Canada Council for the Arts: Indigenous Organizations Grant Program

Canada Council for the Arts: Indigenous Organizations Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Canada Council for the Arts
Amount: Up to US $100,000
Last Updated: August 22, 2025

Summary

The Canada Council for the Arts' Indigenous Organizations Grant Program supports First Nations, Inuit, and Métis organizations engaged in traditional and contemporary artistic practices. It offers funding for ongoing operational costs, artistic activities, and cultural initiatives. Eligible organizations must have specific mandates and meet operational criteria. Applicants should consult with a program officer and register in advance to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements. This program fosters innovative Indigenous cultural expression and collaboration.

Overview

NOTE: First-time applicants must speak with a Creating, Knowing and Sharing Program Officer before applying to this component. You must register in the portal at least 30 days before you want to apply. Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples The Indigenous Organizations component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing funds First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations that engage in contemporary, customary or traditional artistic and cultural activities. These activities can include non-Indigenous artists and collaborations with non-Indigenous organizations. Grants support the exploration of innovative strategies for Indigenous creative and cultural expression, and related administrative activities. Activities - What You Can Apply For You can apply for a contribution towards: ongoing costs to support your organization, including staffingexpenses related to your artistic and/or cultural activities, including any combination of eligible Creating, Knowing and Sharing activities:Creating – research; creation; production; critical discourse (including research or writing); residencies; collaborationsKnowing – mentorships; artistic training; community-based initiatives to engage young people through artistic practices; language preservation through artistic practices; intergenerational transmission of artistic knowledge; preservation of traditional knowledge through artistic practice; development of administrative, artistic, cultural or organizational capacity; research; collaborations Sharing - local, regional, national or international exhibitions; implementation of dissemination strategy and organizational objectives; publishing activities; gathering events involving artistic practices; collaborations; marketing and publicity; presentations, festivals and showcase events; networking events involving artistic practices; outreach activities Core grant categories and amounts: Category A Grant amount: up to 60% of total annual revenues, averaged over the last 3 years For organizations that meet all of the following criteria: have a mandate and primary activities concerned with artistic practice have artistic and/or cultural activities that are national and international in scope have been in continuous operation for at least 10 years have a total annual operating budget greater than $500 000, averaged over the last 3 years Category B Grant amount: up to 60% of total annual revenues, averaged over the last 3 years For organizations that meet all of the following criteria: have a mandate and primary activities concerned with artistic practice have artistic and/or cultural activities that are regional and/or national and/or international in scope have been in continuous operation for at least 7 years have a total annual operating budget greater than $250 000, averaged over the last 3 years Category C Grant amount: up to $100 000 per year For organizations that meet all of the following criteria: have a mandate and primary activities concerned with artistic and/or cultural practice have been in continuous operation for at least 3 years Category D Grant amount: up to $100 000 per year For organizations that qualify as an Indigenous Arts Service Organization For organizations that qualify as an Indigenous Publisher For non-arts-specific organizations that meet all of the following criteria: are multi-faceted cultural organizations with regular and formalized artistic programming have ongoing artistic programming for at least 3 years

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations that engage in contemporary, customary or traditional artistic and cultural activities, may apply.Your eligibility to apply to this component is determined by the validated profile created in the portal and a conversation you have had with a Program Officer.To be eligible, your organization must:Presently receive core (operating) support from this component.If your organization is presently receiving core support from another component, you must contact your Program Officer to confirm your eligibility before you apply.Or: Be an Indigenous publisher, Indigenous arts service organization or other Indigenous not-for-profit organization and meet all the following criteria:completed at least 2 consecutive years of artistic or cultural activityhave received 1 composite grant or Long Term grant or 2 Canada Council project grants in the last 5 years. This excludes grants from the following components and programs: Travel, Representation and Promotion, Translation, Small-Scale Activities, Digital Strategy Fund, Leadership for Change: Grants for Organizational Development, Flying Squad, and Visiting Foreign Artists.have a board of directors or an identified governance group with oversight and decision-making authority, made up of at least 60% First Nations, Inuit or Métis individualsSome organizations may be unable to fulfill these eligibility criteria due to exceptional circumstances. The Creating, Knowing and Sharing Program Director may allow such organizations to apply, on a case-by-case basis. You must contact a Program Officer before applying.

Ineligibility

You can’t apply for activities that receive funding from another Canada Council program or those on the general list of ineligible activities.You cannot hold both a core grant and a composite or Long-Term Project grant.