CREATIVE ENQUIRY LAB

What does this program support?

This program encourages arts organizations and collectives to consider the creative possibilities unlocked using an exploratory design process alongside students in the Creative School’s Design Solutions Super Course at TMU. The Super Course challenges students from different programs to work with external partners to conceive and brainstorm ideas using a design thinking process (a creative, user-focused way of
solving problems.) The program provides arts organizations/collectives access to design thinking knowledge and the combined expertise of students from various academic backgrounds (transdisciplinary collaboration), to explore an organizational challenge and prototype solutions.

Successful proposals will articulate a challenge or pose a question pertaining to a current organizational problem or issue. The identified challenge may pertain to any aspect of operations including programming, administration, outreach, marketing, etc. Applications must acknowledge the relevance of their identified challenge to other members of their community, other arts organizations, or the arts sector. Organizational leadership (if different than project leads) must be actively involved in the project, attending, and participating when appropriate.

The grant amount is $15,000. Applicants are not required to submit a budget. As guidance, please plan for approximately 2/3 of costs in fees for the project leads and 1/3 for any materials and expenses related directly to implementing the project.

The goal is to address a significant organizational challenge using design methodologies, to give students hands on experience and enhance arts organizational knowledge and skills. We are seeking to foster innovative ideas for the creation of new capacity within Toronto arts organizations and collectives.

When Can The Project Happen?

The Creative Enquiry Lab funds an 8-month experience between January and August. The program is divided into two stages. Participants will receive a program schedule after notification in November.

New to the program will be an introductory in-person session for grant recipients with course instructors, to gain a foundational understanding of the concepts students will explore. This session will be scheduled with recipients and conducted in December, in advance of the program start.

From January, successful applicant organizations will work 10-15 hours a month, meeting regularly with a team of Design Solutions Super Course students to address their identified problem, with the aim of creating a first version or draft (prototype) of the proposed solution. Participants will be invited to class sessions at various intervals including the first day, to meet students, build understanding and pitch their
projects to student groups. In April, the prototype will be shared with the wider community during a “demo day” at TMU’s Creative School (CS).

From April to August, organizations will continue development of their prototypes independently. As a pilot for 2026, recipients will be invited to form a working group (cohort,) managed by the Program Manager with several peer-to-peer sessions exploring their projects’ next steps and supporting one another with implementation. Dates for cohort meetings will be determined together with participants.

Successful applicants are required to sign an agreement with Creative School before beginning the project and may be asked to attend a program evaluation session in 2026. Please see the program page for an FAQ and a video description of the Design Solutions Super Course, past projects, and terms of intellectual property.

Who Can Apply?

All applicants are required to contact the Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives, before applying.

To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1

  • Be either an incorporated non-profit arts organization or an unincorporated artist collective operating on a not-for-profit basis.
  • A collective is defined as two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project or on an ongoing basis.
  • Organizations and collectives must be located in the City of Toronto. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet this requirement. Organizations with a regional Toronto office must have operated in the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the deadline.
  • Collectives must have a bank account in the name of the collective.
  • For collectives of two artists, both must be City of Toronto residents. For collectives of more than two artists, the majority of members must be City of Toronto residents.
  • Artists must be professional. A professional artist is someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice; is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic tradition; actively practices their art; seeks payment for their work; and has a history of public
    presentation.
  • 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.
  • Applicants may receive a grant through the Creative Enquiry Lab once every two years.
  • Applicants are not eligible if they have an outstanding Final Report in any other program within the Strategic Category (e.g. Animating Historic Sites, Animating Toronto Parks, Artists in the Library, etc.)
  • If Toronto Metropolitan faculty or staff (full or part-time) are employed by/members of your organization or collective, you are not eligible to apply.

This Program does not fund:

  • Activities included in TAC operating grants
  • Activities included in other TAC project grants
  • Projects previous funded through another TAC grant

Video Explainer

In this video, Course Instructor Richard Lachman from Toronto Metropolitan University talks about applying to, and participating in, the Creative Enquiry Lab program.

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 dates. 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.)

Creative Enquiry Lab 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 Creative Enquiry Lab  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.

Frequently Asked Questions for this program

Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship

WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT?

Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program provides support for newcomer and refugee artists to develop their artistic practice and to further their integration and inclusion to Toronto. We define a newcomer as: an immigrant or refugee who has lived in Canada for less than 7 years; a refugee is a person who was forced to leave their home country and is now located in Canada.

The program provides funding for individual newcomer and refugee professional* artists to be mentored (guided) in their chosen arts discipline. 

The mentorship application is submitted by the newcomer artist with the mentor as the co-applicant. Both the applicant and the mentor must identify as professional* artists. 

*A professional artist is:

  • someone who has developed their artistic skills through training and/or practice;
  • is recognized as a professional by other artists working in the same artistic tradition; 
  • actively practices their art; 
  • seeks payment for their work, and would spend more time on their artistic activity if financially feasible; 
  • and has a history of public presentation, publication and/or production

The total grant amount is $15,000. 

  • $7,500 is paid directly to the newcomer or refugee artist 
  • $7,500 is paid directly to the mentor. 

If you are a newcomer or refugee artist and you need help finding a mentor or accessing translation services, please contact: 
Liza Mattimore, Strategic Programs Manager: liza[at]torontoartscouncil[dot]org

WHO CAN APPLY AS A NEWCOMER AND/OR REFUGEE ARTIST?

To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must be:1

  • Professional artists working in any artistic tradition (see definition above)
  • Applicants must be residents of the City of Toronto 
  • Applicants must have arrived in Canada after January 1, 2018
  • Applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status or be a Protected Person (approved refugee claimant) and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this.
  • Applicants must have a SIN (Social Insurance Number)
  • Past recipients of this grant program cannot apply.
  • Undergraduate students cannot apply. 
  • Professional artists pursuing graduate studies may not apply for work related to their program of study. A letter from the graduate program director specifying that the project is not related to the graduate student’s program of studies must be submitted with the application. 

WHO CAN APPLY AS A MENTOR?

  • Professional artists working in any artistic tradition (see definition above)
  • Professional arts workers including arts managers, curators and producers working in any artistic tradition
  • Applicants must be residents of the City of Toronto, living in Toronto for at least 1 year prior to the deadline and live and work in Toronto for at least 8 months of the year.
  • Applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status or be a Protected Person (approved refugee claimant) and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this.
  • Applicants must have a SIN (Social Insurance Number)
  • Undergraduate students cannot apply. 
  • Professional artists pursuing graduate studies may not apply for work related to their program of study. A letter from the graduate program director specifying that the project is not related to the graduate student’s program of studies must be submitted with the application. 
  • Mentors may only be listed as a co-applicant on one Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship grant per year

TRANSLATED GUIDELINES

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 dates. 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 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.)

Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship 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 Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship 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.

Mentor Matching

Mentor matching and translation support is provided in partnership with Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network. Mentor matching request deadline: Friday, March 21, 2025. For translation, access and matching support please contact Liza Mattimore to learn more.

Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement

WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT?

The Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement program provides targeted funding to Toronto non-profit organizations and artist collectives engaging newcomers and refugees through the arts, supporting the integration and inclusion of newcomer communities to Toronto. We define a newcomer as: an immigrant or refugee who has lived in Canada for less than 7 years; a refugee is a person who was forced to leave their home country and is now located in Canada.  

The set grant amount is $20,000. This grant may cover up to 100% of project costs.

WHO CAN APPLY?

If you are a first-time applicant to the Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement program or if you have any questions about your project’s eligibility, please contact the Program Manager.

To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1

  • Be either an incorporated non-profit organization or an unincorporated collective operating on a not-for-profit basis. 
  • A collective is defined as two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project or on an ongoing basis. 
  • Organizations and collectives must be located in the City of Toronto. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet this requirement. Organizations with a regional Toronto office must have operated in the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the deadline.
  • For collectives of two artists, both must be City of Toronto residents. For collectives of more than two artists, the majority of members must be City of Toronto residents.
  • Artists must be professional. A professional artist is someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice; is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic tradition; actively practices her/his/their art; seeks payment for her/his/their work; and has a history of public presentation.
  • The activities for which the grant is requested must include the collaborative involvement of professional artists and newcomer and/or refugee community members. 
  • Applicants must have a strong track record of engagement with newcomer and/or refugee communities and demonstrate a viable administrative and financial plan for achieving the goals of the proposed activities.
  • The project for which the funding is requested must take place in the City of Toronto.

tHIS PROGRAM DOES NOT FUND:

  • Funding cannot be used to support an organization’s ongoing staff or faculty salaries. Where a portion of permanent staff or administrative resources are dedicated to the project, you may estimate the value of these resources and include a detailed breakdown in the budget as in-kind revenue.
  • Applicants may not receive funds from both this program and any other Toronto Arts Council program for the same activities and timelines.
  • Organizations receiving operating funding directly from the City of Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture Division are not eligible to apply to this program.
  • 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.
  • Educational and religious institutions, unless there is a clear separation at both the program and budget level between their regular activities (i.e. religious/congregation activities or educational/student body activities) and their arts activities;
  • Schools that are part of Ontario’s public or private education system;
  • Individual artists;
  • Costs related to equipment purchase, capital projects (e.g. building purchases, renovations, etc.), film/video production, archiving, publishing, awards and award ceremonies, art therapy, fundraising events/projects and deficit reduction are not covered by these grants. Costs related to activities occurring outside of the City of Toronto are also not covered (e.g. touring, travel, etc.);
  • Arts-based research initiatives or arts enrichment programs for students.

when can the project happen?


Project activities may not start before July 1. Projects must be a minimum of 3 months in duration. Projects must be completed within two years of the date of your Notification Letter. 

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 dates. 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 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.)

Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement 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 Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement  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.

Animating Historic Sites

WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT?

The Animating Historic Sites program provides funding to professional artists, arts organizations and collectives working in any artistic discipline (i.e.: theatre, dance, music, visual arts, media arts, community-engaged arts, Indigenous arts, Black arts, disability arts, arts education, literary arts, etc.) to pursue time-limited projects involving site-specific research, development, creation, production, presentation, and programming that responds to or interprets the selected site or museum. This grant may cover up to 100% of project costs, including artist fees, equipment rental, materials, and other project costs.

The maximum grant amount is $30,000.

Grant recipients will have the opportunity to conduct artistic research, investigate the site and its exhibits and archives, explore its surrounding landscape, historical and environmental context, engage with the local community, and create new site-responsive work in collaboration with the site or museum. The recipients will deliver free site-specific programming following research and development, which may vary in scope depending on the project. Programming may include activities such as: exhibitions, installations, performances, concerts, screenings, readings, workshops, presentations of work in progress, community-engaged arts activities, and other arts programming. Permanent exhibitions and installations are not eligible. All funded projects will be produced by the grant recipient and hosted and supported by the partnering site.

WHEN CAN THE PROJECT HAPPEN?

All projects must be completed in the 2026 calendar year, and, in exceptional circumstances, no later than within two years of the date on the Notification Letter. The project cannot begin before the results are announced.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Eligibility includes:1

This grants program is open to professional artists, not-for-profit arts organizations or artist collectives operating on a not-for-profit basis, and *not-for-profit organizations. (*not-for-profit organizations that are not arts-based may only apply to undertake projects that involve the artistic leadership of professional artists.)

professional artist is someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice; is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic field; actively practices their art; seeks payment for their work; and has a history of public presentation or exhibition.

Eligibility for Individuals:

  • Individuals must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents or have an application pending for Permanent Resident Status or be a Protected Person (approved refugee claimant). If requested, you must be able to provide documentation to verify this. Grant recipients must have a Social Insurance Number.
  • Individuals must have been a resident of the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the deadline, and live and work in Toronto for at least 8 months a year. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet the residency requirement.

Eligibility for Organizations and Collectives:

  • Organizations and collectives must be located in the City of Toronto. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet this requirement.
  • Organizations and collectives must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives which operate on a non-profit basis. A collective is defined as two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project (ad hoc) or on an ongoing basis. For collectives of two artists, both must be City of Toronto residents. For collectives of more than two artists, the majority of members must be City of Toronto residents.
  • Not-for-profit organizations that are not arts-based are eligible to apply to this grants program. Projects must include the collaborative involvement of professional artists with community members, as well as the payment of professional artist fees.

PARTICIPATING MUSEUMS & SITES

  • Evergreen Brick Works
  • Toronto History Museums:
    • Gibson House
    • Montgomery’s Inn
    • Scarborough Museum
    • Spadina Museum
    • Todmorden Mills
  • The Village at Black Creek

Please review the site descriptions at the end of the program guidelines.


Site visits for Animating Historic Sites applicants

Toronto History Museums 

Gibson House: Thursday, June 12, 1–2pm; contact: i’manuel.brown@toronto.ca

Montgomery’s Inn: Open for tours Wednesday–Sunday, 11am – 5pm; contact: bryna.tallman@toronto.ca

Scarborough Museum: TBC

Spadina Museum: Tuesday, June 10, 1–2pm; contact: alexandra.kim@toronto.ca

Todmorden Mills: Thursday, June 12, 1–2 pm; contact: melissa.beynon@toronto.ca 

Evergreen Brick Works

When: June 17, 5:30-7:00 pm

Where: Meet outside Picnic Café (550

Bayview Avenue Toronto, ON M4W 3X8)

Contact: Alexis Nanibush-Pamajewong, ananibushpamajewong@evergreen.ca

The Village at Black Creek

Artist Open House: Saturday, June 21st @ 11.30am; contact: allison.white@trca.ca

information session

An information session about this program is taking place online on Thursday, May 29, 1–2:30pm.

Register at tac-ahs-info-session.eventbrite.ca/.

Additional Information

How do I apply?

Applicants are required to register and submit the application, including the required support material, on 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.)

Animating Historic Sites is a Strategic program.  

Applicants may receive a maximum of one Discipline 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 Animating Historic Sites 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.

Media Artists Program: Creation

what does this program support?

Toronto Arts Council’s Media Artists Program provides support to media artists who have a professional independent art practice for the creation/production of new work or the completion of works in progress. Funds are intended to cover direct costs of creation/production, and materials. Applicants may apply for production and/or post-production. 

Media Arts includes independent film, video, audio, digital, video and electronic games, virtual and augmented reality and new media artworks. New media refers to works that use multi-media, computers or communications or information technologies for creative expression, including installation and performance art works that integrate such technologies. 

The maximum amount available in this program is $15,000.  

This Program does not fund:

  • Projects that have been completed prior to the announcement of results. Toronto Arts Council does not fund retroactively. 
  • Projects with total budgets in excess of $350,000. 
  • Project funding solely for the purpose of travel or exhibition of work 
  • Capital purchases, such as tools, equipment, etc. 
  • Commissioned, instructional or promotional projects. 
  • Promotion and marketing expenses. 
  • Pilots for commercial or educational television.  
  • Music videos. 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must be professional artists and meet the following criteria: 

  • A professional artist is someone who has specialized training in the field (not necessarily in academic institutions), who is recognized as such by their peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition), who has a history of public presentation, publication and/or production and who is committed to devoting more time to their artistic activity if financially feasible.  
  • TAC recognizes that due to systemic barriers within the broader arts community (e.g. limited mainstream presentation opportunities for artists from equity-seeking communities) 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 
  • Applicants must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status or be a Protected Person (approved refugee claimant) and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this. 
  • Applicants must be residents of the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the application deadline. Temporary absences of up to 12 months may be considered, subject to written explanation and special permission; please contact the Program Manager. Neither a Post Office Box address nor a studio address can be used to meet the residency requirement. 
  • Undergraduate students cannot apply. 
  • Applicants must have spent a minimum of one year working on and developing an independent art practice after completing full-time studies. 
  • Professional artists pursuing graduate studies may not apply for work related to their program of study. A letter from the graduate program director specifying that the project is not related to the graduate student’s program of studies must be submitted with the application.  
  • Applicants must retain full copyright, financial and creative control. 
  • Applicants to TAC’s 2024 Visual Artists Program may not apply to TAC’s 2024 Media Artists Program. 
  • Individual artists may only receive one discipline-stream project grant and one strategic initiative grant per calendar year, and can only have one open application in each stream at a time. 
  • Collaborative proposals (involving a co-applicant) are eligible. For these proposals, one of the applicants must identify a principal applicant. Co-applicants are subject to the same eligibility criteria as single, individual applicant.  If the application is successful, the grant payment will be payable to the principal applicant, as listed in the application. Similarly, a T4A slip will be issued to the principal applicant.  
  • The only eligible applicant for a film or video project is the director. Producers may not apply as co-applicants. 
  • Applicants must have created at least one media artwork 

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 dates. 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.

Please download the full Program Guidelines for complete program details and application specifics. 

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.)

Media Artists Program: Creation is a Discipline program.  

Applicants may receive a maximum of one Discipline grant per calendar year. Applicants may not apply for more than one Discipline grant at a time. However, we offer other types of granting opportunities through our Strategic Category, and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please note: if you apply for a Media Artists Program: Creation 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.

Black Arts Projects

What does this program support?

The Black Arts Projects Program supports arts projects by Black artists, Black artist collectives (consisting of two or more Black artists), and  Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving non-profit organizations.2 For the purpose of this program, “Black”  refers to African descendant people across the diaspora including but not limited to African Canadian,  Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx, East African, West African, Southern and Central African, Afro-Arab, Afro Indigenous, etc. This funding program is intended to support the development, continuation, and  flourishing of Black arts communities.

TAC recognizes the need to respond to barriers that Black arts communities face due to anti-Black racism. The program is designed to increase access to, awareness of, and participation in Toronto Arts Council funding by Black artists, while amplifying the work of Black artists in the city and creating avenues for sustainable art practice.

This program is multidisciplinary and recognizes a diversity of art practice, including new and emerging art forms, culturally relevant art practices, and multi/ interdisciplinary arts projects. Applicants can apply for projects that engage one or multiple arts disciplines. Applicants may apply in one of two categories described below:

1. Creation & Development: Supports full creation, partial creation, or completion of work-in-progress of an arts-based project at any stage and in any arts discipline. Project activities may include artistic creation in one or more stages of a project, including an arts education project (i.e., workshop(s)). This may also include OR solely focus on the beginning stage of research and development. The research and development stage may include testing an idea, developing processes, building scope, building collaborative relationships, gathering and organizing information, accessing, archiving or documenting knowledge. Applicants must clearly state in what stage is their project and for what part(s) of the project they are seeking funding. 

  • Open to individual artists and artist collectives 
  • Maximum grant in this category is $10,000
  • Maximum grant in this category including a mentorship component is $15,000
  • Expenses can include:
    • Artistic, production and administrative fees and costs, including venue, publicity, marketing and outreach;
    • Fees paid to collaborators, mentors and creative resources;
    • Studio costs, materials and production elements that are essential to creation;
    • Rental of space or software to conduct research interviews; accessing support materials, i.e., archives;
    • Visiting sites of significance.

2. Presentation: supports exhibition, presentation, and dissemination of work by Black artists in any arts discipline

  • Open to individual artists, artist collectives and arts organizations (this component does not fund creation of works meant for presentation);
  • Activities may include a series or one-off exhibition, festival, or presentation in one or more arts disciplines and/ dissemination of existing work;
  • This component does not fund workshops and conferences;
  • Maximum grant in this category is $15,000;
  • Maximum grant in this category including a mentorship component is $20,000;
  • Expenses can include:
    • Artistic, presentation, exhibition and administrative fees and costs, including installation, rehearsal, venue, and production;
    • Dissemination costs including publicity, marketing and outreach;
    • Fees paid to collaborators and mentors.

TAC may fund up to 100% of the requested amount. If the requested amount is below the total project budget, applicants must indicate other revenue sources, which may include donated goods and services. 

Additional resources for project grant recipients include:

  • i. Mentorship – mentorship for project grant recipients interested in connecting with artists that can support them in building or acquiring skill sets to develop their art practice. A mentorship option will be available in each project grant category and applicants will be asked to indicate which mentor(s) they would like to work with and provide rationale for the mentorship.  An additional budget of up to $5000 is available as compensation for mentors and mentees.

Grant recipients will also receive information about additional supports such as Arts Career Development workshops and Black Futures Studios Co-Creation Lab as they become available:

  • ii. Arts Career Development – drop-in workshops focused on growing and establishing art practice. Project grant recipients may request and select sessions that are of benefit to them. 

All additional resources are optional. Arts career development workshops and Black Futures Studios co-creation lab may be accessed as needed. The mentorship component must be selected within the application. Please contact the Program Manager for more information about these supports.

When can the project happen?

  • The Project Start Date must be a minimum of 4 months after the submission date
  • All projects must be completed within two years of the date on the Notification Letter

Who can apply?

If you have any questions about your eligibility or the eligibility of your project, please contact the Program Manager

To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:3

  • Identify as a Black professional artist4 or artist collective, or be an incorporated not-for-profit arts organization that is Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving, including a majority of Black members on its Board of Directors and Board Executive.
  • The payment of artists’ fees is a requirement of all categories in this program.
  • You may not apply as an individual and an organization or collective for the same project at the same time. If you are one of the members of an applicant collective, you may also apply as an individual for an unrelated project in the same competition year.
  • The project for which the funding is requested must take place in the City of Toronto
  • Individuals must have been a resident of the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the deadline, and live and work in Toronto for at least 8 months a year
  • Applicants may receive only one grant per calendar year through the Black Arts Project program, and may not also have a pending application to the Black Arts Operating program. However, applicants may still apply for different projects to arts discipline programs as well as other strategic initiatives programs that TAC offers. In this case, the applicant may receive up to one project grant in each funding stream and three project grants [3] total per calendar year. 
  • Organizations and collectives must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives which operate on a non-profit basis. A collective is defined as two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project (ad hoc) or on an ongoing basis. For collectives of two artists, both must be City of Toronto residents and Black. For collectives of more than two artists, the majority of members must be City of Toronto residents and Black.

This Program does not fund:

  • Projects that have been completed prior to the announcement of results. Toronto Arts Council does not fund retroactively.
  • Non-Black artists, organizations and collectives;
  • Organizations and collectives that receive Operating funding from TAC;
  • Undergraduate students. 
  • Schools that are part of Ontario’s public or private education system;
  • Educational and religious institutions, unless there is a clear separation in both programming and budget between their regular activities and their arts activities;
  • This program is not intended to support ongoing operating costs, such as permanent staff salaries, general administration and ongoing activities of an organization or collective. 
  • Costs related to equipment purchase, capital projects , fundraising activities, deficit reduction, publishing and archiving projects, awards and award ceremonies, projects conceived for competitive purposes, art therapy;
  • Activities taking place outside of the City of Toronto.

Black Arts Program Development

Over the past year, TAC has been consulting with Black arts communities across Toronto to support the development of a community-driven funding program to support Black artists and Black arts organizations in Toronto. Over 300 Toronto-based artists and arts workers joined the conversation. Here is what came out of those conversations, which informed the development of this program:

Community Co-design

​Following the report ‘Black Arts Funding for a Black Arts Future’, TAC implemented recommendations from Black arts communities through a community co-design process, and increased the overall budget for the first year from $300,000 to $500,000. During the co-design process Black artists and arts workers shared their feedback about the program design, program guidelines, and application process. While the first consultation focused on community needs, this process focused on how the program would best address those needs through the program design.

We will be releasing a follow-up report soon outlining how community recommendations were implemented into the program through the co-design process. 

We want to thank all the Black artists and arts workers across the city who participated in the consultation and co-design process for their contributions to the development of this program.

Additional Information

How do I apply?

Applicants register and submit the application on TAC Grants OnlineApplications can be submitted on an ongoing basis, any time before 11:59 pm on the date specified in the Program Guidelines. 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. After 11:59 pm, your application can still be accessed in your Application History page in TAC Grants Online. To work on a new application after the date specified in the Program Guidelines, you can start a new draft from the Apply page after the program re-opens for the following granting year.

Please download the full Program Guidelines for complete program details and application specifics. 

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.

What is a rolling deadline?

We created rolling deadlines to offer flexibility to grant applicants. A rolling deadline means that applications are accepted on an ongoing basis with notification of results released approximately 3 to 4 months after the submission date. Program Guidelines include a specific date when applications for that year must be submitted. To work on a new application after the date specified in the Program Guidelines, you can start a new draft from the Apply page after the program re-opens for the following granting year.

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.)

Black Arts Projects is a Discipline program.  

Applicants may receive a maximum of one Discipline grant per calendar year. Applicants may not apply for more than one Discipline grant at a time. However, we offer other types of granting opportunities through our Strategic Category, and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please note: if you apply for a xxx 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.

Indigenous Arts Projects

What does this program support?

The Indigenous Arts Projects program is an annual multi-disciplinary project grant specifically for Indigenous artists, collectives and organizations. For the purpose of this program, “Indigenous” refers to people who self-define as a First Nations (Status or Non-status), Inuit, or Métis person of Canada. TAC recognizes Indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of what is now known as Toronto, which has great historical and cultural significance as a place for ceremony, gathering, trade, and exchange. This program is designed to increase participation in and access to Toronto Arts Council funding by Indigenous artists, while increasing the creation and presentation of high-quality Indigenous art in the City. The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council.

The program recognizes a diverse range of art practices. You may apply in one of four categories described below.  Grants awarded may be less than the full amount requested.   With the exception of the Project Development and Creation categories, TAC will not fund 100% of a project: applicants must indicate other revenue sources, which may include donated goods and services. 

1. Project Development: supports the development of an arts-based project in the beginning stage.  It is designed to support artists in: researching Indigenous ways of knowing, processes, seeking collaborative relationships, creating a body of research/support material, accessing knowledge/language keepers and archival and documentary materials to build on a component or the scope of a project. 

The maximum grant in this category is $3,000. TAC may fund 100% of a project in the Project Development category. 

Expenses can include: 

  • Mentor/Elder/Knowledge Keeper honoraria.
  • Costs towards networking or professional development events; visiting sites of significance. 
  • Rental of space or software to conduct interviews; accessing support materials, ie archives.

2. Creation: supports artistic creation in any artistic discipline, including research and development, film and media production, and commissions. If your project requires the work to be in done in stages, you may apply for funding for different stages of creation, but note that you can only receive one grant in a calendar year from this program.

The maximum grant in this category is $10,000. TAC may fund 100% of a project in the Creation category. 

Expenses can include:

  • Fees paid to collaborators, mentors and creative resources; 
  • Studio costs, materials and production elements that are essential to creation.

3. Exhibition, Presentation and Dissemination: supports the exhibition, presentation and dissemination of Indigenous artistic work in any artistic discipline.

The maximum grant in this category is $15,000.

Expenses can include:

  • Artistic, presentation, exhibition and administrative fees and costs, including installation, rehearsal, venue and production costs (not including film production). 
  • Dissemination costs including publicity, marketing and outreach.

4. Indigenous Arts Sector Development: supports projects that develop and advance the practice of Indigenous arts and Indigenous artists in Toronto. Projects can include:

  • Workshops and conferences;
  • Events designed to further develop or expand Indigenous arts practices;
  • The development of toolkits and resources to support Indigenous arts practices. 
    *Development projects must either benefit a group of Indigenous arts professionals or be an arts education project led by an Indigenous artist(s); individual professional development projects are not eligible. 

The maximum grant in this category is $15,000.

Eligible expenses include:

  • Artistic, production and administrative fees and costs, including venue, publicity, marketing and outreach.

This Program does not fund

  • Projects that have been completed prior to the announcement of results. Toronto Arts Council does not fund retroactively
  • Non-Indigenous artists, organizations and collectives
  • Organizations and collectives that receive Operating funding from TAC
  • Undergraduate students
  • Schools that are part of Ontario’s public or private education system
  • Educational and religious institutions, unless there is a clear separation in both programming and budget between their regular activities and their arts activities
  • This program is not intended to support ongoing operating costs, such as permanent staff salaries, general administration and ongoing activities of an organization or collective
  • Costs related to equipment purchase, capital projects (such as building purchase or renovation), fundraising activities, deficit reduction, publishing and archiving projects, awards and award ceremonies, projects conceived for competitive purposes, art therapy
  • Activities taking place outside of the City of Toronto (such as touring, travel, accommodations). Exception:  Indigenous led projects based in Toronto may provide programming outside the boundaries of Toronto that yields direct benefit for Indigenous artists and Indigenous communities in Toronto

When can the project happen?

  • The Project Start Date must be a minimum of 3 months after the submission date. 
  • All projects must be completed within two years of the date on the Notification Letter.

Who can apply?

If you are a first-time applicant, or if you have any questions about your eligibility or the eligibility of your project, please contact the grant Program Manager.

To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:3

  • Identify as an Indigenous (Status or Non-Status First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) professional artist, or incorporated or unincorporated not-for-profit organizations or collectives. The payment of artists’ fees is a requirement of all categories in this program.
  • TAC recognises that Indigenous Peoples may have experienced intergenerational grief and trauma due to Ancestral dispersal, disruption, incomplete or inaccurate records, or enfranchisement/loss of status. TAC does not make determinations about an applicant’s Indigeneity, rather, applicants are asked to describe their relationship to their community and culture, if known.
  • Artists must be professional. A professional artist is someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice; is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic tradition; actively practices her/his/their art; seeks payment for her/his/their work; and has a history of public presentation.
  • You may not apply as an individual and an organization or collective for the same project at the same time. If you are one of the members of an applicant collective, you may also apply as an individual for an unrelated project in the same competition year.
  • The project for which the funding is requested must take place in the City of Toronto. Exception:  Indigenous led projects based in Toronto may provide programming outside the boundaries of Toronto that yields direct benefit for Indigenous artists and Indigenous communities in Toronto.
  • Applicants may receive only one grant per calendar year through the Indigenous Arts program. However, applicants may still apply for different projects to arts discipline programs as well as other strategic initiatives programs that TAC offers. In this case, the applicant may receive up to one project grant in each funding stream and three project grants [3] total per calendar year. Please visit TAC’s website for other granting opportunities.

For Individuals:

  • Individuals must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status or be a Protected Person (approved refugee claimant) and, if requested, be able to provide documentation to verify this.
  • Individuals must have been a resident of the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the deadline, and live and work in Toronto for at least 8 months a year. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet the residency requirement. Note: Temporary absences of up to one year may be considered, subject to written explanation and special permission. Please contact TAC’s Indigenous Arts Program Manager. 
  • Professional artists who are pursuing a graduate degree may not apply for work related to their thesis. Note: A letter from the graduate program director confirming that the project is not related to the graduate student’s thesis may be required. Please contact TAC’s Indigenous Arts Program Manager. 

For Organizations and Collectives:

  • Organizations and collectives must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives which operate on a non-profit basis. A collective is defined as two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project (ad hoc) or on an ongoing basis. For collectives of two artists, both must be City of Toronto residents. For collectives of more than two artists, the majority of members must be City of Toronto residents and Indigenous.
  • Organizations must be artistically and financially led by an Indigenous person, as defined above or provide proof via letter from a board that is primarily Indigenous that the Organization is artistically and financially governed by the board and guided by membership; must have 51% majority of Indigenous members on its Board of Directors; and 51% majority of Indigenous members on the Board Executive.
  • Organizations and collectives must be located in the City of Toronto. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet this requirement. 

Additional Information

How do I apply?

Applicants register and submit the application on TAC Grants Online. Applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis, any time before 11:59 pm on the date specified in the Program Guidelines. 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. After 11:59 pm, your application can still be accessed in your Application History page in TAC Grants Online. To work on a new application after the date specified in the Program Guidelines, you can start a new draft from the Apply page after the program re-opens for the following granting year.

Please download the full Program Guidelines for complete program details and application specifics. 

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.)

Indigenous Arts Projects is a Discipline program.  

Applicants may receive a maximum of one Discipline grant per calendar year. Applicants may not apply for more than one Discipline grant at a time. However, TAC offers other types of granting opportunities through its Strategic Category, and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please note: if you apply for an Indigenous Arts Projects 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.

What is a rolling deadline?

We created rolling deadlines to offer flexibility to grant applicants. A rolling deadline means that applications are accepted on an ongoing basis with notification of results released approximately 3 to 4 months after the submission date. Program Guidelines include a specific date when applications for that year must be submitted. To work on a new application after the date specified in the Program Guidelines, you can start a new draft from the Apply page after the program re-opens for the following granting year.

Black Arts Annual Operating

What does this program support?

The Black Arts Program provides Annual Operating support to non-profit Toronto Black arts organizations (both incorporated and unincorporated). Organizations qualifying for funding will be Black-led, Blackfocused, and Black-serving; 5 with the requirement for a majority of the leadership (including but not limited to board members, founders, and staff) to identify as Black (Black-led), the primary goals of the organization to meaningfully support the Black community (Black-focused), as well as a significant portion of program activities prioritizing serving the Black community (Black-serving). Funding through this program supports both operations and programming. The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council. TAC recognizes the need to respond to barriers that Black arts communities face due to anti-Black racism. The program seeks to address these barriers by providing pathways to sustainable support to Toronto’s Black-led arts organizations serving Black artists. This program also seeks to encourage the development and sustainability of Black arts communities by increasing availability of dedicated resources and support provided to Black artists and communities through Black arts organizations.

For the purpose of this program, “Black” refers to African descendant people across the diaspora including but not limited to African Canadian, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx, East African, West African, Southern and Central African, Afro-Arab, Afro-Indigenous, etc.

ACTIVITY FUNDED

Professional, Black-led arts organization that supports the work of professional Black artists in a variety of arts disciplines. This can include:

  • multidisciplinary arts organizations that serve and support artist-members with a focus on Black artists-members
  • organizations whose primary purpose is to support the professional practice of Black artists

Please note: organizations are not required to exclusively support Black artists to be eligible, rather must have a consistent history of meaningful engagement of Black artists and a focus on Black artists in a significant component of their planned programming Operating costs covered by this funding could include staff retention, research and development, communications and donor relations, facility management, etc.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for this Annual Operating funding, an applicant must:6

  • be a non-profit professional arts organization;
  • be Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving
  • have professional artistic leadership and pay appropriate professional fees to artists;
  • be located in the City of Toronto and have a significant portion of its activities occurring within the City;
  • have a recent history of sustained arts activity of at least two years;
  • have a viable administrative structure;
  • demonstrate a range of revenue sources on an annual basis, which may include earned, government and private sector revenues;
  • provide audited financial statements or internally prepared statements including a balance sheet, statement of income and expenses (if audited financial statements or review engagement is unavailable) 
  • be governed by a majority Black-led Board of Directors or other body responsible for the organization. 

Please consult with the Program Manager to discuss your organization’s eligibility.

Schools, tuition-funded training programs and curriculum-based programs are not eligible to apply to this program. Organizations must conduct their activities on an annual, ongoing basis either throughout the year or on a seasonal basis.

Organizations whose level of activity varies from season to season, in keeping with their mandate, must describe their production cycle. 

Black Arts Program Development

TAC consulted with Black arts communities across Toronto to support the development of a community-driven funding program to support Black artists and Black arts organizations in Toronto. Over 300 Toronto-based artists and arts workers joined the conversation. Here is what came out of those conversations, which informed the development of this program:

Community Co-Design

​Following the report ‘Black Arts Funding for a Black Arts Future,’ TAC implemented recommendations from Black arts communities through a community co-design process, and increased the overall budget for the first year from $300,000 to $500,000. During the co-design process Black artists and arts workers shared their feedback about the program design, program guidelines, and application process. While the first consultation focused on community needs, this process focused on how the program would best address those needs through the program design.

We will be releasing a follow-up report soon outlining how community recommendations were implemented into the program through the co-design process. 

We want to thank all the Black artists and arts workers across the city who participated in the consultation and co-design process for their contributions to the development of this program.

Additional Information

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.)

Black Arts Annual Operating is a Discipline program.  

Applicants may receive a maximum of one Discipline grant per calendar year. Applicants may not apply for more than one Discipline grant at a time. However, we offer other types of granting opportunities through our Strategic Category, and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please note: if you apply for a Black Arts Annual Operating 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.