Craft Projects

Craft Projects is sponsored by Ontario Arts Council. This program supports craft-based practices through grants to Ontario-based artists, curators, ad hoc groups, collectives, and organizations.

Ontario Arts Council - Craft Projects expand to view child pages of 4 expand to view child pages of 3301 Building Audiences and Markets Engaging Communities and Schools Developing Careers and Arts Services expand to view child pages of 3302 expand to view child pages of 3027 Deaf Artists and Artists with Disabilities Artists Living in Regions Outside Toronto General Granting Information expand to view child pages of 3303 Grant Program Deadlines and Important Dates Public value and engagement requirements Guide to Operating Grants Guide to Project Programs Information in sign language expand to view child pages of 5 Ontario Arts Council Awards Government of Ontario Awards expand to view child pages of 4065 Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts Ontario Arts Foundation Awards and Funds expand to view child pages of 3033 expand to view child pages of 2945 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2023-2028 Alternative Services and Application Processes expand to view child pages of 3756 Deaf Artists and Artists with Disabilities Artists Living in Regions Outside Toronto Public Feedback Form / Complaints Guide to Providing Application Support Would you like to be an OAC peer assessor?

expand to view child pages of 6 expand to view child pages of 18 2026 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards presented to Jennifer Maruno, Miki Sato and Kat Ashley Naomi Skye honoured with 2026 Pauline McGibbon Award expand to view child pages of 6791 Read our February newsletter expand to view child pages of 2956 Share your photos with OAC expand to view child pages of 7 How does the Ontario Arts Council track its work and impact?

Program Evaluation at OAC Impact of the Arts in Ontario expand to view child pages of 3 expand to view child pages of 2761 Public Feedback Form / Complaints Accountability and Governance Building Audiences and Markets Engaging Communities and Schools Developing Careers and Arts Services Deaf Artists and Artists with Disabilities Artists Living in Regions Outside Toronto General Granting Information Grant Program Deadlines and Important Dates Public value and engagement requirements Guide to Operating Grants Guide to Project Programs Information in sign language Earl Lee receives the 2018 Heinz Unger Award.

(Photo: Jag Gundu/Toronto Symphony Orchestra) Ontario Arts Council Awards Government of Ontario Awards Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts Ontario Arts Foundation Awards and Funds Circus artist Erin Ball delivers an aerial performance during a workshop hosted by the Kingston Arts Council at the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning in Kingston.

(Photo: Liz Cooper) Multi-Year Accessibility Plan 2023-2028 Alternative Services and Application Processes Deaf Artists and Artists with Disabilities Artists Living in Regions Outside Toronto Public Feedback Form / Complaints Guide to Providing Application Support Would you like to be an OAC peer assessor? A drum circle recording session that was part of the Ancestral Call to Balance project led by Sandra Desjardins.

(Photo: Sandra Desjardins) 2026 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards presented to Jennifer Maruno, Miki Sato and Kat Ashley Naomi Skye honoured with 2026 Pauline McGibbon Award Read our February newsletter Share your photos with OAC A large audience watches a film screening during the Christie Pits Film Festival, part of Toronto Outdoor Picture Show’s Cinematic Cities program.

(Photo: Diana Maclean) How does the Ontario Arts Council track its work and impact? Program Evaluation at OAC Impact of the Arts in Ontario Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue perform during the Ottawa Jazz Festival at Confederation Park.

(Photo: Chris Parker) Public Feedback Form / Complaints Accountability and Governance Winter Holidays 2023-2024 | Vacances d'hiver 2023-2024  Grants Advanced Search Box Home  Grants  Craft Projects Toll-free in Ontario: ​​​​​​​1-800-387-0058  Guide to OAC Project Programs  Guide to OAC Assessment  Guide to OAC Support Material  Grant Program Deadlines and Important Dates  Requirements for grant recipients  Showcase your photos on our website and publications  OAC Geographic Regions Maps (PDF) Until this program opens in Nova , the Ontario Arts Council’s online granting system, program information may change.

This includes deadline dates and specific information on eligibility. Be sure to visit this page after the program opens in Nova , but before starting your application. The program supports craft-based practices through grants to Ontario-based artists, curators, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations.

The program has five categories: Research/Creation/Development – Emerging artists and curators : to help cover the costs of research, experimentation, creation, production and/or career development Research/Creation/Development – Mid-career artists and curators : to help cover the costs of research, experimentation, creation, production and/or career development Research/Creation/Development – Established artists and curators : to help cover the costs of research, experimentation, creation, production and/or career development Research/Creation/Development – Collaborations : to help cover the costs of artists to collaborate on research, experimentation, creation, production and/or career development Connections : to help cover the costs of projects that connect Ontario craft with audiences and expand the public profile and appreciation for craft; programming that encourages craft-based critical discourse and curatorial practice; and activities that make connections within the Ontario craft community The program’s priorities are to support: a range of craft-based practices including work that is functional, conceptual, sculptural or from an art or design perspective projects that explore new directions or preserve craft traditions Indigenous artists working with craft materials in contemporary or customary ways activities that contribute to arts education, public participation and community involvement in craft in Ontario craft artists at all stages of their careers craft artists to create individually or to work with others collaboratively, either within the craft field or in other disciplines November 4, 2026, 1 p.

m. ET The application form will be available in Nova about two months before the deadline. You will find out whether you got a grant about four and a half months after the deadline.

Research/Creation/Development – Emerging artists and curators: maximum $5,000 Research/Creation/Development – Mid-career artists and curators: maximum $7,500 Research/Creation/Development – Established artists and curators: maximum $15,000 Research/Creation/Development – Collaborations: maximum $15,000 Connections: maximum $15,000 Important : Due to the number of applications we receive and the limited funds that are available, grants awarded may be smaller than the amount requested.

Research/Creation/Development: artists and curators who are Ontario residents ad hoc groups, collectives and collaborative groups artists and curators (including co-applicants) craft guilds (incorporated or not) ad hoc groups and collectives incorporated not-for-profit organizations Important : For collaborative projects in Research/Creation/Development or Connections categories, you have the option of: selecting one individual or group to submit the application on behalf of those collaborating applying as two co-applicants applying as an ad hoc group or collective Read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for more eligibility information.

undergraduate or graduate students enrolled full-time at an educational institution curators may not apply for research or exhibition activities they have been contracted or employed to do for an organization that receives OAC operating grants in the Visual Arts section municipalities, colleges and universities incorporated for-profit businesses anyone who has received a Chalmers Professional Development grant and not completed and reported on the project Note: In the same year, you can either apply to Chalmers Professional Development or the Craft Projects program for Development activities.

organizations that receive an OAC operating grant through one of the following programs: Public Art Galleries: Operating Visual Arts Artist-Run Centres and Organizations: Operating Ontario Arts Operating Fund (Visual Arts Organizations category) organizations that receive another OAC operating grant, except organizations mandated to serve one or more OAC priority groups Artists, curators and collectives may only receive a grant from one of the following programs per year (based on the year of application deadline): Curatorial Projects: Indigenous and Culturally Diverse Media Artists Creation Projects Visual Artists Creation Projects If you have already applied to one of these programs this year, you must wait to receive notification of not being awarded a grant before applying to another one.

The program is open to projects presented or undertaken in-person or in digital or virtual formats.

artistic research and experimentation; exploration of new directions and techniques independent curatorial research and writing and development of exhibition projects studio time to continue a body of work in progress, or create a new body of work development of prototypes for small-batch production travel related to research and creation short-term study, training, workshops or master classes attendance at an important conference or other professional opportunity exhibitions, shows and festivals independent curatorial projects that involve public exhibition, presentation or audience engagement activities catalogues and publications (printed and online), and plans for distribution workshops for craft artists, such as visiting artists working with a group in a creative workshop and other professional development activities workshops and other audience engagement activities for the public artists-in-residence projects, in which the residency includes a public engagement component panel discussions, artist talks, symposia, conferences and networking events This program also supports: childcare and other dependant care fees enabling individuals to take part in the project (this does not include regular, ongoing expenses) expenses related to making the project accessible to audience members and project participants (other than the applicant) who are Deaf or have a disability Note: Applicants to this program who identify as Deaf or as having a disability may apply for supplementary funds for their own accessibility expenses through Accessibility Fund: Project Support .

Curators undertaking research and development projects without a public presentation component should apply to the Research/Creation/Development category. Projects must include Ontario artists. If a project involves non-Ontario artists coming to Ontario or Ontario artists travelling outside the province, you must describe a benefit to Ontario artists or audiences.

Connections projects must pay CARFAC fees to participating professional artists. Projects that do not pay artist fees are not eligible.

What this program does not fund Creation/Research/Development: major capital expenditures, including buying, leasing or renovating buildings and purchase of major equipment studio or business set-up costs studio renovation, repair or relocation commissions and student projects tuition for full-time study publication of artist’s catalogue creation of food products and beverages creation of body care products such as soaps activities taking place in galleries and artist-run centres that receive OAC operating support in the Visual Arts section exhibition projects that are primarily commercial in nature The activity for which you are requesting funding: cannot start before the deadline cannot finish before you receive your grant results must be completed no more than two years after you receive the grant results If you have previously received a Research/Creation/Development grant from this program, you must complete the project and submit a final report before re-applying to any Research/Creation/Development category.

If your project has a public launch, such as an exhibition opening, it must not be scheduled to open to the public before you receive your grant results. Final report requirements If you receive a grant, you must complete the project and submit a final report in Nova . See Terms and Conditions – receipt of OAC project grant funds for more information on reporting obligations.

In your final report, you will need to provide: a description of the project undertaken and its outcomes, including details on any approved or minor changes to what had been outlined in the application If the budget you submit shows a surplus of more than $250 (revenues as compared to expenses), you may be required to repay the surplus amount to OAC.

if applicable, five to eight images of new work created, or work in progress, and a numbered list with a title or description for each image documentation and/or an explanation of how you followed or will follow OAC’s public value and engagement requirements for grant recipients This should include samples of any promotional or other materials produced for the project that show the OAC and Government of Ontario logos.

Read logo guidelines Complete and submit an application in Nova , OAC’s online grant application system. You will be able to do this approximately two months before the deadline.

Before applying, be sure to: read the Guide to OAC Project Programs for basic eligibility requirements and other restrictions create or update your profile in Nova Your application will include: basic information about the project your answers to application questions Creation/Research and Development projects – images of your own art work or past curatorial work. Curators may submit writing samples.

This video may help: Preparing Effective Support Material for Visual Arts and Craft Grant Applications Connections projects – documentation of past projects or programming, images of work by participating artists, programs, catalogues, websites and writing samples applicant’s history and artist’s résumés, CVs, or bios letters of agreement or support for curatorial research letters of reference or support for Connections projects Complete instructions and requirements are in the application in Nova .

For information on how assessors rate applications, see the Guide to OAC Assessment and the Evaluation Rubric – Creation Projects (Artistic Merit and Impact) . Exception: For the Connections category, see the Evaluation Rubric – Activity Projects . For details on creating a profile or submitting an application in Nova , see the Nova User Guide .

Program-specific definitions Emerging artists and curators : applicants in the early years of their careers, usually with up to eight years of professional experience in their practice Mid-career artists and curators : applicants with at least eight years of professional experience in their practice Established artists and curators : applicants with at least 15 years of professional experience in their practice Craft grants support artists working in a wide range of materials and practices .

This includes, but is not limited to: book arts (book binding, paper-making, etc.) clay/ceramics (pottery, sculptural work, etc.) craft-based design practices fibre (appliqué, basketry, embroidery, felting, knitting, needlework, quill work, quilting, sculptural textiles or fibre, surface design/printing, tamarack, tufting, weaving, etc.) glass (architectural, stained, hot glass, etc.) interdisciplinary practice (a collaboration between a craft artist and a partner working outside of craft; for example, a jewellery artist working with a dancer) multidisciplinary practice (the use of a variety of materials in a craft work; for example, a jewellery artist incorporating fibre work) turned wood and wood carving wearable art, including regalia Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming 121 Bloor Street East, 7th Floor For more than 60 years, the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians.

The OAC reached 27. 4 million people through events and arts education activities across the province in 2021-22. In 2024-25 , OAC invested its grant program budget of $52.

2 million in 204 communities across 123 Ontario ridings, providing 1,969 grants to individual artists and 1,030 grants to organizations.