Canada Arts Training Fund

Service Delivery Standards for this funding program.

Objective

The Canada Arts Training Fund contributes to the development of Canadian creators and future cultural leaders of the Canadian arts sector by supporting the training of artists with high potential through institutions that offer training of the highest calibre.

The Fund supports independent, non-profit, incorporated Canadian organizations on a multi-year or annual basis for the ongoing operational activities of the organizations' professional program. Funding is not for capital infrastructure.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must:

  • be incorporated in Canada as a non-profit organization;
  • demonstrate that the activity for which funding is requested is not funded as a provincial post-secondary education activity (for the purposes of this program, post-secondary education is defined as education which follows twelve years of primary and secondary education), and that the activity does not result in the granting in that province of a post-secondary qualification, such as a diploma, certificate or degree;
  • receive support for at least 30% of costs related to training work from sources other than this program, e.g. tuition, other levels of government, and fundraising. Total support from all levels of government cannot exceed 90% of the activity costs;
  • be directed by recognized professionals. While organizations may operate programs for different purposes, funding under this program is directed to supporting training for a professional artistic career;
  • have an administrative infrastructure to support their organizational objectives;
  • have maintained a full-time operation in support of the professional training program for a minimum of three years;
  • be accessible to Canadians through a national competitive admission process available in both of Canada's official languages. More specifically, it is expected that an organization that is national in scope would have at least 20% of its student body from regions outside the training area. An exception to this would be made for training programs involving students 10-18 years of age, where the academic education accompanying the training program is offered only in French. In addition, the national significance of an organization should be demonstrated in the context of the artistic discipline(s), with graduates having an impact, and achieving wide recognition in their field.

If your organization offers training related to Aboriginal arts or to artistic practices based on culturally diverse traditions, please contact the program officer to determine whether and to what extent the final two eligibility requirements must be met.

Applicants are eligible to apply for funding through the Canada Arts Training Fund if they meet the stated eligibility criteria, but if the Canada Arts Training Fund Departmental National Review Committee determines that an organization does not have a sufficient artistic merit and impact relative to funded organizations, the applicant may not be recommended for funding. This determination is made by the Committee through a scoring process, based on the assessment criteria below. Available funds for the Canada Arts Training Fund may also be taken into consideration.

How Are Organizations Assessed?

The Fund focuses on those organizations that can demonstrate their status as national organizations of the highest calibre through the following three key assessment criteria:

  • They are at the highest level of artistic excellence, in teaching, training, and coaching in their artistic field as evidenced by the success of their graduates and independent assessments prepared by professionals;
  • They are pre-eminent institutions of proven national significance and impact, i.e. recognized as such throughout Canada by those familiar with, or working in, the artistic discipline; and
  • They have a strong and proven institutional capacity from both a financial and governance standpoint.

What is the Deadline?

June 30

List of funded organizations

Application form and Guidelines

For More Information

For questions concerning the Canada Arts Training Fund, please contact us.