Artist Funding in Canada
Arts councils, grants, and funding bodies for artists
Access Copyright Foundation
The Access Copyright Foundation supports Canadian publishers, individual creators, and organizations in the writing and visual arts through grants for professional development, research, and creative projects. Visual artists working with reproducible imagery, illustration, or publication‑related practices can access project and travel support, with grant amounts varying by program.
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is the provincial agency supporting arts in Alberta, including strong programs for visual artists. It offers individual project grants for creation and exhibition, travel and professional development support, as well as operating and project funding for visual arts organizations and artist‑run centres.
Art Gallery and Artist-Run Centre Operating Programs (various provincial councils)
Across Canada, provincial arts councils and the Canada Council offer operating and project funding to artist‑run centres and public galleries, which in turn commission and pay fees to visual artists. While these programs fund organizations rather than individuals, they are key indirect funding routes for exhibitions, commissions, and public programs for artists.
BC Arts Council
The BC Arts Council is the provincial funder for artists and arts organizations in British Columbia. It offers project assistance for visual artists, including creation, production, and professional development, as well as operating support to galleries and artist‑run centres, with typical individual grants in the CAD $5,000–$25,000 range.
Canada Council Art Bank (through the Canada Council for the Arts)
The Art Bank acquires artworks from contemporary Canadian artists for a large national collection that is leased to government and corporate clients. While not a grant program in the strict sense, it provides direct purchase opportunities and visibility for visual artists who meet eligibility criteria.
Canada Council for the Arts
Canada’s national, arm’s‑length public arts funder, supporting individual artists, collectives, and organizations across all disciplines, including visual arts. Visual artists can access project grants for creation, production, research, travel, and professional development, often in the CAD $5,000–$60,000 range depending on program and scope.
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)
CALQ is Quebec’s provincial arts council, offering substantial support to professional artists and arts organizations working primarily in French, including visual and media arts. Programs include creation grants, project support, international residencies, and travel grants; individual awards frequently range from about CAD $5,000–$25,000, with some residency packages higher.
Ontario Arts Council
The Ontario Arts Council provides project and operating grants to Ontario‑based individual artists, collectives, and arts organizations. Visual artists can apply for creation and production grants, exhibition projects, and community‑engaged work, with many individual project grants in the CAD $5,000–$15,000 range.
Saskatchewan Arts Board (SK Arts)
SK Arts is the provincial arts funder in Saskatchewan, offering project and career development grants to individual artists and arts organizations, including visual artists. Programs support creation, production, and professional development, with many individual awards in the CAD $5,000–$25,000 range depending on level and category.
Toronto Arts Council
Toronto Arts Council provides municipal funding to artists and arts organizations based in the City of Toronto. Visual artists can receive project grants for creation, exhibition, and community‑engaged work, typically in the CAD $5,000–$10,000 range for individuals, along with larger operating grants for organizations.
Toronto Arts Foundation / TOward Diversity and Other Awards
Linked to but distinct from Toronto Arts Council, Toronto Arts Foundation primarily offers awards, prizes, and some targeted initiatives that support individual artists and community arts projects. For visual artists, this can mean cash awards and recognition that complement project grants from other bodies.
Winnipeg Arts Council
The Winnipeg Arts Council is the municipal funder for Winnipeg, Manitoba, supporting artists and arts organizations across disciplines. Visual artists can apply for individual artist grants and public art opportunities, often in the CAD $3,000–$10,000 range for projects, plus larger commissions through the Public Art Program.
Artist Residencies in Canada
62 residencies listed
A Position on Retreat
Lake Cowichan, Canada
A Position on Retreat, an artist residency situated in Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island, Canada, offers a serene environment for artists from diverse disciplines. Known as 'The Blue House,' this comfortably renovated home sits at the center of a picturesque tourist town, surrounded by Canada's breathtaking natural landscape. Within a five-minute walk, residents have access to grocery stores, charming coffee houses, restaurants, beautiful beaches, and scenic hiking trails. Enveloped by a temperate rainforest, ancient old-growth forests, the vast Pacific Ocean, and numerous lakes and waterfalls, the residency is a haven for creative inspiration and rejuvenation. A Position on Retreat strikes a perfect balance between community engagement and the tranquility of nature, providing artists with an ideal setting for both creativity and reflection. This artist residency on Vancouver Island is an exemplary retreat for artists who seek to immerse themselves in nature and focus on their creative pursuits. It's an environment where the natural beauty and calm of the surroundings contribute significantly to the artistic process, making it a sought-after destination for artists looking to enrich their practice.
CASA
Lethbridge, Canada
The Artist in Residence (AiR) program at Casa in Lethbridge, Alberta, offers a supportive and community-based atmosphere for artists from various disciplines and experience levels, including recent undergraduates. The program includes workshops, installations, open houses, and artist talks, fostering community engagement and new perspectives. Artists are provided with space free of charge and are encouraged to seek funding for travel, lodging, and per diems from granting agencies. Casa assists with public engagement opportunities and supports successful candidates in their grant applications. The application deadlines are January 15 and June 15 each year, with residencies scheduled between June and December or January and June of the following year. Casa is managed by the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge, a non-profit arts organization and registered charity.
The Ou Gallery
Vancouver Island, Canada
The Ou Gallery is a gorgeous and intimate place to nurture your creative rest and renewal. Artists and writers have 24-hour access to their own designated studio in a 100 year-old boat-building workshop and a thoughtfully appointed private bedroom in a shared suite with a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. Our Great Room, with its modern fireplace, original fir floors, 12’ ceilings and huge windows overlooking a creek fed by Mount Swuq'us (and frequented by herons and owls) is a perfect spot to unwind and connect with other creatives after a full day in the studio. Located in the Quw'ustun Valley, in the heart of Vancouver Island, a stunning, nature-filled place. Come here to decompress, gather new inspiration alongside like-minded artists and devote space and time to your work. There is no fee to apply. Residencies are two or four weeks long. See website for details: www.theougallery.com.
Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG)
Oshawa, Canada
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s RBC Emerging Artist Residency Program supports ambitious and experimental emerging artists by providing them with the time and space to develop their practice. The program includes a 15-week residency followed by an eight-week solo exhibition, allowing artists to create new work, experiment with bold ideas, and connect with the community. Residents receive professional support and consultation, as well as promotion through the gallery’s communication channels. The program emphasizes professional development through workshops, meetings with curatorial staff, and public programming opportunities. Open to emerging artists within commuting distance of the gallery in Oshawa, Ontario, the residency is designed for those with a small body of work and some public exhibition experience. Participants benefit from access to innovative studio and exhibition spaces and are encouraged to make meaningful connections with visitors and the community. The program also provides a stipend, material support, and an artist exhibition fee to help cover costs associated with production, travel, and installation. The residency fosters growth and experimentation in emerging artistic practices, nurturing creativity and connection within Durham Region and beyond.
Ada X
Montréal, Canada
Ada X is a bilingual feminist artist-run centre in Montreal offering eight-week production residencies for women, trans, non-binary, and queer artists working in media arts and digital culture. Residents receive a $2,995 fee, workspace access, equipment, mentorship, and opportunities to present their work publicly.
Adélard (Adelard)
Frelighsburg, Canada
Adélard is a non-profit organization dedicated to contemporary art, located in Frelighsburg, Quebec, offering immersive residencies for professional artists. Their six-week residencies provide artists with time and space to develop projects while creating connections with the local community. Residencies take place in a heritage barn, with exclusive studio access during weekdays and public engagement on weekends. Artists are required to participate in at least one cultural mediation activity. The program includes a private apartment, an honorarium, and exhibition space. Adélard aims to foster artistic development and community interaction, contributing to both the artist’s career and local cultural life. Applications are open to artists worldwide, with a focus on diverse and high-quality projects.