheduled to open to the public before you receive your grant results.
Contact Information
Apply online: https://grants.arts.on.ca/s_Login.jsp?lang=1
Amber Yared
Program Administrator
ayared@arts.on.ca
416-969-7461
Toll-free in Ontario:1-800-387-0058
Ontario Arts Council
121 Bloor Street East, 7th Floor
Toronto, ON M4W 3M5
Amber Yared
Program Administrator
ayared@arts.on.ca
416-969-7461
Toll-free in Ontario:1-800-387-0058
Ontario Arts Council
121 Bloor Street East, 7th Floor
Toronto, ON M4W 3M5
RFP & Supporting Documents
