Funding Resources for Indigenous Artists and Organizations
ELAN has put together this article to summarize some of the opportunities available for Indigenous artists to continue contributing to the arts community in Quebec, but also to help break down some of the barriers Indigenous artists may face as a marginalized group in an effort to allow better access to funding and resources to help support Indigenous artists, organizations, and their projects. Note that the opportunities below are organized by funder not project type. We also regularly update our Job Opportunities and Calls for Submissions pages with new postings, so keep an eye on those pages for more opportunities.
As well, check out our Québec Relations project – they provide consultations with individuals interested in learning more about what funding opportunities may be available to them. They also have a search tool which helps you sort through different funding programs in Quebec. Click here to learn more.
Canada and Quebec are home to numerous Indigenous nations and communities including the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation who is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which ELAN operates from Tiohtià:ke/Montréal (For more information about the land you may be a guest on visit Native-Land.ca).
Funding Opportunities:
From Le Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec (CALQ):
Inuit and First Nations Arts – Development of Organizational Capacities
Funder: CALQ
Intended For: Inuit and First Nations arts organizations
Deadline: Rolling (apply at least 4 weeks in advance of your project start date)
Funding Amount: 75% of eligible project expenses
Artistic Discipline: Any
Link: CALQ website / ELAN’s English translation
Description: This program contributes to the growth, recognition and appreciation of Inuit and First Nations artists and arts, and encourages the reappropriation and transfer of traditional knowledge and Inuit and First Nations languages and art, as well as their continued development. It does so by supporting Indigenous arts organizations in initiatives, development, and consolidation.
Inuit and First Nations Arts – Revitalization, Creation, and, Transmission
Funder: CALQ
Intended For: Inuit and First Nations arts organizations
Deadline: Rolling (apply at least 4 weeks in advance of your project start date)
Funding Amount: 75% of eligible project expenses
Artistic Discipline: Any
Link: CALQ website / ELAN’s English translation
Description: This program seeks to contribute to the knowledge, recognition, and promotion of Inuit and First Nations artists and the Inuit and First Nations arts, as well as to foster the reappropriation and transmission of traditional Inuit and First Nations knowledge, languages and arts, in addition to their development. Other objectives include:
- Facilitating the early career and professional development of Inuit and First Nations artists by supporting their first professional experiences and fostering sponsorships and guidance
- Supporting the artistic projects of Inuit and First Nations arts organizations.
- Supporting the dissemination, circulation, and promotion of Inuit and First Nations works and artists inside and outside Québec
Inuit and First Nations Arts – Microgrants
Funder: CALQ
Intended For: Inuit and First Nations artists and collectives
Deadline: Rolling (apply at least 4 weeks in advance of your project start date)
Funding Amount: $3,000
Artistic Discipline: Any
Link: CALQ website
Description: This program aims to support the Inuit and First Nations arts community in Québec in its quest for reappropriation, reconstruction and development, contributing to the knowledge, recognition and promotion of Inuit and First Nations artists and the Inuit and First Nations arts. It fosters the reappropriation and transmission of traditional knowledge, languages and arts and facilitates the early career and professional development of Inuit and First Nations artists. This microgrant program is distinguished by a streamlined application/evaluation process and an expedited processing/response time.
Inuit and First Nations Arts – Revitalization, Creation and Transmission
Funder: CALQ
Intended For: Inuit and First Nations artists and collectives
Deadline: Rolling (apply at least 4 weeks in advance of your project start date)
Funding Amount: up to $50,000
Artistic Discipline: Any
Link: CALQ website
Description: This program aims to support the Inuit and First Nations arts community in Québec in its quest for reappropriation, reconstruction and development, contributing to the knowledge, recognition and promotion of Inuit and First Nations artists and the Inuit and First Nations arts. It fosters the reappropriation and transmission of traditional knowledge, languages and arts and facilitates the early career and professional development of Inuit and First Nations artists.
From la Ministère de la Culture et des Communications
Indigenous Cultural Development Program, Section 1: Indigenous Cultural Development Agreement
Funder: Ministère de la Culture et des Communications
Intended For:
- Organizations or political entities responsible for ensuring the cultural development of a single nation and designated as such by its members
- Organizations dedicated to Indigenous cultural development in Quebec
Deadline: rolling
Funding Amount: 50% of eligible expenses, up to $250,000 per year
Artistic Discipline: Any
Link: Ministère de la Culture et des Communications website / English translation coming soon
Description: This program aims to increase the number of Indigenous Cultural Development Agreements signed and to strengthen those already in place, with a view to increasing the number of cultural projects implemented on the territory of each Nation and thus contributing to the increased cultural vitality of the Nations. Eligible activities include:
- Cultural projects
- Research or planning initiatives in the field of culture and communications that aims to increase knowledge or develop a strategy in response to a specific situation
- Activities promoting First Nations and Inuit cultures and communications.
Indigenous Cultural Development Program, Section 2: Agreement for the Hiring of Indigenous Cultural Development Officers
Funder: Ministère de la Culture et des Communications
Intended For: Inuit, Cree or Naskapi band councils and communities
Deadline: rolling
Funding Amount:
- Up to $40,000 for the hiring of a cultural development officer
- Up to $5,000 in additional funds for activities to be carried out by the cultural development officer
Artistic Discipline: Any
Link: Ministère de la Culture et des Communications website / English translation coming soon
Description: This agreement aims to support the hiring and training of development officers in Indigenous communities in order to ensure the deployment of expertise in Indigenous cultural development within the communities and to form new partnerships between the communities and the Ministry.
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From the Canada Council for the Arts
Creating, Knowing and Sharing: Travel
Funder: Canada Council for the Arts
Intended For: First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists, groups, cultural professionals or organizations
Deadline: any time before your departure date
Funding Amount: up to $30,000
Artistic Discipline: Any
Link: Canada Council for the Arts website
Description: The Travel component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing funds First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists, arts/cultural professionals (including artists’ representatives), cultural carriers, artistic groups, collectives and organizations working in all disciplines. Grants support travel costs to attend significant events within Canada or abroad that advance your professional development, enable you or the artists you represent to access new markets or build national and international presence. First-time applicants are strongly encouraged to speak to a Program Officer before applying.
Creating, Knowing and Sharing: Small-Scale Activities
Funder: Canada Council for the Arts
Intended For: First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists, groups, cultural professionals or organizations
Deadline: any time before the start date of your project
Funding Amount: up to $3,000
Artistic Discipline: Any
Link: Canada Council for the Arts website
Description: The Small-Scale Activities component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing funds activities that will advance your artistic career or practice. This may include acquiring materials for artistic production, engaging in career or artistic development activities or benefitting from specific expertise, advice or training from a professional artist or cultural carrier. This component is open to First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals, artistic groups, collectives and organizations working in all disciplines. First-time applicants are strongly encouraged to speak to a Program Officer before applying.
Creating, Knowing and Sharing: Indigenous Organizations
Funder: Canada Council for the Arts
Intended For: Indigenous publishers, arts service organizations or other not-for-profit organizations
Deadline: To be determined
Funding Amount: varies depending on applicant category
- Category A or B: up to 60% of total annual revenues, averaged over the last 3 years
- Category C or D: up to $100 000 per year
Artistic Discipline: Any
Link: Canada Council for the Arts website
Description: The Indigenous Organizations component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing funds First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations that engage in contemporary, customary or traditional artistic and cultural activities. These activities can include non-Indigenous artists and collaborations with non-Indigenous organizations. Grants support the exploration of innovative strategies for Indigenous creative and cultural expression, and related administrative activities. First-time applicants must speak with a Creating, Knowing and Sharing Program Officer before applying to this component.
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From Telefilm Canada
Development Program: Indigenous Stream
Funder: Telefilm Canada
Intended For: incorporated Indigenous companies
Deadline: to be determined
Funding Amount: $25,000
Artistic Discipline: Film and television production
Link: Telefilm website
Description: This financing stream supports the development of scripts from Indigenous writers and producers for feature film projects.
Theatrical Documentary Program: Indigenous Stream
Funder: Telefilm Canada
Intended For: production companies that are majority-owned and controlled by Indigenous persons
Deadline: to be determined
Funding Amount: variable
Artistic Discipline: Film and television production
Link: Telefilm website
Description: The Indigenous Stream of the Documentary Program supports the production of Indigenous documentary projects with budgets above $400,000.
Talent to Watch: Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream
Funder: Telefilm Canada
Intended For: first-time feature filmmakers
- All members of the key creative team must be Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Women, Gender-diverse, 2SLGBTQ2+, Persons with disabilities and/or members of an Official Language Minority Community
- Key members of the creative teams of all submitted projects must be emerging talent: they must have previously produced, directed and/or written at least one short film, but cannot have previously held the same key position in a feature-length film
Deadline: to be determined
Funding Amount: up to $250,000 for fiction feature films or$150,000 for feature length documentaries
Artistic Discipline: Film and television production
Link: Telefilm website
Description: The Talent to Watch Program helps first-time feature filmmakers finance their microbudget project (budget ranging between $150,000 and $500,000). Under this stream, emerging filmmakers who are: Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Women, Gender-diverse and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, Persons with disabilities and/or members of Official Language Minority Communities will be able to submit an application directly to Telefilm.
Industry Partner Stream: Indigenous Component
Funder: Telefilm Canada
Intended For: first-time feature filmmakers
- All key members of the project’s creative team (producer, writer and director) must be Indigenous
- Key members of the creative teams of all submitted projects must be emerging talent: they must have previously produced, directed and/or written at least one short film, but cannot have previously held the same key position in a feature-length film
Deadline: to be determined
Funding Amount: up to $250,000 for fiction feature films or$150,000 for feature length documentaries
Artistic Discipline: Film and television production
Link: Telefilm website
Description: The Talent to Watch Program helps first-time feature filmmakers finance their microbudget project (budget ranging between $150,000 and $500,000). Under this stream, financing is given to projects chosen from those recommended by designated industry partners for each component of the Program.
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Other Resources:
Indigenous Protocols dot Art
A space that demonstrates CARFAC’s (Canadian Artists Representation Le Front des Artistes Canadiens) commitment to supporting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis artists.The materials on this website were designed to provide practical guidelines for respectful engagement with Indigenous Peoples. It is part of an ongoing initiative to strengthen respect for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis visual art and artists, and legal and moral rights in the territory now known as Canada.
Visit the Indigenous Protocols dot Art regional page for workshops here
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Montreal Improv’s Inclusion Scholarship program (Ongoing)
This program exists to remove access barriers and increase representation in the classroom, particularly for individuals who are BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+, as well as those with disabilities.
At least one full class scholarship will be made available for each class. Applicants will be informed ahead of time via email.
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Teesri Duniya Theatre Database
Teesri Duniya database submissions are now open. Teesri exists to produce and present bold, groundbreaking and culturally diverse plays that encourage conversation. We are dedicated to amplifying and supporting diverse voices, both through the arts and community engagement. Their database is committed to providing these voices with the visibility they need to be discovered by companies and other creatives/activists not only in Montreal but all across Canada.
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To request a free consultation to discuss your eligibility for any of these programs, or to request free grant-writing assistance for any Quebec-based grant listed below, please contact research@quebec-elan.org
