Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage – Local Festivals Program

Receive up to $200,000 in Grant Funding for Festivals.

The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage – Local Festivals Program provides financial support to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans, or heritage performers. This includes the celebration of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations.

Funding Amount

Access up to 100% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $200,000.

Eligible Applicants

A non-profit organization or group (incorporated or unincorporated) or A local band council, a local tribal council or other local Indigenous government (First Nations, Inuit or Metis) that supports local art festivals.

Eligible Activities

Projects may be eligible if they meet a variety of criteria including the promotion of local artists and performers via local festivals and more.

Deadline to Apply

This program operates on rolling application deadlines throughout the year.

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Mentor Works Government Funding Application Success Rate

Apply for Funding

Give your application the best chance at approval. Mentor Works has an 86% approval rating across all Canadian funding programs.

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage – Local Festivals Program

Amount of Funding

Access up to 100% of eligible expenses to a maximum of $200,000.

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage – Local Festivals Program

Eligible Applicants

Applicants may be eligible for funding if they meet these criteria:

Must represent one of the following community groups:
- A non-profit organization or group (incorporated or unincorporated); or
- A local band council, a local tribal council or other local Indigenous government (First Nations, Inuit or Metis)
Must encourage local community engagement through activities that promote, celebrate and preserve local performing and visual arts or heritage

Have successfully organized a prior edition of the festival, within the past two years

Eligible Applicants for Canadian Government Funding

Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage – Local Festivals Program

Eligible Activities

A program may be eligible for funding if they meet the following project activities:

Offer arts and heritage programming;
Present local performing artists, cultural carriers, the work of local creators, or aspects of local heritage as a primary component;
Encourage community involvement by integrating volunteers into the project planning or delivery and give local artists, artisans and cultural carriers the opportunity to interact with the community;
Be designed for the general public, easily accessed and appropriately promoted;
Benefit from support in cash and in-kind from local community partners;
Benefit from tangible support from your city administration or equivalent authority (you must provide written confirmation of this support); and
Present eligible activities for more than 24 hours and less than 29 consecutive days.