Music Creation and Audio Recording What does this program support? Toronto Arts Council’s Music Creation & Audio Recording program offers grants to practicing professional artists to assist them in the writing and production of their original music. This program will support new work in any/all genres of music. Music Videos, Professional Development and Touring/Travel expenses, and expenses incurred outside the City of Toronto are not eligible for funding. You may apply in one of the three following categories. Artists may only apply to one category per year. Categories may not be combined. Creation (maximum grant $10,000) For artists looking for funding to support the writing/composition phase of new work. Grants awarded in this category can assist with creating and composing original music, and other project costs (e.g., the cost of copying and preparing performing parts, etc.). Recording costs are eligible only if they are directly related to the writing process. Recording – Demo/EP (maximum grant $8,000) paying yourself (and additional contributors, as applicable) artist fees For artists looking for support to create a short-form recording in a home-based or professional facility, provided that it is not your own. A short-form recording is any recording that is considered substantially shorter in length compared to the standard in your artistic community, and is often for the purpose of demonstrating newly developed work for others in the music community (labels, funders, presenters, promoters and/or festivals) or for limited/online release direct to your audience. Grants for Demo/EP recordings can assist with artistic costs, production costs, mixing, editing, and mastering by professionals. You may pay yourself (and additional contributors, as applicable) artist fees to complete the project. You cannot expense studio fees if you are using your own studio. Packaging, design, and manufacturing costs (maximum 500 units) are eligible, only if the work is completed in professional facilities. You may also include web design and online media management costs to a maximum $500 if they are associated with the proposed recording project. Projects seeking funding solely for manufacturing, online media management, and web design costs are not eligible for funding. Grants awarded in this category do not fund costs associated with the writing/composition of new work. Recording – Full-Length (maximum grant $15,000) For artists looking to undertake the production of a full-length audio recording in one or more professional facilities that regularly charge a fee to a variety of artists to record and produce work. The applicant must be the originator/composer of the majority of the material for the recording. Grants for full-length audio recording can assist with producer costs and artist costs (yourself and additional contributors). This category also supports costs associated with recording, mixing, editing, mastering, packaging, design, and manufacturing costs (maximum 1,000 units), provided the work is completed in professional facilities. You may also include web design and online media management costs to a maximum $1000 if they are associated with the proposed recording project. Projects seeking funding solely for manufacturing, online media management, and web design costs are not eligible for funding. A small portion of the work may be completed in home-based facilities, but these costs are not eligible for support in this category. Grants awarded in this category do not fund costs associated with the writing/composition of new work. who can apply? To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1 Toronto Arts Council 2026 Media Artists Program Guidelines You must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status and, if requested, be able to provide verification documentation. (Grant recipients must have a Social Insurance Number.) You must be a current resident of the City of Toronto who has lived in the City for at least one year prior to making this application. Note: A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet the residency requirement. You must be a professional artist who has maintained an independent practice for at least one year. TAC defines a professional artist as 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. Undergraduate students are not eligible to apply. Professional artists who are pursuing graduate studies may not apply for work related to their degree. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older. 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. Can my band/ensemble apply? Currently, this program accepts applications only from individual artists. If you are interested in applying as a band/ensemble, it is suggested that one member (preferably lead) submit an application on behalf of the group. Please note, if a grant is awarded, a direct deposit and T4A slip will be issued to the primary applicant. 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 inbox. 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 Accessibility Grant that 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. Starting in 2026, the TAC Accessibility Grant will allow grant recipients to apply for an Accessibility Grant at any time during their project. The Accessibility Grant will be available to grant recipients as a separate application in 2026. 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.) Music Creation and Audio Recording 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 Music Creation and Audio Recording 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
Music Projects What does this program support? The Music Projects program provides funding to professional, non-profit music organizations and collectives to pursue one-time or time-limited music projects involving production, presentation, dissemination and/or other activities that contribute to the development of music in Toronto. The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council. The Music Program is strongly committed to the development and performance of works by Canadian artists. The maximum grant available in this program is $15,000. The TAC Music Projects program will fund up to 50% of the project budget. Applicants may receive less than the full amount requested. The budget must indicate a range of revenue sources, which may include donated goods and services. Expenses can include: artist fees, production and technical fees, marketing and outreach costs, administrative costs, childcare costs, etc. This program requires the payment of artist fees at or above industry standards. Due to potential public health restrictions, social distancing rules and venue closures, works taking place on digital platforms are eligible. This program does not fund: Projects that have been started or completed prior to the announcement of results. Toronto Arts Council does not fund retroactively Organizations/collectives that receive Toronto Arts Council operating support Ongoing operating costs, such as permanent staff salaries and general administration of an organization. This program is not intended to support an organization or collective’s ongoing activities. For information about Annual Operating funding, please contact TAC’s Music Program Manager Educational and religious institutions, unless there is a clear demarcation at both the program and budget level between their regular activities and their arts activities Schools that are part of Ontario’s public or private education system 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 the creation of a film or for competitive purposes, art therapy Individuals; the creation, composition or recording of individual music works Activities taking place outside of the City of Toronto (such as touring, travel, accommodations) Music Videos and projects conceived for the creation of a film or digital works led by media artists Professional Development and/education When can the project happen? Applications submitted to the February deadline should be for projects taking place after June 1 and applications submitted to the August deadline should be for projects taking place after November 1. If you wish to apply to an earlier deadline, in order to give you extra planning time for your project, please note that all projects must be completed within two years of the date on the Notification Letter. TAC does not fund retroactively. Projects that have commenced prior to the assessment will not be considered. Who can apply? If you are a first-time applicant or have questions related to your project’s eligibility, please contact the Music Program Manager. To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1 Applicants must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives operating on a not-for-profit basis. A collective is defined as two or more artists, curators or programmers working together under a group name, either on a single project 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 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. The activity for which the funding is requested must occur within the City of Toronto. 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. Community Music-based organizations/collectives must be led by professional artistic leadership. Applicants may receive only one grant per calendar year through the Music program and may not apply to other TAC discipline programs. Grant recipients must submit a final report on their previous Music project before submitting a new application to the program. However, TAC offers other types of granting opportunities through its Strategic Initiatives and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please consult TAC’s website for other granting opportunities. 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 Accessibility Grant that 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. Starting in 2026, the TAC Accessibility Grant will allow grant recipients to apply for an Accessibility Grant at any time during their project. The Accessibility Grant will be available to grant recipients as a separate application in 2026. 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.) Music 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 Music 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. About our grants
Community Music Making What does this program support? Toronto Arts Council’s Community Music Making program recognizes the role that non-professional music organizations play in creating a dynamic and culturally engaged City. This program provides funding to support the Toronto-based annual programming of non-profit community choirs, opera, orchestras, and ensembles that are committed to building community through music making processes such as creation, workshops, concert production, and other related activities. The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council. The Music Program seeks to support a diverse range of musical forms with a high priority given to applicants that demonstrate a commitment to the performance of works by Canadian composers. First-time applicants must speak to the Program Manager prior to submitting an application: applications are accepted by invitation. Who can apply? To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1 be non-profit; be governed by a Board of Directors or other body responsible for the organization; be located in the City of Toronto and have a significant portion of its activities occurring within the City; have an annual operating budget of less than $150,000; conduct music activities on an annual, ongoing basis either throughout the year or on a seasonal basis; have previously received a minimum three project grants through TAC’s music program; produce a minimum of two self-presented concerts with different repertoire in each season (self-presented means that the organization takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling); pay artist fees to professional artistic leadership; submit verification of financial results of the last completed fiscal year: for requests of $30,000 or less, if annual operating revenues are $100,000 or more, a review engagement is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements); for requests of $30,000 or less, if annual operating revenues are under $100,000, unaudited financial statements that include a balance sheet and a statement of income and expenses is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements or a review engagement); actively engage community members, and contribute to building community through music making processes beyond concert presentation (e.g., rehearsals, workshops, masterclasses, retreats, etc). The following are not eligible to apply to this program: Professional Organizations that receive funding through any TAC discipline program; Community music organizations with budgets greater than $150,000; Community music schools, presenters/producers and/or festivals. Organizations may receive only one grant per calendar year through the Music program and may not apply to other TAC discipline programs. However, TAC offers other types of granting opportunities through its Strategic Initiatives envelope, and organizations receiving funding through the Community Music Making program may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please consult TAC’s website for other granting opportunities. Applicants to the Community Music Making program may receive a maximum of one additional grant per calendar year and must submit a final report on that project before applying to another program in the Strategic Initiatives envelope. First-Time Applicants First time applicants must speak to the Program Manager prior to submitting an application: applications are accepted by invitation. Additional Information How do I apply? Applicants are required to register at TAC Grants Online and submit the Community Music Making application and all required support material using this online grants management system. Applications must be submitted on TAC Grants Online no later than 11:59 pm on the deadline day. 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 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.) Community Music making 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 Community Music Making 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
Music Multi-Year Operating What does this program support? The Music Program provides Multi-Year Operating support to professional, non-profit music organizations engaged in the creation, production and presentation of music, and other activities that contribute to the development of music, music artists, and music audiences in Toronto. The program aims to encourage long-term vision and planning and to provide stability for music organizations. 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. In 2026, this program is open to Orchestras, Ensembles, Presenters/Producers & Festivals. The Music Program supports a diverse range of musical forms with a high priority given to organizations that demonstrate a consistent commitment to the development and performance of original works by Canadian composers. Who can apply? To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1 be non-profit. be located in the City of Toronto and have a significant portion of its activities occurring within the City. have been in operation for at least four years. have received Annual Operating funding through TAC’s Music program for at least the two past years. have a demonstrated record of regular, ongoing programming. have professional artistic leadership. have a viable administrative structure. be governed by a Board of Directors or other body responsible for the organization. have stable artistic, organizational and board leadership with plans in place for any transition. have sound financial management and balanced budgets over time. submit verification of financial results of the last completed fiscal year: or requests over $50,000, audited financial statements are required; for requests of $50,000 or less, a review engagement is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements); for requests of $25,000 or less, if annual operating revenues are under $100,000, unaudited financial statements that include a balance sheet and a statement of income and expenses is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements or a review engagement). receive significant support on an annual basis from other levels of government and/or the public and/or the private sector. Program-Specific Eligibility Requirements In addition to the General Eligibility Requirements listed above, in order to apply for Multi-Year Operating support: Choral Organizations must: produce a minimum of three self-presented concerts with different repertoire in each season (self-presented means that the choral organization takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling). Opera organizations must: produce a minimum of two operas per season, for companies mandated to present standard repertoire, or undertake workshops, for companies dedicated to new work development. Orchestras, Bands, Ensembles must: have a minimum of three self-presented concerts in each season (self-presented means that the orchestra takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling). Presenter/Producers & Festivals must: present professional, curated music programming that reflects a defined artistic mandate. series presenters must demonstrate a track record of self-presented, ongoing performances (self-presented means the organization takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling). First-time Applicants First-time applicants to the Multi-Year Operating program (i.e. organizations that did not receive multi-year funding last year) must speak to Music Operating Program Manager Rudrapriya Rathore prior to completing an application form to confirm that they are eligible to apply. Program Guidelines 2026 Music Multi-Year Operating Guidelines 2026 Music Multi-Year Mid-Cycle Report Guidelines Additional Information 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.) Music Multi-Year 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 Music Multi-Year 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. about our grants Mid-Cycle Report Those receiving Music Multi-Year Operating funding must submit a Mid-Cycle Report. In 2026, Music Service Organizations and Choirs and Opera Organizations must submit a Mid-Cycle Report. Deadline: April 1, 2026
Music Annual Operating What does this program support? The Music Program provides Annual Operating support to professional, non-profit music organizations engaged in the creation, production and presentation of music, and other activities that contribute to the development of music, music artists, and music audiences in Toronto. 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. The Music Program supports a diverse range of musical forms with a high priority given to organizations that demonstrate a consistent commitment to the development and performance of original works by Canadian composers. Who can apply? To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1 be non-profit; have professional artistic leadership;2 be located in the City of Toronto and have a significant portion of its activities occurring within the City; have a history of sustained music activity over the two years prior to this application, with a demonstrated record of regular, ongoing programming; have received a minimum of two project grants through TAC’s Arts Discipline or Strategic programs; have a viable administrative structure; have sound financial management; submit verification of financial results of the last completed fiscal year: for requests over $50,000, audited financial statements are required; for requests of $50,000 or less, a review engagement is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements); for requests of $25,000 or less, if annual operating revenues are under $100,000, unaudited financial statements that include a balance sheet and a statement of income and expenses is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements or a review engagement); demonstrate a range of revenue sources on an annual basis, including earned, government and private sector revenues. be governed by a Board of Directors or other body responsible for the organization. Organizations must conduct their music activities on an annual, ongoing basis either throughout the year or on a seasonal basis. A single project does not constitute annual or seasonal activity. Organizations, whose level of activity varies from season to season, in keeping with their mandate, must describe their multi-year creation and production cycle. Annual and biennial festivals that have completed a minimum of two editions are also eligible. Program-Specific Eligibility Requirements In addition to the General Eligibility Requirements listed above, in order to apply for annual operating support, Choral Organizations must: produce a minimum of three self-presented concerts with different repertoire in each season (self-presented means that the choral organization takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling). Opera/Music Theatre organizations must: produce a minimum of two operas per season, for companies mandated to present standard repertoire, or undertake workshops, for companies dedicated to new work development. Orchestras, Bands, Ensembles must: have a minimum of three self-presented concerts in each season (self-presented means that the orchestra takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling). Presenter/Producers & Festivals must: present professional, curated music programming that reflects a defined artistic mandate. Series presenters must demonstrate a track record of self-presented, ongoing performances (self-presented means the organization takes responsibility for planning, production and ticket selling). First-time Applicants First-time applicants are organizations that did not receive an operating grant last year. First-time applicants must consult with the Music Program Manager before submitting an operating grant application. Additional eligibility requirement. First-time applicants must have minimum total revenues of at least $100,000 for the last completed year, and projected revenues for the current and request years. First-time applicants to the Annual Operating program may only apply in the first year of a multi-year cycle. The next year first-time applicants may apply is: Orchestras, Ensembles, Presenters/Producers & Festivals: 2026 Service Organizations: 2027 Choirs and opera organizations: 2028 Additional Information Applicant 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.) Music 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 Music 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. about our grants
Writers Program WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT? Toronto Arts Council’s Writers Program supports the creation of new literary works or works-in-progress in the genres of fiction (including novels, short stories, children’s literature, graphic novels, etc.), literary non-fiction, poetry and oral traditions such as storytelling, dub, rap and spoken-word. The program provides two levels of support for writers. The following fixed amounts are available: LEVEL ONE: $5,000 – for writers in the early stages of their career. LEVEL TWO: $10,000 – for writers with an established writing career. Looking for more details about this grant? Watch a recently recorded information session here. THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT FUND: Projects that have been completed prior to the announcement of results. Toronto Arts Council does not fund retroactively. Project funding solely for the purpose of publishing, including the cost of printing. Ineligible projects include, but are not limited to: film, video or television scripts; anthologies or collections that include a number of writers’ works; children’s activity books; directories; index compilations or bibliographies of minimal critical content; travel or food guides; instruction or self-help books or manuals; cookbooks; catalogues of exhibitions; commissioned works, including industrial or business histories or biographies; academic textbooks or books designed primarily for an educational/scholarly market; professional reference books aimed at a specialized audience; calendars, daybooks, agendas or almanacs; promotion or book launches; translation; tuition fees. WHO CAN APPLY? All applicants to this program must be published by a professional publisher. Only publishers that have an independent editorial selection process are considered professional. Self-publishing and writing in newsletters or non-literary student magazines do not qualify as professional publishing. Books released by hybrid presses that offer paid self-publishing services do not qualify as professional publishing. Level One – Applicants must have a minimum of one (1) professionally published work in any literary genre to their credit (i.e. an article, poem or short story). Those with one or more professionally published books in the genre of their proposed project must apply in the Level Two category. Artists applying in oral traditions must have a history of public performance. Level Two – Applicants must have a minimum of one of the following in the genre of their proposed project: 1 professionally published book, or a signed book contract with a professional publisher; 20 pages of published poems; • 60 pages (15,000 words) of short stories, articles or non-fiction published in literary magazines, periodicals or anthologies; • Artists applying in oral traditions must have a substantial history of public performance and be recognized as established artists by their peers. 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 be 18 years of age or older. Professional artists pursuing graduate studies may not apply for work related to their program of study. Writing projects in languages other than English or French are accepted if the writing sample is accompanied by an accurate English translation. Applicants may submit an application to either the Playwrights or the Writers Program, but not to both. Applicants may receive a grant through TAC’s Playwrights or Writers Program only once every two years. Those who received a grant in 2025 are not eligible in 2026 but may reapply in 2027. 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. Please note: if you apply for a Writers grant you cannot also apply to another TAC program for the same project. Applicants may apply for funding for only one project per deadline. Reports on previous projects in the Writers or Playwrights programs must be submitted to TAC before you are eligible to apply for another grant in these programs. Projects cannot be funded more than once in this program. Writers who receive a grant may not reapply to continue or finish the same project. 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. Grant Resources To find out about future information sessions, follow us on Eventbrite. Follow us on Eventbrite Additional Information How do I apply? Applicants are required to register and submit the Writers application, including support material, on TAC Grants Online. Applications must be submitted on Toronto Arts Council Grants Online 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. The Writers Program assessment process is blind, meaning peer assessors are not given access to applicant names and resumes. Peer assessors access the other application sections directly through the online system; therefore, applicants must not identify themselves within the project description or support materials. Failure to comply may result in disqualification. TAC Accessibility Grant Projects involving Deaf artists and artists with disabilities may apply for an additional TAC Accessibility Grant that 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. Starting in 2026, the TAC Accessibility Grant will allow grant recipients to apply for an Accessibility Grant at any time during their project. The Accessibility Grant will be available to grant recipients as a separate application in 2026. 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.) The Writers Program 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 Writers Program 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
Literary Annual Operating What does this program support? The Literary Program provides Annual Operating support to professional non-profit literary organizations (both incorporated and unincorporated) engaged in the presentation, dissemination and/or other activities that contribute to the development of the literary arts, literary artists and literary audiences in Toronto. 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. Who can apply? To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1 be non-profit; be a professional Literary organization; be located in the City of Toronto and have a significant portion of its activities occurring within the City; have a history of sustained literary activity over the two years prior to this application; have received a minimum of two project grants through TAC’s Arts Discipline or Strategic programs; have a viable administrative structure; have sound financial management; submit verification of financial results of the last completed fiscal year: for requests over $50,000, audited financial statements are required; for requests of $50,000 or less, a review engagement is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements); for requests of $25,000 or less, if annual operating revenues are under $100,000, unaudited financial statements that include a balance sheet and a statement of income and expenses is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements or a review engagement); demonstrate a range of revenue sources on an annual basis, including earned, government and private sector revenues; be governed by a Board of Directors or other body responsible for the organization. Organizations must conduct their literary activities on an annual, ongoing basis either throughout the year or on a seasonal basis. A single project does not constitute annual or seasonal activity. Organizations, whose level of activity varies from season to season, in keeping with their mandate, must describe their multi-year creation and production cycle. Annual and biennial festivals that have completed a minimum of two editions are also eligible. This program does not fund publishing. First-time Applicants First-time applicants are organizations that did not receive an operating grant last year. First-time applicants must consult with the Literary program manager before submitting an operating grant application. Additional eligibility requirement. First-time applicants must have at least $75,000 in total revenues for the last completed year, and in projected revenues for the current and request years. Additional Information 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.) Literary 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 Literary 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. about our grants
Literary Projects What does this program support? Through its Literary Projects Program, Toronto Arts Council (TAC) provides funding to professional, non-profit, Toronto literary organizations and collectives to pursue one-time or time-limited literary projects involving production, presentation, magazine publishing and other activities that contribute to the development of the literary arts in Toronto. The City of Toronto supports this program through a funding allocation approved annually by Toronto City Council. You may apply in one of two categories described below. The maximum grant available in all categories of this program is $8,000. TAC will not fund 100% of the project budget. Applicants must indicate a range of revenue sources, which may include donated goods and services. Applicants may receive less than the full amount requested. Production, Presentation and Professional Development: supports the costs associated with producing and presenting performances and professional development activities for literary artists and audiences. Activities must feature professional literary artists and include the payment of artist fees. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to: Literary festivals; Conferences or symposia for literary professionals and their audiences; Workshops; Writer-in-Residence programs, Series or performance events that incorporate any or all of the following: readings, storytelling, dub poetry, spoken word, etc. Expenses can include artistic fees, production and technical costs, marketing and publicity costs, event documentation expenses, administrative costs, etc. Due to potential public health restrictions, social distancing rules and venue closures, works conceived for digital platforms are eligible. Magazine Publishing: supports editorial, production, distribution, and promotion costs of independent, non-profit literary or arts magazines in English or French. Magazines must feature a majority of Canadian writers and can be published in print or digital formats. Expenses must include contributors fees.Examples of eligible publishing projects include, but are not limited to: Arts magazines publishing original criticism, including about other artistic disciplines (dance, music, theatre, visual/media arts). Literary magazines publishing original works of fiction, poetry, non-fiction, or hybrid genres (including comics and graphic works); Looking for more details about this grant? Register for our upcoming information session on Feb 25, 2026, here. This Program does not fund: Projects that have been started or completed prior to the announcement of results. Toronto Arts Council does not fund retroactively. Organizations or collectives that receive Operating funding from TAC; 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; Individuals; Ongoing operating costs, such as permanent staff salaries and general administration of an organization. This program is not intended to support an organization or collective’s ongoing activities. For information about Annual Operating funding, please contact the Literary Program Manager. Costs related to equipment purchase, capital projects (such as building purchase or renovation), fundraising activities, deficit reduction, archiving projects, awards and award ceremonies, projects conceived for the creation of a film or for competitive purposes, art therapy; Activities taking place outside of the City of Toronto (such as touring, travel, accommodations); Book publishing; Lifestyle magazines; scholarly magazines or journals; magazines primarily published for the purposes of political reportage or for promoting commercial enterprises, religion or spirituality; or magazines primarily run by students or affiliated with a university or college. When can the project happen? Applications submitted to the March deadline should be for projects taking place after June 1 and applications submitted to the August deadline should be for projects taking place after November 1; 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 the eligibility of your project,please contact the Literary Arts Program Manager. To apply to Literary Projects applicants must 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. Literary and arts magazines must be either incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives operating on a non-profit basis, have been publishing for a minimum of 6 months prior to the application deadline, and must already be paying contributors. 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. The payment of artist fees is a requirement in this program. The project for which the funding is requested must take place in the City of Toronto. Applicants may receive only one grant per calendar year through the Literary program and may not apply to other TAC discipline programs. However, TAC offers other types of granting opportunities through its Strategic Initiatives envelope, and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please note: if you apply for a Literary project grant you cannot also apply to another TAC program for the same project. Please consult TAC’s website for other granting opportunities. Grant Resources To find out about future information sessions, follow us on Eventbrite. Follow us On Eventbrite 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 Accessibility Grant that 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. Starting in 2026, the TAC Accessibility Grant will allow grant recipients to apply for an Accessibility Grant at any time during their project. The Accessibility Grant will be available to grant recipients as a separate application in 2026. 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.) Literary 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 Literary 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. about our grants
Dance Annual Operating What does this program support? The Dance Program provides Annual Operating support to professional non-profit dance organizations (both incorporated and unincorporated) engaged in the creation, production, presentation and preservation of dance, and other activities that contribute to the development of dance, dance artists, and dance audiences in Toronto. 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. Who can apply? To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1 be non-profit; be a professional1 dance organization; be located in the City of Toronto and have a significant portion of its activities occurring within the City; have a history of sustained dance activity over the two years prior to this application; have received a minimum of two project grants through TAC’s Arts Discipline or Strategic programs; have professional artistic leadership; have a viable administrative structure; be governed by a Board of Directors or other body responsible for the organization; have sound financial management; submit verification of financial results of the last completed fiscal year: for requests over $50,000, audited financial statements are required; for requests of $50,000 or less, a review engagement is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements); for requests of $25,000 or less, if annual operating revenues are under $100,000, unaudited financial statements that include a balance sheet and a statement of income and expenses is required, (or, if available, audited financial statements or a review engagement); demonstrate a range of revenue sources on an annual basis, including earned, government and private sector revenues. Organizations must conduct their dance activities on an annual, ongoing basis either throughout the year or on a seasonal basis. A single project does not constitute annual or seasonal activity. Organizations, whose level of activity varies from season to season in keeping with their mandate, must describe their multi-year creation and production cycle. Annual and biennial festivals that have completed a minimum of two editions are also eligible. First-time Applicants First-time applicants are organizations that did not receive an operating grant last year. First-time applicants must consult with the Dance Program Manager before submitting an operating grant application. Additional eligibility requirement. First-time applicants must have at least $65,000 in total revenues for the last completed year, and in projected revenues for the current and request years. First-time applicants to the Annual Operating program may only apply in the first year of a multi-year cycle. The next year first time applicants may apply to this program is 2028. Additional information 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.) Dance 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 Dance 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. about our grants
Creative Communities Multi-Year Operating What does this program support? The Creative Communities Program provides Multi-Year Operating support to professional non-profit Toronto arts organizations engaged on an ongoing basis in work that enables public participation in arts and culture. 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. Art practiced at a community level creates a powerful sense of inclusion, understanding, and the possibility of self-expression among participants. It can involve one or more art practices, such as music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and storytelling. The collaborative involvement of professional artists with community members is a necessary component. Grants awarded may be less than the full amount requested. These grants contribute to the artistic and administrative costs associated with an organization’s ongoing theatre activities. TAC does not provide funding for capital projects (e.g. equipment, renovations, purchase of buildings), fundraising events/projects or deficit reduction. Who can apply? ONLY organizations/collectives that have been already receiving a Multi-Year operating grant and are in the second or third year of their multi-year cycle may apply to this program. The first year of the multi-year cycle for Creative Communities Operating program is 2024. First time applicants may only apply to the Annual Operating program in the first year of a multi-year cycle. Additional information 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. 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 Communities Multi-Year 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 Creative Communities Multi-Year 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. about our grants