Arts, Media, and Entertainment Business Grants: 135 Funding Programs Currently Available
If you’re looking for grants for a business in the arts, media, or entertainment, you’re in the right place!
Because we have the most comprehensive, up-to-date guide on grants, loans, and other types of funding for those businesses.
In this guide you’ll learn what’s available, eligibility requirements, how much you can get, and much more!
What Can Arts/Media/Entertainment Business Grants Be Used For?
Arts/Media/Entertainment business grants can be used to pay for many aspects of starting or running a business. Here are some of the uses that are covered by programs in our grants database:
And that’s just a sample! See the section below with a complete list of grants available for Arts/Media/Entertainment business.
How Much Grant Money Can I Get for My Arts/Media/Entertainment Business?
In our database we currently have grants ranging from $1,500 to $2,000,000.
Am I Eligible for an Arts/Media/Entertainment Business Grant? Common Eligibility Criteria
We analyzed the Arts/Media/Entertainment business grants in our grants database, and these are the most common qualifications we identified:
Note: these are just the most common eligibility criteria – there are many grants with different requirements.
Arts/Media/Entertainment Grants for Ontario: Current Grants Available
Now we get to the good stuff! In the table below we list the grants currently available to Ontario Arts/Media/Entertainment businesses.
To learn more about each program, just click the program name and you’ll be taken to a web page that provides detailed information on the program, including eligibility, the dollar amount of the program, and how to apply for the grant:
Grants for Ontario Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses
Other Types of Funding for Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses
Our goal is for this guide to be a complete source of funding information for Arts/Media/Entertainment businesses. So, in this section you’ll find all the other money programs (besides grants) that are available to Arts/Media/Entertainment entrepreneurs:
Loans for Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses
A loan might not sound as good as a grant, but many loans for Arts/Media/Entertainment businesses have a low interest rate. While they might not be free money, if you don’t qualify for a grant, a low-interest loan is probably the next best thing.
The programs below include government loans:
Government Loans for Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses
A tax credit reduces the tax that a business pays on its taxable income.
There are a handful of tax credits available for Ontario Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses:
Tax Credits for Ontario Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses
A subsidy is a type of financial assistance usually provided by the government in order to promote a social good or an economic policy. Wage subsidies are the most common subsidies.
In the table below you’ll find the subsidies currently available for Arts/Media/Entertainment businesses:
Subsidies for Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses
| Name of Program | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| FACTOR - Comprehensive Artist - Tour Support | $35000 | Subsidy |
| FACTOR - Comprehensive Artist - Showcase | $7500 | Subsidy |
| EURIMAGES – European Cinema Support Fund and Telefilm Canada - Support for Co-Production | no fixed amount | Loan, Subsidy |
| FACTOR - Marketing and Promotion for Non- FACTOR-Funded Sound Recordings - Tour Support | no fixed amount | Subsidy |
| FACTOR - Marketing and Promotion for Non- FACTOR-Funded Sound Recordings - Showcase | $7500 | Subsidy |
| Career Launcher Digital Tech Internships (2022) | $28000.00 | Wage Subsidy |
An investment is a form of financing where capital is provided in exchange of ownership in the company. It is an alternative to conventional methods of raising capital (loans, issuing stocks, selling bonds) and the good thing about it is that you do not have to make monthly payments. Common investment includes private equity and venture capital.
Here is the government’s investment program currently available for Arts/Media/Entertainment businesses:
Investment Programs for Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses
In-kind support refers to non-cash resources provided to support businesses. In kind-support can take various forms: access to coaching, mentorship, investors, logistical and technical resources (space, equipment, computers, internet and software, free testbed), training programs, business advice and counseling. Entrepreneurship centres, accelerators and incubators provide valuable in-kind support to new and existing entrepreneurs.
In-Kind Support Programs for Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses
| Name of Program | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) – ShopHERE | N/A | In-Kind Support |
| TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario – London Innovation Challenge | $40000 | Grant, In-Kind Support |
| Haltech Regional Innovation Centre – ““Start Me Up!” | Not Applicable | In-Kind Support |
Accelerators for Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses
| Name of Program | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Media Fund - Experimental Stream - Accelerator Partnership Program | $30000 | Accelerator, Grant |
Best Arts/Media/Entertainment Business Grants, Loans & More
While there are lots of good programs available, below we highlight some of the best grants, loans, tax credits & more for Arts/Media/Entertainment businesses:
Best Government Arts/Media/Entertainment Grants
Federal Government Grants
Canada Council for the Arts – Concept to Realization Component of Explore and Create: Project and Composite Grants
The Concept to Realization component of Explore and Create supports the full creative cycle– from the initial idea through to presentation, at any stage of the creative continuum. Canadian artists, artistic groups and arts organizations can apply to create projects intended for presentation. Grants provide support for artistic research, creation, project development, remounts, production post-production and presentation.
Canada Council for the Arts – Digital Greenhouse
Digital Greenhouse is a digital innovation initiative for Canadian individuals, groups and organizations. It supports short-term projects that leverage digital technology to address sectoral and digital challenges, including:
Canada Council for the Arts – Literary Publishers Component of Supporting Artistic Practice
The Literary Publishers component of Supporting Artistic Practice provides grants to Canadian publishers of literary books and magazines committed to developing and promoting Canadian literary writers through the publishing process.
Canada Council for the Arts – Short-Term Projects Component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples
The Short-Term Projects component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing provides support to First Nations, Inuit and Métis professional and aspiring artists, cultural carriers, arts/cultural professionals, groups, collectives and arts/culture organizations for any combination of eligible Creating, Knowing and Sharing activities for projects lasting up to 12 months
Canadian Heritage – Business Innovation – Canada Periodical Fund (CPF)
Contrary to popular myth, magazines aren’t dead! And that’s in part thanks to this funding program from the federal government.
Small and medium-sized magazines and periodicals can get financial support to find new ways to adapt to the changing market and contribute to the diversity of content Canadian readers want. And digital publications can benefit too!
Your organization could get up to $50,000/periodical/year if you qualify. You could even get up to $75,000 if your project spans 2 government fiscal years. This is thankfully a stackable program, so you can have additional funding from all levels of government and other sources. But know that all your government funding can’t total more than 75% of eligible project costs.
Canadian Heritage – Support for Publishers: Publishing Support – Canada Book Fund
Only Canadian book publishers can take advantage of this one, though you can be for-profit, nonprofit, or a university press.
Funding from this program is designed to help you produce, market, and distribute Canadian-written books. You can even apply for extra funding if your export sales qualify you for it.
Could you use up to 75% of your expenses covered? Or 90% of your expenses for official-language minority publishers, Indigenous publishers, or small literary publishers? And how about 100% of your expenses if you’re a nonprofit?
Since the answer is most likely yes, then apply now by filling out the application form and emailing it or bringing it to the program in person along with your supporting documents.
Telefilm Canada – Production Program
This program supports Canadian production companies looking to finance the production and/or post-production stage of their feature film project(s).
Provincial Government Grants
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) – Cultural Supports Program: Film & Television Stream
The Film and Television Stream is designed to increase film and television industry jobs and investment and to increase quality, original film and television productions produced in Northern Ontario, while showcasing its culture, geography, stories and talent.
Ontario Arts Council (OAC) – Publishing Organizations: Operating
The Publishing Organizations: Operating program supports Ontario-based, Canadian-owned book and magazine publishers that publish works of literary, artistic or cultural importance for the general public. There are two categories:
Ontario Creates – Interactive Digital Media (IDM) Fund – Production and Concept Definition
The Ontario Creates Interactive Digital Media (IDM) Fund – Concept Definition and Production programs provide IDM content creators with funding for high quality, original interactive digital media content projects that make a positive contribution to the Ontario economy. Concept Definition program supports for early-stage activities that will assist the applicant company in moving towards the production of a market-ready content project. Production program supports the creation of a market-ready content project that will be released to end users.
The IDM Fund Production and Concept Definition programs consist of two streams:
Ontario Creates – Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF) – Music Creation
The OMIF Music Creation stream provides funding to support the development of competitive, sustainable music companies in Ontario that take risks discovering and developing talent – particularly emerging artists – and bringing it to market.
Best Government Arts/Media/Entertainment Loans
Telefilm Canada – Marketing Program
This program supports Canadian distribution and production companies looking to finance the marketing and distribution of their feature film project(s).
Ontario Creates – Film Fund – Production
The Ontario Creates Film Fund – Production streams (Drama and Documentary) are intended to increase the level of domestic feature film production in Ontario. The Film Fund provides support to Ontario producers for feature film projects in the final stages of production financing.
The prime objectives of the fund are to:
Best Arts/Media/Entertainment Government Subsidy
EURIMAGES – European Cinema Support Fund and Telefilm Canada – Support for Co-Production
Through the Support for Co-Production program, Eurimages promotes independent filmmaking by providing financial support to feature-length fiction, animation and documentary films. In doing so, it encourages cooperation between professionals established in different countries.
Best Arts/Media/Entertainment Tax Credits
Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO) and the Canada Revenue Agency – Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC)
The Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC) is designed to enhance Canada as a location of choice for film and video productions employing Canadians, as well as to strengthen the industry and secure investment.
Ontario Creates and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) – Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit (OCASE)
The Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects (OCASE) Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit equal to 18% of the qualifying labor expenditures for eligible computer animation and special effects activities, incurred by a qualifying corporation in a tax year for an eligible production.
Ontario Creates and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) – Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit (OFTTC)
Eligible Ontario-based and Canadian-controlled companies can claim 35%—40% on the first $240,000 for first-time applicants—of qualifying Ontario labour expenses on acceptable film and television projects with this program.
Beyond the qualifications already listed, the individual producer of the film will also need to have resided and filed a personal income tax return in Ontario for at least the 2 preceding years.
Ontario Creates and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) – Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC)
This program is super simple and straightforward. If your Ontario-based corporation created an interactive digital media product, you could claim 40% of your eligible Ontario expenses on your corporate tax return if you developed and marketed your own product.
Otherwise, you could claim 35% if you had a fee-for-service arrangement. Even digital game corporations can claim 35%.
The lists of eligible expenditures and projects aren’t quite so succinct though, so read through carefully to see what qualifies and what doesn’t. Once you’ve made it through, though, and determined what you can claim, just ask Ontario Creates for a certificate of eligibility. Then you can file it with your corporate tax return for that year.
Ontario Creates and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) – Ontario Book Publishing Tax Credit (OBPTC)
Book publishers in Ontario can find themselves with a 30% tax credit for all the eligible expenses included with publishing qualifying literary works in that tax year up to a maximum of $30,000 per work.
For a publishing company to qualify for this program, you must be a Canadian-controlled corporation, run a book publishing business primarily in Ontario, not be exempt from tax under Part III of the Taxation Act, 2007 (Ontario), and not be controlled by the author of the literary work or by a person not dealing at arm’s length with the author.
Best Non-profit Arts/Media/Entertainment Grants
Bell Fund – TV Program – Major Production Funder Envelope
The purpose of the TV Program is to support the production of great, market-driven Canadian content in the genres of lifestyle, drama, comedy series and documentary series. For eligible projects supported by a Major Production Funder (MPF), funding will be allocated from a MPF envelope. The MPF shall provide a Bell Fund Broadcaster support form to the Producer that allows the Producer to submit an application for funding to the Bell Fund.
Canada Media Fund (CMF) – Convergent Stream: First Come, First Served Programs: English Regional Production Bonus (ERPB)
The English Regional Production Bonus is designed to support CMF’s mandate of funding production across the country. As part of the CMF’s Convergent Stream, projects funded must include content to be produced for distribution on at least two platforms, one of which must be television.
FACTOR – Envelope Funding for Music Companies
The Envelope Funding for Music Companies program is allocated once a year for a recipient to undertake a suite of activities fostering the development of Canadian artists and the promotion of their music. This can include expenses related to the production and marketing of sound recordings, domestic and international tours and showcases, music publishing, artist management and business development activities.
FACTOR – Support for Eligible Music Companies – Business Development
The Support for Eligible Music Companies program provides funding for business development initiatives that support the marketing and promotion of the company and its services, domestic and international travel to support the company’s development objectives through three components: Business Travel, Business Development, and Songwriter Support for Music Publishers.
The Business Development component is intended to support the costs of outward-facing development projects that are incremental to and expand the existing business of the company. Such projects must have a beginning and an end; they cannot go on indefinitely.
Livres Canada Books – Foreign Rights Marketing Assistance Program (FRMAP)
The Foreign Rights Marketing Assistance Program (FRMAP) fosters Canadian publishers’ export sales by providing cost-shared funding for export sales trips and participation in international book fairs and trade events.
Musicaction – International Event
The International Event Program is intended for collective initiatives aimed at developing the careers of Canadian artists abroad. It supports the presentation and promotion of international showcases aimed at established export markets that are conducive to the musical genre presented. The performances must be presented in front of an audience made up of foreign professionals. Priority is given to projects based on an association with a foreign partner.
SOCAN Foundation – Work Commissioning Assistance Grant
The Work Commissioning Assistance Grant is provided to assist individuals, corporations, performers, ensembles, and presenters to commission SOCAN members to create new works in all genres of music.
Best Non-profit Loans for Arts/Media/Entertainment Businesses
Canada Media Fund (CMF) – Envelope program: Development Program: Development Envelope (English & French)
The Development Program, which is part of CMF’s Convergent Stream, allocates funding to projects at the development stage. In the Development Envelope Subprogram, the CMF contributes to Eligible Projects through Development Envelope allocations, which are apportionments of CMF program funds made to Canadian Broadcasters.
Canada Media Fund (CMF) – Convergent Stream: Selective Programs: Early Stage Development Program
The Early-Stage Development Program, which is part of CMF’s Convergent Stream, allocates funding to eligible projects at the beginning of a project’s creative process. The Early-Stage Development Program funds eligible projects through a selective process in which projects are assessed according to an evaluation criterion.
Independent Production Fund (IPF) – Development Packaging Program
The Independent Production Fund (“IPF”) and the Canada Media Fund (“CMF”) encourage the development and growth of Canadian drama series and adapt their financing activities to most effectively fulfill needs identified as requiring support. The Development Packaging Program (the “Program”) is designed to assist independent producers create high quality original scripted short form series.
Best Non-profit Arts/Media/Entertainment Investment
Canada Media Fund (CMF) – Experimental Stream: Selective Programs: Commercial Projects Program (C2P)
The objective of the Commercial Projects Program is to fund projects that have a greater probability of commercial success. Projects will be evaluated based on their potential to attain stated commercial objectives, demonstrate business opportunity and achieve profitability.
Independent Production Fund (IPF) – Short Form Series (aka Web Drama Series) Production Program
Through its Short Form Series (aka Web Drama Series) Production Program, IPF assists independent producers/creators to finance the production of original digital drama series created initially for the web. The focus is on the development of high quality, story-driven drama, and the development of new talent.
Shaw Rocket Fund – Rocket Funding: Partnership Stream
The Partnership Stream invests in audiovisual programming content that demonstrates the potential for global reach through multi-platform entertainment experiences, with very high quality and unique creative content, providing for strong complementary components, showing high global export potential and demonstrating diversity and inclusion.
Best Non-profit Arts/Media/Entertainment Subsidies
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) – Career-Launcher Digital Tech Internships
This CICan program will also give you up to $15,000 for the intern’s salary and training. You can use up to $4,000 for training, and for-profits can use the remainder to cover up to 75% of the intern’s salary, 50% for nonprofits.
FACTOR – Comprehensive Artist – Tour Support
Funding under the Tour Support component provides support for the eligible costs associated with tours.
FACTOR – Marketing and Promotion for Non- FACTOR-Funded Sound Recordings – Tour Support
Funding under the Tour Support component assists Canadian artists by subsidizing a portion of the cost of touring in Canada and abroad.
Best Arts/Media/Entertainment In-kind Support Programs
Have a look at the in-kind support programs below! Some of them provide both in-kind support and grant money for your Arts/Media/Entertainment business.
Arts/Media/Entertainment Incubators
The Innovation Studio at The Creative School (Toronto Metropolitan University) – Future Makers Incubation Grant
The Future Makers Incubation Grant aims to support 8 entrepreneurs, small businesses and/or independent creators in the GTA to explore new possibilities through digital transformation, innovation, and/or the development of new entrepreneurial models within the creative industries.
SOCAN Foundation – TD Incubator for Creative Entrepreneurship
The TD Incubator for Creative Entrepreneurship is a program powered by SOCAN Foundation, and provides emerging music creators with seed funding, mentorship, and the opportunity to participate in a progressive webinar series that will hone their skills of entrepreneurship while providing them with the tools and resources needed to turn their talent into a sustainable career.
Arts/Media/Entertainment Accelerators
Canada Media Fund (CMF) – Experimental Stream – Accelerator Partnership Program (A2P)
The Accelerator Partnership Program (A2P) is designed to provide producers of digital media projects funded through the CMF’s Experimental Stream with better access to mentorship, market and capital.
As such, the A2P seeks to connect Experimental Stream funding recipients with renowned Canadian and foreign accelerators that the CMF has selected based on their ability to work with the variety of projects and diversity of producers supported by the CMF, across the country and abroad.
