Canada Council for the Arts: Artistic Creation Grants

Artistic Creation is the Canada Council for the Arts' main project grant for creating new work. Part of the Explore and Create programme, it supports Canadian artists, groups and arts organisations to develop, create and share artistic works at any stage of the creative process, from the first idea to public presentation. There is no fixed deadline: you can apply at any time before the start date of your project.

Artistic Creation replaces two earlier components, Research and Creation and Concept to Realization.

What Artistic Creation Supports

The Explore and Create programme supports research, development, creation, production and sharing of work, as well as professional development. It encourages artists and curators, groups and organisations to investigate creative processes and take risks. Artistic Creation covers projects such as:

• Research and early development of a new idea
• Creating a new body of work, a book or a production
• Developing work towards public presentation
• Projects that cross disciplines

Who Can Apply for Artistic Creation Grants?

Canadian artists, groups and arts organisations. To apply, you first need a Canada Council funding profile that matches your practice, such as an individual artist profile. Review the funding profile eligibility criteria on the Canada Council website. For individuals, Canadian citizenship or permanent residency is generally required.

How Much

Grant amounts and annual limits are set out in the Artistic Creation guidelines in the client portal. Check them before planning your budget.

How to Apply

All funding opportunities are viewed, applied for and managed in the Canada Council's client portal. Create or update your profile, then choose Artistic Creation and submit your application before your project begins. Allow time for the assessment, and check the Council's page on deadlines and result notifications for current processing times.

Application Assistance

Application Assistance is available to individuals, or lead applicants for groups, who self-identify as Deaf, hard of hearing, having a disability or living with mental illness, or as First Nations, Inuit or Métis facing language, geographic or cultural barriers. Guidance and resources, including help with arts CVs, are also available.

Recent Projects

Projects funded through Explore and Create include a multidisciplinary artist's shimmering vision of the afterlife, a poetry collection about Alberta's Black ranchers, and a documentary series about child soldiers in South Sudan, showing the range of work the programme supports.

Tips for Applying

Describe the project clearly, with a realistic timeline and budget. Explain the creative risk or question at the heart of the work, and show how the grant will move it forward. Strong support material, such as images, video or writing samples, helps assessors understand your practice.

Planning Your Budget

List all the costs of your project, including your own time where the guidelines allow it, materials, equipment rental, travel and collaborators' fees. Show any other sources of funding, such as provincial arts councils or partner organisations. Be realistic: a clear budget that matches the activity you describe is easier for assessors to support. Remember that the project start date must come after you apply, so allow enough time for the assessment before you begin work.

Other Canada Council Support

The Explore and Create programme also funds artist-driven organisations through a separate component. The Canada Council runs other programmes for travel, presentation and professional development, so check the full list in the client portal if your activity does not fit this grant.

Things to Consider

• Canadian applicants only.
• Profile needed in the client portal.
• Apply before the project starts.
• No fixed deadline.

Apply for a Grant

Ready to start a new work?

Apply for Artistic Creation

Guidelines and the client portal are on the Canada Council for the Arts website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: November 4, 2026