Advocacy
The OMA collects and shares funding opportunities for which museums may be eligible and that may help museums achieve their missions. The deadlines, specifics, and application processes for each funding opportunity are provided here for information only and remain the responsibility of the granting organization.
OMA’s Analysis of Ontario’s Provincial Budget 2024
On March 26, the Provincial Government tabled their 2024 budget. The Ontario Museum Association has reviewed this budget to understand the spending of the current government, and …
OMA Recommendations to Ontario’s Budget 2024
The Ontario Museum Association has prepared a Submission to Ontario’s 2024 Budget. The OMA makes four recommendations for targeted provincial support,…
Download: Advocacy Guides For You
Funding Opportunities
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Local Festivals – Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
Building Communities through Arts and Heritage — Local Festivals component provides up to $200,000 to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists; local artisans; local heritage performers or specialists; and local First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultural carriers.
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Enabling Accessibility Fund – Small Projects Component
This program provides up to $125,000 to make communities and workplaces across Canada more accessible for persons with disabilities. It will fund projects that create more opportunities for persons with disabilities to take part in community activities, programs and services, and access employment.
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Accessible Canada – National AccessAbility Week
This program provides up to $200,000 to support projects that increase awareness through National Accessibility Week (NAAW) activities in 2025 and in 2026. It will fund projects that improve understanding and knowledge of Canadians on accessibility and disability inclusion, reduce stigma and attitudinal barriers towards persons with disabilities, and share best practices and lessons learned related to NAAW activities within the disability community.
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Digital Projects
Receive an investment of up to $250,000 to develop an online project from the ground up, with the support of a web development agency.
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Community Stories
Receive an investment of up to $25,000 to develop a community stories website using Digital Museum Canada’s website building platform.
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Seniors Active Living Centres Program Expansion: Call for Proposals
The Government of Ontario is expanding the SALC program. Eligible organizations are invited to propose launching a new SALC program to serve older adults in places that are accessible for people with disabilities and will encourage active and healthy living, social engagement, and learning.
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Great Lakes Local Action Fund
The Great Lakes Local Action Fund provides funding to projects that help communities take action to increase climate change resiliency and protect or improve water quality in the Great Lakes ecosystem.
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New Horizons for Seniors Program – Community-based projects
The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) community-based stream is a federal grant. It supports projects that are designed by seniors and for seniors in their communities. This program provides up to $25,000 for projects that empower seniors in their communities and contribute to improving their health and well-being.
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Tourism Growth Program in southern Ontario
Delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), the Tourism Growth Program (TGP) provides $108 million over 3 years (2023-2024 – 2025-2026) to support communities, small- and medium-sized businesses and not-for-profit organizations in developing local tourism products and experiences.
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Commemorate Canada
The Commemorate Canada program provides funding to initiatives that commemorate and celebrate historical figures, places, events and accomplishments of national significance.
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Access to Heritage – Museums Assistance Program
The Access to Heritage component of the Museums Assistance Program (MAP) provides funding to heritage organizations for travelling exhibitions in Canada, and to promote access to heritage across different geographic regions.
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Indigenous Heritage – Museums Assistance Program
The Indigenous Heritage component of the Museums Assistance Program (MAP) provides funding for projects related to the preservation, management, and presentation of Indigenous cultural heritage in Canada.
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Collections Management – Museums Assistance Program
The Collections Management component of the Museums Assistance Program (MAP) provides funding for projects to improve knowledge, skills and practices related to key museum functions.
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Artistic Institutions – Engage and Sustain
The Artistic Institutions component of Engage and Sustain funds major Canadian arts organizations rooted in their communities and dedicated to supporting artists and a variety of arts practices. Grants support institutions as artistic leaders to carry out activities that encourage and promote the work of creators, strengthening their relationships with the public.
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Booster Fund
The Booster Fund invites organizations to request additional financial resources to increase their support for artists and arts workers who are participating in their existing activities or projects. The areas of support includes all aspects of an organization’s operations such as creation, programming, leadership development, training, outreach, or education.
The 2024 Booster Fund will offer grants of up to $30,000 to boost projects or activities planned for 2025, primarily through the lens of increased remuneration and access. The Booster Fund focuses on elements of existing projects and activities, not new projects or activities created in response to this funding opportunity.
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Exhibition Assistance
The program from the Ontario Arts Council supports Ontario-based artists and artist collectives working in visual arts, craft and media art practices in the presentation of their artwork in a confirmed public exhibition, offering a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $2000
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Grow Grant
Ontario Trillium Foundation grants support the work of eligible non-profit organizations to help them deliver direct community-based programs and services in Ontario to help build healthy and vibrant communities. Grants support established programs and services that have a proven track record of success and meet community need, providing a higher level of funding over 2 or 3 years, offering from $100,000 to $600,000 over 2 or 3 years.
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Arts and Culture Assistance Program
The ACAP program provides arts, culture, and heritage funding through several grant streams. These include Project Grants (Large and Small), Operational/Seed Grants, Festivals/Events (Large and Small), and cultural diversity grants. Funding is available to local and area arts, culture, and heritage organizations, collectives/groups, and individuals working in or serving the Sault Ste. Marie community.
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Cultural Hotspots – Live Arts Mentor (LAM) Funding
Live Arts Mentor (LAM) funding seeks to build the capacity of IBPOC-led or serving arts organizations that deliver innovative, engaging arts programming and services in neighbourhoods that have been animated by the Cultural Hotspot, an annual arts program that celebrates Toronto’s outside-the-core communities. Funding of up to $22,000 is provided to high impact and innovative project proposals that foster community engagement. In 2024, LAM funding is available for eligible organizations based in Little Jamaica that previously received Cultural Hotspot funding (Signature, SPARK or Little Jamaica Special Projects). Smaller or newer organizations will partnered with established arts organizations through a mentorship program to strengthen emerging organizations and to build the infrastructure of Toronto’s community arts sector.
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Cultural Hotspots – SPARK Project Funding
SPARK Project funding supports emerging and established equity-deserving artists, artist collectives, not-for-profits and community-based organizations from diverse communities with up to $9,000 per project. This includes up to $1,500 in funding to support youth workforce development opportunities either through employment or paid mentorships. Successful SPARK funding recipients that do not have official not-for-profit status must work with a trustee organization to receive funding. The funding is open to all art disciplines based in or with experience working in the Jane and Finch area.
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Cultural Hotspots – Signature Project
Signature Project applicants should be established organizations with a proven track record to successfully deliver mid to large-sized community-based arts and cultural projects. Youth workforce development opportunities via job placements and/or paid mentorship are a mandatory component of each Signature Project with priority given to youth from equity-deserving communities. Signature Project funding is up to $22,000 per project inclusive of up to $2,000 to make projects more accessible for persons with disabilities.
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Tourism Growth Program in Northern Ontario
Delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), the Tourism Growth Program (TGP) provides $108 million over 3 years to support communities, small- and medium-sized businesses and not-for-profit organizations in developing local tourism products and experiences.
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Local Festivals – Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
Building Communities through Arts and Heritage — Local Festivals component provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists; local artisans; local heritage performers or specialists; and local First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultural carriers. This includes the celebration of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations.
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Museums Assistance Program – Exhibition Circulation Fund
The fund component assists museums with the costs related to the hosting of travelling exhibitions originating from another museum or from a federal heritage institution and the borrowing of artifacts from any of the National museums of Canada. Read the Application Guidelines for more information.
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Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
OCAF has three specific aims: to increase cultural tourism by providing investments to assist Ontario cultural organizations to promote, market and present one-off or first-time events, or a significant expansion of existing activity, which are designed to attract new tourists and visitors to cultural events; increase the earned revenue capacity of the applicant organization; and support events that foster economic growth and contribute to job creation.
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Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
The fund supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage culture and creative innovation. The fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces.
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Community Enhancement Program
The program is designed to help build strong and resilient Northern communities through infrastructure investments, to upgrade / repair existing assets to improve community quality of life, economic development infrastructure and strategic economic development initiatives. It has three streams; Enhance Your Community Program, Rural Enhancement Funding Stream and Broadband and Cellular Expansion Projects.
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Community Events Stream
The stream supports organizations that host events that increase community profile and promote economic development in Northern Ontario. Municipalities, Indigenous communities, not-for-profit organizations, and Local Services Boards located in Northern Ontario are eligible to apply.
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People and Talent Program
The program is designed to attract, retain and develop Northern Ontario’s workforce. It has 2 streams: Indigenous Workforce Development Stream, and Workforce Development Stream.
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Events – Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program
The program provides funding to community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination, or celebrate a community’s history and culture such as heritage months recognized by Parliament. Read the Application Guidelines for more information.
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Movable Cultural Property Grants
The grant helps designated organizations acquire cultural property of outstanding significance and national importance to Canada, as outlined in the Cultural Property Export and Import Act. Designated organizations are located in Canada and demonstrate the ability to ensure the long-term preservation of cultural property. Grants can be used to purchase cultural property for which an export permit has been denied; or that is important to Canada’s national heritage and available for purchase outside the country.
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Legacy Fund – Building Communities through Arts and Heritage
Provides funding for community-initiated capital projects, intended for community use. Recipients may receive up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenses up to a maximum of $500,000.
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Economic Development Initiative in Southern Ontario
FedDev Ontario delivers $800,000 annually through EDI to support projects encouraging economic diversification, business development, innovation, partnerships and increased support for small- and medium-sized enterprises in Francophone communities in Southern Ontario.
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Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Program
Through the program, the Government of Canada assumes the financial responsibility for loss or damage to objects and appurtenances in eligible travelling exhibitions. The Program has two objectives: first, to increase access for Canadians to Canada’s and the world’s heritage through the exchange of artifacts and exhibitions in Canada; and second, to provide Canadian art galleries, museums, archives, and libraries with a competitive advantage when competing for the loan of prestigious international exhibitions.
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Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program
The objectives of the programs are to support Indigenous peoples to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages and cultures, and in the production and distribution of Indigenous audio and video content.
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Regional Development Program: Eastern Ontario Development Fund
The Eastern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in eastern Ontario.
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Regional Development Program: Southwestern Ontario Development Fund
The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in southwestern Ontario.
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Public Outreach – Arts Across Canada
The Public Outreach component of Arts Across Canada supports activities of Canadian groups and organizations, as well as professionals in architecture, that contribute to the public appreciation and enjoyment of the arts. Grants fund a wide range of live events, publications and other initiatives that build connections between artists and diverse audiences.
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Documentary Heritage Communities Program
The purpose of this program is to provide approximately $ 1.5 million in funding each year to local organizations in support of Canada’s documentary heritage. The term “documentary heritage” refers to records and publications (written or audio-visual) that reflect Canada’s history. Some examples include:
- photographs
- audio or visual recordings
- treaties
- dictionaries and lexicons
- portraits
- diaries
- maps
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Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
OCAF has three aims: (1) to increase cultural tourism by providing investments to assist Ontario organizations to develop, promote and present one- off or first time events, or a significant expansion of existing activity, which are designed to attract new tourists and visitors to cultural events; (2) increase the earned revenue capability of the applicant organization; and (3) support events that foster economic growth and contribute to job creation. It achieves this by providing up front working capital directed towards the applicant’s marketing and promotional costs, with the investment taking the form of a partially repayable loan. Eligible recipients of the fund include Ontario-based, not-for-profit and/or charitable professional arts, heritage or cultural organization, or an Ontario municipality / municipal agency, or First Nation, Band Council, Metis, Inuit community that is undertaking a major project in the arts or heritage sector.
Further funding opportunities
For more funding opportunities, please visit: