An independent registry of Northern Ontario funding Data updated Oct 1, 2026 · CC-BY-4.0
Northern Ontario Grants
Open

Northern Arts Projects

by Ontario Arts Council

Also known as: Northern Arts

The Ontario Arts Council's Northern Arts Projects grant gives up to $15,000 per category (New Works, Presentation, Skills and Career Development, Working with Community) to professional artists, collectives, and not-for-profits based in Northern Ontario, the Manitoulin, Parry Sound and Nipissing districts and everywhere north. Two deadlines a year (April 30 and October 29 in 2026, 1 p.m. ET); decisions take about 4.5 months.

Amount
Up to $15,000 Up to $15,000 in each of four categories, New Works, Presentation, Skills and Career Development, Working with Community. No stated minimum. This award range, $15,000, against every tracked amount from $1,000 to $500,000,000, on a logarithmic scale.

Against all tracked amounts, $1,000 to $500,000,000, logarithmic.

arts.on.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

Maximum grants per category: $15,000 for New Works, Presentation, Skills/Career Development, and Working with Community

Instrument
Grant (non-repayable)
Status
Open closes Oct 29, 2026 (13:00)
Who qualifies
Individuals Nonprofits and charities Groups and collectives Indigenous organizations and communities Operating history: Artists: resident in Northern Ontario at least 1 year before applying, maintaining 8 months/year residence
  • individual-professional-artist
  • nonprofit-organization
  • ad-hoc-group-or-collective
  • professional-arts-publisher
  • first-nations-school
  • Not-for-profits must have their head office in Northern Ontario
  • Ad hoc groups and collectives need a minimum 50% professional artists from the region
  • Northern Ontario-based First Nations and Indigenous Education Authority schools are eligible
  • OAC's Northern Ontario definition: Manitoulin, Parry Sound and Nipissing districts and all regions north of these districts (Muskoka is NOT included)

arts.on.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

the Manitoulin, Parry Sound and Nipissing districts and all regions north of these districts

Where
Algoma District · Cochrane District · Greater Sudbury (single-tier census division) · Kenora District · Manitoulin District · Nipissing District · Parry Sound District · Rainy River District · Sudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury) · Thunder Bay District · Timiskaming District11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program.Algoma District: eligibleCochrane District: eligibleGreater Sudbury (single-tier census division): eligibleKenora District: eligibleManitoulin District: eligibleNipissing District: eligibleParry Sound District: eligibleRainy River District: eligibleSudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury): eligibleThunder Bay District: eligibleTimiskaming District: eligible

11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program. A filled dot is eligible, an outline is not.

Built for
Students & individuals Nonprofits & charities

When can you apply?

Grant decisions arrive about four and a half months after each deadline

Window closes Oct 29, 2026, 28 days from today.
2026 (Oct deadline): closes Oct 29, 2026 at 13:00
CycleOpensClosesStatusVerified
2026 (Oct deadline)
NEW SLUG (oac-northern-arts-projects). Deadline Oct 29, 2026, 1 p.m. ET. Application form appears in Nova ~2 months before deadline (~late Aug 2026), no exact open date published, so opens_on omitted. OAC notes program info may change until it opens in Nova.
 - Oct 29, 2026 13:00 Open

arts.on.ca · Unconfirmed as of Aug 24, 2026; confirm with funder · Auto-checked against official source

How do you apply?

  1. Application opens ~2 months before deadline
  2. Submit by deadline (2026: April 30 and October 29, 1 p.m. ET)
  3. Assessment
  4. Decision ~4.5 months after each deadline

arts.on.ca · Last verified Oct 1, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

April 30 and October 29, 2026, 1 p.m. ET

Common questions

Who counts as a Northern Ontario artist for this grant?

A professional artist who has lived in Northern Ontario (Manitoulin, Parry Sound, Nipissing districts or anywhere north of them) for at least one year before applying and who lives there at least eight months a year. Muskoka is not included in OAC's northern region.

Can groups or organizations apply, or only individuals?

Both. Not-for-profits with a Northern Ontario head office, professional arts publishers with northern offices, ad hoc groups and collectives (at least 50% professional artists from the region), and Northern Ontario First Nations and Indigenous Education Authority schools are all eligible.

What won't it fund?

Fundraising activities, competitions and contests, major capital expenditures, portfolios, and music videos (except documentation of live performance). Small-scale equipment, software and electronics purchases ARE eligible.

How long until I hear back?

OAC says decisions arrive about four and a half months after each deadline. Applications open roughly two months before the deadline.

Where else could this money come from?

Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.

  • Creating, Knowing and Sharing Open
    both for students & individuals and nonprofits & charities; arts, culture — Up to $100,000
  • Explore and Create Open, continuous intake
    both for students & individuals and nonprofits & charities; arts, creation — Up to $75,000
  • Arts Across Canada and Abroad Closing soon
    both for students & individuals and nonprofits & charities; arts — Varies; see program

Guides that cover this program

Notes on this record

All figures verified against the official OAC program page on 2026-08-17.

Apply

Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there:

www.arts.on.ca