If you’re a professional artist or part of an artistic group, funding gaps can stall your creative work. The Canada Council Explore and Create — Artistic Creation program helps support every stage of your creative work, from early ideas to public presentation. This is one of the Canada Council for the Arts’ core funding streams, with support available across all artistic disciplines.
Explore and Create — Artistic Creation is a federal funding program delivered by the Canada Council for the Arts. It supports original artistic work at any stage of creation, including research, development, production, and presentation.
Key funding details:
This program is open to all art forms. It supports visual arts, music, theatre, dance, literary arts, media arts, and interdisciplinary practices.
To apply for Canada Council Explore and Create — Artistic Creation, you must meet all core eligibility rules.
You are eligible if you are:
What “professional artist” means:
The Canada Council defines this as someone who has specialized training, presents work publicly, is recognized by peers, and has sustained professional activity for a minimum of three years.
This funding supports every stage of your creative work, not just production.
Eligible costs can include:
The key requirement is that your expenses directly support the proposed artistic creation project and match the program’s eligible costs.
Applying to Explore and Create — Artistic Creation is detailed but manageable if you prepare early.
Step 1: Create a Canada Council Profile
You must register in the Canada Council’s online portal and complete your applicant profile before applying.
Step 2: Choose the Right Part of the Program for Your Project
Within Explore and Create, confirm that Artistic Creation is the right part of the program for your project.
Step 3: Prepare Your Application Materials
Most applications require:
Step 4: Submit Before the Deadline
Deadlines vary by discipline and intake. Late applications are not accepted.
If you want to find more programs that fit your discipline and applicant type, visit GrantHub to see which opportunities are open for your next project.
Applying without meeting the professional practice requirement
If you don’t have three years of professional activity, your application will be screened out early.
Submitting weak or outdated work samples
Assessors rely heavily on samples. Choose recent work that matches your proposed project.
Budget totals that don’t match funding limits
Requests over $75,000 per application or over $150,000 per year are not eligible.
Unclear project timelines
Vague timelines make it hard for assessors to evaluate feasibility.
Q: How much funding can I receive from Artistic Creation?
You can request up to $75,000 per application, with a maximum of $150,000 per calendar year across all Artistic Creation applications.
Q: Is Explore and Create — Artistic Creation non-repayable?
Yes. Funding under this program is non-repayable. You do not need to pay back the funds, as long as you follow program guidelines and complete your project as agreed.
Q: How many times can I apply in one year?
You may submit more than one application, but total funding cannot exceed $150,000 in a calendar year.
Q: Do I need to be a Canadian citizen?
You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to apply as an individual artist.
Q: Can organizations apply for Artistic Creation funding?
Yes. Artistic groups, collectives, organizations, and visual art publishers are eligible if they meet Canada Council requirements.
The Canada Council Explore and Create — Artistic Creation program can fund meaningful creative work, but eligibility rules and budgets must be precise. GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant programs across Canada — including federal arts funding — so you can quickly see which opportunities match your artistic practice and funding goals.
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