Updates to Funding Opportunities and Portal

The Canada Council is modernizing its granting systems, programs and processes, bringing a more seamless, accessible, efficient and secure experience to the arts community. This includes the opening of our updated portal in the summer of 2025, where, for the first time, grant- and prizes-based funding opportunities will be available in one place.

The Council’s funding portal transition period is underway

Since May 26, access to the portal and all portal-related functions, like applying for grants and completing reports, have been unavailable. During this transition period, the Council is:

• transferring applicant accounts along with applicants’ information and funding history to the updated portal;
• extending final report deadlines for grants with reports due during the transition period, so that they can be submitted after the updated portal opens without being late; and
• processing grant acknowledgement forms and reports so that payments can be made once the updated portal opens.

More details about the updated portal will be shared on this page as they become available. Information sessions will be offered over the coming months. Visit the Webinars and information sessions web page to register for sessions as they are announced.

Important information

If your application was submitted before the transition period (May 26, 2025), it will not be counted in the annual application limits, giving you more chances to apply once the updated portal opens. 

If you applied through the portal and have not received your grant result yet, it will be visible to you in the updated portal.

Visit the Deadlines and Notification of Results page for information about fall 2025 application deadlines in addition to regularly consulting this page for the latest funding opportunities and portal updates.

Upcoming key dates

Accounts and application history

• Even if you had an active account in the portal, you will need to create a new account in the updated portal. Your application history will then be transferred and visible to you in the updated portal.
• More information on how to log in to your new account will be provided before the updated portal opens this summer.
• Any applications that were started but not submitted in the portal before it became unavailable will not be transferred to the updated portal.
• Submitting a prize application or nomination will not require a portal applicant profile—only a portal account. Further instructions will be shared closer to the opening.

Program updates: New and combined grant components 

New and combined grant components will be added later in 2025 in the updated funding portal. The components will provide more flexible and comprehensive support, allowing for a wider range of activities and expenses to be included within a single application. Applying for access support will also be easier for applicants who are Deaf or have disabilities. 

Program changes include the following:

• The Research and Creation and Concept to Realization components of the Explore and Create program are being combined into one streamlined component, Artistic Creation.
• Two components in the Arts Across Canada and Arts Abroad programs are being combined to better support artistic activities both within Canada and internationally. The components are Representation and Promotion and Circulation and Touring.
• The new Micro-grants and Composite Activities combine previous components to offer more flexible and comprehensive support, covering a wider range of activities in one application.
• The Sector Innovation and Development component of the Supporting Artistic Practice program, which has been updated to support the ongoing growth, strengthening and development of the arts sector, will now be called Sector Support, Innovation and Development.

For more details about the new and combined grant components, consult the following web pages: 

• Micro-grants: Streamlined funding for activities supporting the professional growth and advancement of artistic careers or artistic practices of artists, arts workers, groups and organizations
• Composite Activities: Multi-year funding and flexible support for various activities
• Artistic Creation: Support for all artistic research, creation and public sharing in one streamlined funding opportunity
• Circulation and Touring: Supporting the presentation and exhibition of performances and works nationally and internationally
• Representation and Promotion: Funding for travel linked to national and international promotion and the development of markets
• Sector Support, Innovation and Development: Supporting the ongoing growth, strengthening and development of the arts sector