TAC Accessibility Grant How It Works The TAC Accessibility Grant is offered to most grant1 applicants. Projects involving Deaf artists and artists with disabilities may apply for the TAC Accessibility Grant by completing the Accessibility Expenses section of the application and including the requisite information in their budget. Applicants may not apply for the TAC Accessibility Grant on its own. The TAC Accessibility Grant is an additional grant that applicants can apply to while they are applying to another TAC grant. The funding available through this grant is always in addition to the funding provided through other TAC grant programs. What Does this Grant Support? The 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 equipment rentals or other supports required to meet artists’ accessibility needs Additional Information How do I apply? The TAC Accessibility Grant is only available through TAC Grants Online, within other TAC grant application forms. Applicants must complete the Accessibility Expenses section of the application and include the requisite information in their budget to apply for this funding. For all TAC grant programs, 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.
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 ofsolving 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 theirprojects 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:2 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 publicpresentation. 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. about our grants Frequently Asked Questions for this program download the faqs
Open Door WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT? The Open Door granting program supports projects that demonstrate innovation, experimentation, risk-taking, partnership, the sharing of knowledge and leadership. Open Door provides catalyst funding for ideas with the potential to create transformative change in the arts sector. This program does not fund: Individuals activities included in TAC operating grants activities included in TAC project grants capital projects or expenses, renovations, or repairs research, feasibility studies or training programs projects previously funded through Open Door print or online publishing this program does not support schools, tuition-funded training programs, curriculum-based programs, or research projects. Projects with a school as the venue cannot take place during school hours organizations receiving operating funding directly from the City of Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture Division or from another City of Toronto Division WHEN CAN THE PROJECT HAPPEN? All projects must be completed within two years of the date on the notification letter. Project activities may not start until 3 months after the application deadline. WHO CAN APPLY? Applicants are encouraged to speak to the Strategic Programs Manager, before applying. Please contact the Program Manager to discuss your proposal. To be eligible for this funding, an applicant must:1 be located in the City of Toronto. A post office box cannot be used to meet the residency requirement. be either an incorporated non-profit arts organization or an artist collective operating on a not-for-profit basis. Applicants must have a viable administrative and financial plan for the proposed activities. Applicants may receive a grant through the Open Door program only once every two years. Additional Information How do I apply? Applicants register and submit the application through TAC Grants Online. Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm on the deadline date. TAC does not accept applications by any other means of delivery. You will receive a confirmation email when your application is submitted. Check your spam/junk mail folder if it doesn’t arrive in your in-box. TAC Accessibility Grant Projects involving Deaf artists and artists with disabilities may apply for an additional TAC grant by completing the Accessibility Expenses section of the application and including the requisite information in their budget. A TAC Accessibility grant will provide up to a maximum of $5,000 towards accessibility costs for artists incurred during the project. Accessibility costs include but are not limited to: ASL interpretation, audio description, closed captioning, communications assistants, attendant care (including helpers for Elders), support workers and equipment rentals or other supports required to meet artists’ accessibility needs. Application Accessibility Support Applicants who are Deaf or have a disability and need support to complete their grant applications can apply for funds to cover the costs of assistance from Application Support Service Providers. Up to $500 is available per eligible applicant in each calendar year. Please contact your Grant Program Manager at least six weeks before the grant program deadline to determine eligibility, request application support funding, and to review the process for payment to be made to your Service Provider. Requests for application support require approval from the Grant Program Manager. Additional information here. Can I apply to other TAC grants? Toronto Arts Council has two Grant Categories:1. Discipline (e.g.: discipline-specific project grants and operating grants in Theatre, Dance, Music, etc.)2. Strategic (e.g.: Animating Toronto Parks, Artists in the Library, Animating Historic Sites, Artreach, Open Door, etc.) Open Door is a Strategic program. Applicants may receive a maximum of one Strategic grant per calendar year. Applicants may not apply for more than one Strategic grant at a time. However, we offer other types of granting opportunities through our Discipline Category, and you may be eligible to apply to one of these programs. Please note: if you apply for a Open Door grant you cannot also apply to another TAC program for the same project. For more detail on our granting categories, go to our About Our Grants page. about our grants
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 Program Guidelines in Arabic (العربية) Open PDF Program Guidelines in Bengali (বাংলা) Open PDF Program Guidelines in Simplified Chinese (简体中文) Open PDF Program Guidelines in Traditional Chinese (繁體中文) Open PDF Program Guidelines in Farsi (فارسی) Open PDF Program Guidelines in Korean (한국어) Open PDF Program Guidelines in Spanish (español) Open PDF Program Guidelines in Tagalog Open PDF Program Guidelines in Tamil (தமிழ்) Open PDF Program Guidelines in Turksih (Türkçe) Open PDF Program Guidelines in Ukrainian (українська) Open PDF 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. about our grants 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. about our grants
Artists in the Library WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT? Created in 2014 as a partnership between Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Public Library, Artists in the Library program provides paid opportunities and space for Toronto artists while increasing access to the arts in Etobicoke, York, North York, East York and Scarborough through programming in the local branches. Funding for this program is provided by the City of Toronto. Artists in the Library program provides funding to professional artists, arts organizations and collectives working in any artistic discipline to create and deliver free community-engaged arts programming at one of the listed branches of the Toronto Public Library. This program encourages applications from TAC’s equity priority groupsand artists local to the branches. Grant recipients will have an opportunity to explore their art practice in a community setting; access space and facilities for arts programming and presentation; engage with the branch and its surrounding community in a meaningful way; work closely and be supported by the branch team; navigate a multi-stakeholder environment and create and deliver community-engaged arts programming from start to finish. Community engagement is a requirement in this program, but its format may vary. Activities may include exhibitions, installations, performances, concerts, screenings, readings, filmmaking, storytelling, workshops, artist talks, open studios, participatory programs, arts education and mentorship programs, presentations of work in progress, 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 assigned library branch. The maximum grant amount is $20,000. This grant may cover up to 100% of project costs. Payment of professional artist fees is a requirement of this program. Participating Branches: To be announced. 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. WHO CAN APPLY? This grant program is open to professional artists, not-for-profit arts organizations or artist collectives operating on a not-for-profit basis. If you are a first-time applicant or have questions about your eligibility or your application, please contact the Strategic Programs Manager. Eligibility includes:1 Eligibility criteria specific to Individuals: If the applicant is an individual artist, the following eligibility criteria apply: 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. 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. Eligibility criteria specific to Organizations and Collectives: If the applicant is an organization or a collective, the following eligibility criteria apply: Organizations and collectives must be incorporated non-profit arts organizations or unincorporated arts 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. Organizations and collectives must be located in the City of Toronto. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet this requirement. Collectives must be prepared to submit bank account information (in the name of the collective as listed in the application) if the application is successful. Additional Information How do I apply? Applicants 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. New applicants to the program are encouraged to attend the information session (or watch the recording) and speak with the Program Manager prior to submitting an application. 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.) Artists in the Library 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 Artists in the Library 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
Animating Toronto Parks WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT? The Animating Toronto Parks grants program provides funding to professional artists, arts organizations, artist collectives, and non-profit organizations to create and present free arts programming in selected Toronto parks located in Etobicoke, East York, York, North York and Scarborough. For the purposes of this program, “arts programming” may include the presentation of dance, literary arts, music, theatre, visual and media arts, community-engaged arts, Indigenous arts, and other fields of artistic practice. Community consultation and/or engagement is a requirement of the program. Animating Toronto Parks is a Strategic Funding Program managed by Toronto Arts Council (TAC), in partnership with Toronto Arts Foundation’s Arts in the Parks initiative, City of Toronto Arts & Culture Services, Parks and Recreation (P&R), Black Creek Community Farm, and community partner Park People. The maximum grant in this program is $25,000. Grants awarded may be less than the full amount requested. Applicants are not required to secure other sources of funding. The payment of artists’ fees is a requirement of this program. Grant recipients will be provided with: funding toward artist fees and production elements access to the park space (permit dates subject to approval by TAC and Parks & Recreation) coverage under the TAC’s liability insurance information regarding additional requirements (emergency action plan, waste and recycling diversion plan, etc.) or additional permits (noise exemption, building permit, etc.) an introduction to City of Toronto P&R permit staff and park supervisors, Park People, and local community/parks groups support under Toronto Arts Foundation’s Arts in the Parks initiative, including marketing, promotion, inclusion on the artsintheparksto.org website, wayfinding signage, onsite volunteers, assistance with local community outreach, and other support. Participation in Arts in the Parks is a requirement of the program. Program Partners: Toronto Arts Foundation (Arts in the Parks) City of Toronto Parks & Recreation Park People Black Creek Community Farm WHAT IS ARTS IN THE PARKS? Arts in the Parks is a free city-wide initiative managed by Toronto Arts Foundation (TAF), in partnership with Toronto Arts Council (TAC), Parks and Recreation (P&R), and community partner Park People. Arts in the Parks offers a wide range of in-kind supports to artists and arts organizations working in parks across the city, such as support with marketing, community engagement, on-site wayfinding signage, and volunteer coordination. Arts in the Parks is a core resource for Animating Toronto Parks grants recipients. To learn more about Arts in the Parks please visit https://artsintheparksto.org/. 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? 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.) 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 field; actively practices their art; seeks payment for their work; and has a history of public presentation or exhibition. 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. 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 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. Organizations and collectives must be located in the City of Toronto. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet this requirement. parks list Following is a list of parks that have been pre-approved by City of Toronto Parks & Recreation for this program. You can choose one or more parks in the “Parks Selection” section of the grant application. Build your application around your preferred park(s). List your alternative park preferences. The grant review panel may assign a different park (or parks) for your project, where necessary. Be prepared to be flexible. It is strongly recommended that the first-time applicants select one park. For all applicants: if you want to program multiple parks, consider outreach for each of the local communities, obtaining permits for each park, site visits, etc. and include it in your work plan and budget. Parks list: list of available parks is subject to change; an alternative park may be assigned for your project. Alexmuir Park (Scarborough) Amos Waites Park (Etobicoke) Bell Manor Park (Etobicoke) Black Creek Community Farm (North York) Cedar Brook Park (Scarborough) Dentonia Park (East York) Earl Bales Park (North York) Flagstaff Park (Etobicoke) Fountainhead Park (North York) Fred Johnson Park (Scarborough) Fundy Bay Park (Scarborough) Guild Park and Gardens (Scarborough) Lee Lifeson Art Park (North York) Maidavale Park (Scarborough) Memorial Park (York) Milliken Park (Scarborough) Morningside Park (Scarborough) Neilson Park (Etobicoke) Neilson Park (Scarborough) Parkway Forest Park (North York) Prairie Drive Park (Scarborough) Raymore Park (Etobicoke) Rowntree Mills Park (Etobicoke) R.V. Burgess Park (East York) Shawn Blu Rose Park (Scarborough) Summerlea Park (Etobicoke) Taylor Creek Park (East York) Thomson Memorial Park (Scarborough) Walter Saunders Memorial Park (North York) Wincott Park (Etobicoke) Go here to check out a map of all park locations. you will need a special events permit Any activity in a City park (including rehearsals) will require a permit from Parks & Recreation (P&R). Park permits are all subject to approval by P&R, taking into consideration existing permits and limitations on some parks. If you receive an Animating Toronto Parks grant, you will still need to apply to PR&F for a special events permit. The special event permit fee will be waived so you do not need to budget for that, but there may be other costs associated with your activity in the park, such as noise exemptions or building permits. Be prepared to budget for these expenses. If your special events permit application is not approved by P&R, TAC, Toronto Arts Foundation and P&R staff will work with you to find an alternative park for your project. Be prepared to be patient and flexible. The above park permit information does not apply to Black Creek Community Farm, where there is no permitting process, but the applicants for this location will still need to work out the details of their projects and the schedule with the farm’s staff.Please review the Program Guidelines for more information about Special Events Permits. In summary: Animating Toronto Parks grant recipients need to apply for a Special Events Permit, however, Special Events Permit fees will be waived. Fees for permits required for any additional activity will not be covered under this program. Other Toronto Arts Council grant recipients may be eligible for reimbursement of park permit fees. Information sessions Watch this Video Recording of an information session that took place on October 24, 2022: Additional Information How do I apply? Applicants 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 Toronto Parks 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 Animating Toronto Parks 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
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.) 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 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. About Our Grants