1. Funding
  2. Strategic Funds and Initiatives
  3. Digital Now

Digital Now: Grants for digital artistic content

Activities: What is eligible?

The project must result in work that can be shared digitally. You can apply for costs related to the development, creation, adaptation, production, promotion, dissemination, and optimization of digital artistic content, including:

  • new works or adapt existing works;
  • content of any length, in any field of practice and for any age group that can be disseminated through any digital means;
  • hybrid activities that combine digital and in-person dissemination;
  • projects that contract artists and arts workers and pay professional fees and/or salaries.

You must comply with all government mandated public health measures in effect to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.

You cannot apply for activities that occur before the start date for the project or those on the general list of ineligible activities.

Digital Now is part of the Supporting Arts and Live Events Workers in Response to COVID-19 Initiative.  You cannot receive this support for the same project from more than one Department of Canadian Heritage program and/or the Canada Council.  Applicants may present a project application to each of these programs only if they are for distinct and separate projects.

Candidates: Who can apply?

Potential applicants to this initiative include:

  • Canadian artistic organizations; and
  • Canadian artistic groups and collectives.

Your eligibility to apply is determined based on the profile created in the Canada Council portal and approved by the Council.

Arts organizations currently receiving core grants are eligible to apply under this initiative.


Additional federal government funding

$181.5M in federal government funding to stimulate job creation and arts sector recovery.

As announced in the Economic Statement released in fall 2020, the federal government is investing an additional $181.5 million in the Supporting Arts and Live Events Workers in Response to COVID-19 Initiative to stimulate employment in the arts and culture sector, support ongoing operations during the pandemic, and prepare for the sustainable recovery of the sector.

The Council is investing $116.5 million of this funding in two components of its Explore and Create program and in its one-time Digital Now initiative.

The Department of Canadian Heritage will distribute the remaining $65 million of these funds.

For more information:

If you have any questions or need advice, write to us at digitalnow@canadacouncil.ca before submitting your application.

Deadline and Grant Amount

31 March 2021
28 April 2021

Fixed grant amounts of $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000 for expenses directly related to the activity.

A smaller amount may be granted based on a project’s budget and on fund availability.

Guidelines and application form

Contact an officer