Applications open for CultivART Indigenous Program (Canada)

Deadline: 14-Oct-26

The CultivART Indigenous Program – Organization Component provides grants to arts and culture organizations on the Island of Montréal to host paid internships for emerging Indigenous artists and cultural workers. Each selected internship receives up to $20,000, covering the intern’s compensation, mentor fees, and eligible internship expenses for an approximately six-month placement.

What Is the CultivART Indigenous Program?

The CultivART Indigenous Program supports the professional development of emerging Indigenous artists and cultural workers through practical, paid work experience.

The Organization Component provides funding directly to eligible arts and culture organizations so they can create an internship in collaboration with an emerging Indigenous artist or cultural worker and an experienced Indigenous or racialized mentor.

The program is designed to:

• Provide emerging Indigenous creatives with professional experience.
• Support career development and skills building.
• Create meaningful relationships between interns and mentors.
• Strengthen Indigenous representation within Montréal’s arts and culture sector.
• Encourage knowledge sharing and professional networking.
• Help arts organizations develop Indigenous-focused initiatives.

What Does the Program Fund?

The program funds an approximately six-month internship, equivalent to about 650 hours of work.

Each internship includes:

• A paid placement for an emerging Indigenous artist or cultural worker.
• Approximately 150 hours of mentorship.
• Professional activities connected to the organization’s mandate.
• Opportunities for artistic, cultural, administrative, or sector-specific development.

Internship activities should provide meaningful professional experience rather than simply unpaid volunteer work.

Funding Amount

The Conseil des arts de Montréal provides a total contribution of $20,000 per internship.

The funding is divided as follows:

• $12,500 for the intern’s compensation.
• Up to $5,000 for the mentor.
• $2,500 for expenses incurred during the internship.

Accessibility costs for D/deaf and/or disabled participants may be eligible for reimbursement through a separate support fund.

Who Is Eligible?

The program has eligibility requirements for the host organization, intern, and mentor.

Eligible Organizations

Applicants must generally be:

• Non-profit arts and culture organizations based on the Island of Montréal.
• Artists’ cooperatives based on the Island of Montréal.
• Organizations with a board of directors composed primarily of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

For Indigenous organizations, the board must be primarily composed of Indigenous members residing in Quebec.

Organizations may apply for one internship per year.

Eligible Interns

Interns must be:

• Indigenous artists or cultural workers.
• First Nations, Inuit, or Métis of Canada.
• Residents of Canada.

The program is specifically intended for emerging professionals seeking practical experience and career development in the arts and cultural sector.

Eligible Mentors

Mentors must be:

• Indigenous or racialized artists or cultural workers.
• Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
• Able to provide meaningful professional guidance during the internship.

The mentor is expected to contribute approximately 150 hours during the six-month internship.

What Types of Projects Can Be Supported?

The internship can be connected to a variety of arts and cultural activities.

Eligible areas may include:

• Artistic research.
• Arts creation and production.
• Specialized artistic presentations.
• Multidisciplinary presentations.
• Cultural magazine publication.
• Arts events and festivals.
• Indigenous arts initiatives.
• Services supporting Indigenous artists or communities.
• Other activities consistent with the organization’s eligible arts or cultural mandate.

The proposed internship should provide the participant with relevant professional experience and clearly defined learning or development opportunities.

Why the Program Matters

Emerging artists and cultural workers often need practical professional experience, mentorship, and opportunities to build sector networks.

The CultivART Indigenous Program addresses these needs by combining paid employment, structured mentorship, and professional development.

The program benefits both participants and host organizations by:

• Building Indigenous creative-sector talent.
• Improving access to professional opportunities.
• Supporting knowledge transfer between generations and peers.
• Creating stronger relationships between Indigenous professionals and arts institutions.
• Encouraging greater diversity and inclusion in Montréal’s cultural sector.

Internship Structure

Each supported internship lasts approximately six months.

The expected structure is:

• Duration: Approximately 6 months.
• Workload: Approximately 650 hours.
• Intern compensation: $12,500.
• Mentorship: Approximately 150 hours.
• Mentor support: Up to $5,000.
• Internship expenses: $2,500.
• Total grant: $20,000.

The organization should establish clear objectives, responsibilities, activities, and expected outcomes before the internship begins.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the ORORA portal.

Step 1: Confirm Organizational Eligibility

Ensure that the organization:

• Is an eligible non-profit organization or artists’ cooperative.
• Is based on the Island of Montréal.
• Meets the applicable board composition requirements.
• Has an eligible arts or cultural mandate.
• Has not already submitted another CultivART Indigenous internship application during the same year.

Step 2: Identify the Intern

Select an emerging Indigenous artist or cultural worker who meets the program requirements.

The organization should consider:

• The intern’s artistic or cultural practice.
• Professional development goals.
• Relevant skills and experience.
• How the internship will contribute to career development.
• The relationship between the intern’s interests and the organization’s activities.

Step 3: Identify a Mentor

Choose an eligible Indigenous or racialized artist or cultural worker who can provide meaningful professional guidance.

The mentor’s experience should be relevant to the intern’s planned activities and development objectives.

Step 4: Develop the Internship Plan

Create a detailed plan covering:

• Internship activities.
• Learning objectives.
• Professional development goals.
• Mentor responsibilities.
• Timeline.
• Expected outcomes.
• How the intern will participate in the organization’s work.

Step 5: Prepare the Budget

The application should clearly account for the $20,000 grant, including:

• $12,500 for the intern.
• Up to $5,000 for the mentor.
• $2,500 for internship expenses.

Applicants should ensure that the proposed budget is realistic and consistent with the planned activities.

Step 6: Submit Through ORORA

Complete the detailed application through the ORORA portal.

The application should include information about:

• The organization.
• The intern.
• The mentor.
• Internship activities.
• Objectives.
• Timeline.
• Budget.
• Expected professional development outcomes.

How Applications Are Evaluated

Applications are evaluated by the Indigenous Arts Committee.

A strong proposal should clearly demonstrate:

• Organizational eligibility.
• A meaningful professional development opportunity.
• A suitable relationship between the intern and mentor.
• Clear internship objectives.
• Relevant and achievable activities.
• A realistic timeline.
• Appropriate use of the grant.
• Potential benefits for the intern’s artistic or cultural career.

Approximately five internships are awarded during each cycle.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying with an organization that does not meet the Montréal residency requirements.
• Proposing an unpaid or poorly structured internship.
• Selecting an intern who does not meet the Indigenous eligibility requirements.
• Selecting a mentor who does not meet the program criteria.
• Providing vague professional development objectives.
• Failing to explain the mentor’s role.
• Submitting an incomplete budget.
• Forgetting that the organization can apply for only one internship per year.
• Providing insufficient information about the internship timeline and activities.

Tips for a Strong Application

Organizations can improve their application by:

• Clearly defining what the intern will learn.
• Connecting internship activities to the intern’s career goals.
• Choosing a mentor with directly relevant experience.
• Establishing measurable professional development objectives.
• Providing a realistic six-month work plan.
• Explaining how the organization will support the intern.
• Showing how the internship benefits both the participant and the broader Indigenous arts and culture sector.
• Clearly allocating the $20,000 grant across eligible costs.

Key Program Details

• Program: CultivART Indigenous Program – Organization Component
• Funder: Conseil des arts de Montréal
• Purpose: Paid internships for emerging Indigenous artists and cultural workers
• Location: Island of Montréal
• Grant: Up to $20,000 per internship
• Intern compensation: $12,500
• Mentor support: Up to $5,000
• Internship expenses: $2,500
• Duration: Approximately 6 months
• Workload: Approximately 650 hours
• Mentorship: Approximately 150 hours
• Eligible interns: First Nations, Inuit, or Métis artists and cultural workers residing in Canada
• Eligible mentors: Indigenous or racialized artists or cultural workers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Applications: ORORA portal
• Applications per organization: One internship per year
• Selection body: Indigenous Arts Committee
• Approximate awards per cycle: Five internships

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CultivART Indigenous Program?

The CultivART Indigenous Program – Organization Component provides funding to eligible Montréal arts and culture organizations to host paid internships for emerging Indigenous artists and cultural workers.

How much funding is available per internship?

Each selected internship receives a total grant of $20,000. The funding includes $12,500 for the intern, up to $5,000 for the mentor, and $2,500 for internship-related expenses.

How long does the internship last?

The internship lasts approximately six months, with a workload of around 650 hours.

Who can participate as an intern?

Interns must be Indigenous artists or cultural workers who are First Nations, Inuit, or Métis of Canada and reside in Canada.

Who can serve as a mentor?

Mentors must be Indigenous or racialized artists or cultural workers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. They are expected to provide approximately 150 hours of mentorship.

Can an organization apply for more than one internship?

No. An organization may apply for one internship per year under the program.

Where are applications submitted?

Applications must be submitted through the ORORA portal and should include information about the organization, intern, mentor, activities, objectives, timeline, and budget.

Conclusion

The CultivART Indigenous Program – Organization Component provides a structured pathway for emerging Indigenous artists and cultural workers to gain paid professional experience while receiving dedicated mentorship. With up to $20,000 available per internship, the program supports intern compensation, mentorship, and eligible internship expenses, helping strengthen Indigenous participation, professional development, and representation within Montréal’s arts and culture sector.

For more information, visit Montreal Arts Council.