funding for Cultural Spaces in Canada
The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) aims to support the arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation through physical needs such as equipment, renovation, and construction projects. The intention of the CCSF is to invest in local creative hubs because they provide Canadian creative talent with access to shared space, equipment and other resources needed to develop skills which will lead to success in and contribution to the creative economy.
Funding Overview
The Program’s support for an individual project is limited to 50% of total eligible expenses.- The maximum contribution payable for an individual construction or renovation project is $15,000,000 or 50% of total eligible project costs, whichever is less.
- The maximum contribution payable for an individual project in respect to the purchase or rental of specialized equipment is $5,000,000 or 50% of total eligible project costs, whichever is less.
- The maximum contribution payable for an individual feasibility study is $500,000 or 50% of total eligible project costs; whichever is less.
In exceptional circumstances, the program can fund up to 75% of eligible expenses per project. The specific funding criteria related to exceptional circumstances include:
- Projects occurring in rural or remote areas
- underserved communities and groups, such as
- official-language minority communities
- Indigenous communities
- ethnocultural communities; and
- any other exceptional cases determined by us
Eligibility Requirements
- A not-for-profit arts and/or heritage organization operating in a professional manner, incorporated under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, or under the equivalent provincial or territorial legislation. Applicants must demonstrate that they have been active in the execution of their arts and heritage mandate for at least the previous two years, and that their programming is accessible to all Canadians;
- A not-for-profit organization, incorporated under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, or under the equivalent provincial or territorial legislation, that is proposing the development and management of a creative hub; or
- A provincial/territorial government, a municipal administration, one of their agencies or an equivalent Indigenous peoples’ institution or organization that has historically demonstrated its support to professional artistic or heritage activities including Indigenous cultural practice in their community.
Eligible Activities
To be eligible for funding from the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, your project must aim at:
- the construction and/or renovation of arts and/or heritage facilities, or creative hubs;
- the acquisition of specialized equipment; or
- the development of feasibility studies for the construction or renovation of arts and/or heritage facilities, or creative hubs.
For a construction and/or renovation project, your organization must demonstrate that they own the property or they have a long term lease (minimum of 10 years).
Eligible Costs
Only project-related expenses, which can be of cash and in-kind value, are eligible; these may include administrative costs directly related to the project, including salaries, carrying costs, calls for tender, services to provide materials in both official languages, and project audit.
Construction or Renovation projects
- Professional fees such as architectural, engineering and technical services, project management and environmental assessment;
- Construction and/or renovation of cultural infrastructure, including:
- Property acquisition and transfers;
- Project’s interest on short-term financing;
- Demolition and excavation;
- Materials and labour;
- Fire, safety and security systems;
- Systems and measures to improve accessibility and mobility;
- Environmental practices and sustainable construction (e.g. LEED, ecoENERGY);
- Specialized equipment;
- Permanent seating;
- Purchase and installation of public art as part of construction or renovation project; and
- CCSF Construction or Renovation Acknowledgement Signage (Required for Contributions over $100,000).
Specialized Equipment
- Sound and lighting equipment;
- Removable seating;
- Stage curtains;
- Staging and rigging equipment;
- Multimedia equipment;
- Portable dance floor;
- Purchase and installation of an integrated data collecting and ticketing system;
- Environmental control systems;
- Storage system;
- Exhibition cases, panels and interactive displays related to a permanent exhibition;
- Installation costs and initial training related to the operation of specialized equipment;
- Hanging system for exhibition; and
- Hygrothermograph.
Feasibility Study
- Professional fees related to the assessment of the viability of the project;
- Professional fees related to the design, market analysis and resources required to operate the new or renovated site; and
- Professional fees related to specialized technicians.
Deadline
There is no established deadline date to submit a funding application under the CCSF, as applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
