Back to All Grants Open Door A funding opportunity that supports ideas with the potential to create transformative change for arts organizations and collectives and/or the arts sector Application Deadline November 26, 2025 Grant Category Strategic Apply Guidelines Reach out to a Grant Manager Liza Mattimore Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives 416-392-6802 x 231 liza@torontoartscouncil.org WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT? The Open Door granting program supports projects that demonstrate innovation, experimentation, risk-taking, partnership, the sharing of knowledge and leadership. Open Door provides catalyst funding for ideas with the potential to create transformative change in the arts sector. This program does not fund: Individuals activities included in TAC operating grants activities included in TAC project grants capital projects or expenses, renovations, or repairs research, feasibility studies or training programs projects previously funded through Open Door print or online publishing this program does not support schools, tuition-funded training programs, curriculum-based programs, or research projects. Projects with a school as the venue cannot take place during school hours organizations receiving operating funding directly from the City of Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture Division or from another City of Toronto Division WHEN CAN THE PROJECT HAPPEN? All projects must be completed within two years of the date on the notification letter. Project activities may not start until 3 months after the application deadline. WHO CAN APPLY? Applicants are encouraged to speak to the Strategic Programs Manager, before applying. Please contact the Program Manager to discuss your proposal. To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1 be located in the City of Toronto. A post office box cannot be used to meet the residency requirement. be either an incorporated non-profit arts organization or an artist collective operating on a not-for-profit basis. Applicants must have a viable administrative and financial plan for the proposed activities. Applicants may receive a grant through the Open Door program only once every two years. Additional Information How do I apply? Applicants register and submit the application through TAC Grants Online. Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm on the deadline date. TAC does not accept applications by any other means of delivery. You will receive a confirmation email when your application is submitted. Check your spam/junk mail folder if it doesn’t arrive in your in-box. TAC Accessibility Grant Projects involving Deaf artists and artists with disabilities may apply for an additional TAC grant by completing the Accessibility Expenses section of the application and including the requisite information in their budget. A TAC Accessibility grant will provide up to a maximum of $5,000 towards accessibility costs for artists incurred during the project. Accessibility costs include but are not limited to: ASL interpretation, audio description, closed captioning, communications assistants, attendant care (including helpers for Elders), support workers and equipment rentals or other supports required to meet artists’ accessibility needs. Application Accessibility Support Applicants who are Deaf or have a disability and need support to complete their grant applications can apply for funds to cover the costs of assistance from Application Support Service Providers. Up to $500 is available per eligible applicant in each calendar year. Please contact your Grant Program Manager at least six weeks before the grant program deadline to determine eligibility, request application support funding, and to review the process for payment to be made to your Service Provider. Requests for application support require approval from the Grant Program Manager. Additional information here. Can I apply to other TAC grants? Toronto Arts Council has two Grant Categories:1. Discipline (e.g.: discipline-specific project grants and operating grants in Theatre, Dance, Music, etc.)2. Strategic (e.g.: Animating Toronto Parks, Artists in the Library, Animating Historic Sites, Artreach, Open Door, etc.) Open Door is a Strategic program. Applicants may receive a maximum of one Strategic grant per calendar year. Applicants may not apply for more than one Strategic grant at a time. However, we offer other types of granting opportunities through our Discipline Category, and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please note: if you apply for a Open Door grant you cannot also apply to another TAC program for the same project. For more detail on our granting categories, go to our About Our Grants page. about our grants TAC recognizes that due to systemic barriers within the broader arts community (e.g. limited mainstream presentation opportunities for artists from equity-seeking communities) that some flexibility may be required in interpreting eligibility criteria to take into account equivalent professional experience and contexts. Potential applicants from equity-seeking communities are encouraged to discuss their eligibility with the Program Manager in advance of submitting an application.