Canada Council for the Arts aims to support the arts throughout Canada including facilitating artistic relationships and networking, showcasing Canadian arts and cultures to a national and international audience.

These grants include Explore and Create, Arts Abroad, Arts Across Canada.

Canada Music Fund

Canada Music Fund emphasizes the diversity and individuality of Canadian arts to showcase them nationwide. Their grants include awarding funding to not only produce and promote recordings but to provide financial assistance to Canadian publishing firms, sound recording companies, and music industry national service organizations. 

Radio Starmaker Fund

Although not a fund sent out by the national government, This private fund supports marketing and touring initiatives for Canadian artists within Canada and globally. Typically, this is designed to assist more established artists with proven sales track records.

Provincial Canadian Music Grants

Alberta

Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA)

With the support of the AFA, the funding focuses on the arts within and highlights Alberta. Several funding opportunities include the Cultural Relations Individual Project Funding, Music Individual Project Funding, Queen’s Golden Jubilee Scholarship for Performing Arts, and Travel Grant for Individuals and Ensembles.

British Columbia

British Columbia Arts Council (BCAC) 

Focusing on the province of British Columbia, The BCAC focuses on bringing attention and engagement to the music industry along Canada’s west coast. They assist with individual projects and professional development.

Music BC

Music BC supports BC-based artists who showcase music internationally in British Columbia, Canada. Grants include Artist Travel Grants, Let’s Hear It Live Micro Grants, and Showcasing Series.

Manitoba

Manitoba Film & Music

The Manitoba Film & Sound Recording Development Corporation is a statutory corporation, operating under the funding of Manitoba’s Department of Sport, Culture, and Heritage. With a primary aim to support and promote the growth of Manitoba’s film and music industry, the corporation offers a range of programs and services to local artists and producers. As a result, the province has seen a significant increase in its cultural and economic development. Moreover, the corporation has been successful in attracting international production houses to Manitoba, providing numerous opportunities for local talent to showcase their skills and work alongside industry professionals.

Their purpose is to support Manitoba’s film and music industries through their objectives: to create, stimulate, employ and invest in Manitoba.

Manitoba Arts Council

Established in 1965, the Manitoba Arts Council is a collaboration of artists, organizations, and communities working together to create a vibrant, innovative and inclusive Manitoba. They do this by promoting the study, enjoyment, production and performance of the arts.

This council aims to assist artists in creating or developing works and helping Manitoba artists tour.

New Brunswick

Music NB 

Music Musique NB (MNB) is the provincial music industry association aiming to support the province’s music industry and community. Their primary mission is to serve their members’ interests and support the New Brunswick music industry.

The MNB elevates, promotes and represents New Brunswick’s music community through development, promotion and celebration. MNB provides networks of support for those in the music industry for musicians, managers, and businesses involved in creating music within the province of New Brunswick.

New Brunswick Arts Board

The New Brunswick Arts Board is an arts and culture funding agency dedicated to facilitating and promoting the art industry and administering funding programs for professional artists in the province.

The art board assists in Career Development, such as Funding and opportunities aimed at developing artistic talent. As well as grant funding awarded to NB-based artists to conduct work or research on an original creative project and funding aimed at helping NB creatives purchase equipment for their creative work.

Newfoundland and Labrador music grants

ArtsNL

ArtsNL is a non-profit agency created in 1980 by The Arts Council Act to foster and promote the creation and enjoyment of the arts for the benefit of all the province. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are at the heart of this organization. The Council is governed and supported by a volunteer board of those within and impacted by the arts community.

Annually, ArtsNL receives funding from the Province to support the organization and its various programs. It also seeks support from the public and private sectors. It supports a range of artistic genres, including dance, film, multi-discipline, music, theatre, visual art, and writing.

MusicNL

MusicNL addresses key concerns within the Newfoundland & Labrador music industry to support positive change and innovation by presenting a strong voice to government, business and the community.

Professional Development, Artist Development, and Market Access are the three major grant streams provided by Music Nl. These supports are intended for the local music industry with the result of refreshing music in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Nova Scotia music grants

Music Nova Scotia

This program, Music Nova Scotia, is dedicated to addressing critical issues and support gaps affecting the Nova Scotia music industry to implement positive change by supporting the various aspects of the province’s music industry. Music Nova Scotia supports Artist Development with a Grant to help NS-based artists tour, record, market, and showcase their work for one year. This support aims to create and encourage opportunities to stimulate the music industry’s growth.

Ontario Music Grants

Ontario Arts Council

This arts council is a collective working together to increase awareness locally, nationally and internationally of Ontario produced music as an art form and viable industry with a significant economic impact.

The financial support provided by the Ontario Arts Council includes Music Creation Projects: Money to assist Ontario-based artists at all career stages, working in all music genres/styles, to create original musical works. The second grant funding available is the Music Production and Presentation Projects: This grant funds Ontario-based artists, groups, and collectives who present original music. 

Ontario Creates

Ontario Creates is an agency of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. They aim to provide information, research and technological development in the cultural media industry provincially, nationally and internationally.

To help Ontario be recognized as a leading global jurisdiction to invest in, create, produce and enjoy original cultural media products. Funding is available through OMF – Music Futures, which is Funds to develop and support musicians in Ontario. 

Toronto Arts Council

Toronto Arts Council promotes, enhances and leverages investment, jobs, and original content creation within the music industry throughout the province. This encourages creativity and growth within the music industry.

Grants include Music Annual Operating, Music Multi-Year Operating, and Music Creation and Audio Recording.

Region of Waterloo Arts Fund

An overarching music grant aimed at artists within the Waterloo region. This fund contributes to the continued expansion of a business environment in Waterloo that is advantageous to the growth of the music industry and to the growth of new employment, investment and production opportunities.

Prince Edward Island Music grants

Music PEI

Prince Edward Island is a beautiful source of music. Music PEI was founded in 2001 as a non-profit member services organization devoted to advancing musicians’ careers on the island.

Quebec Music Grants

Conseil des arts de Montréal 

The art council in Montreal is committed to fostering innovation and excellence in Quebec’s music industry. To achieve this, they actively stimulate creative production and encourage new collaboration models between artists. By providing support to emerging talents and established performers alike, the council ensures a vibrant and thriving music scene in Quebec. Furthermore, the council’s efforts in facilitating format innovation have helped push the boundaries of music production and consumption in the province. Ultimately, the council’s dedication to the success of Quebec’s music industry serves as a testament to the power of art in shaping communities and inspiring individuals.

Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ)

Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) supports\ creation, experimentation, production and dissemination within Quebec. These include the artistic genres of visual arts, arts and crafts, literature, performing arts, multidisciplinary arts, cinema and video, digital arts and architectural research.

Musicaction 

Next, for Francophone artists only, Musication supports emphasizing our two official languages within Canada. Musication aims to broaden the influence of artists, writers, arts organizations and their works in Québec, Canada and internationally.

Funding supports include Production d’un album, Production et promotion de titres, Soutien à l’émergence,Commercialisation nationale, and Commercialisation internationale.

Saskatchewan Music Grants

Creative Saskatchewan

SK Arts provides funding and support to the arts for the benefit of all people in Saskatchewan, with funding primarily for provincial musicians. As well, this organization offers grants, support programs, and information services to individuals and groups who impact the arts in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan Arts Board

The Saskatchewan Arts Board was established in 1948. It now operates as SK Arts, North America’s oldest public arts funder. Governed by The Arts Board Act of 1997, we provide grants, programs, and services to ensure that opportunities exist for Saskatchewan residents to experience all art forms.

Yukon Music Grants

Yukon Media Development

Launched in 2001 but renamed in the fall of 2016, this organization is dedicated to supporting the music industry within the Yukon. To support a sustainable and competitive media industry, several funds and incentives are provided to engage and benefit the media industry within the Yukon.

Yukon Sound Recording Program

This is the primary funding available. This program aims to fund Yukon-based musicians, recording studios, and music companies. 

Financial Support for Canadian Musicians Conclusions