Deadline: 11-Sep-2025
The Ontario Arts Council is accepting applications for its Music Creation Projects Grant Program. This program is designed to support professional artists based in Ontario in creating original musical works across all genres and career stages.
There are two categories of support. In the self-directed creation category, individual creators apply for funding to compose or write new music independently, making all creative decisions themselves. In the commissioning category, a composer or songwriter works with a commissioner, such as another artist, group, or arts organization, that commits to presenting the new work.
The program gives priority to projects that demonstrate outstanding creativity in composition or songwriting. It also favors those that expand the musical repertoire available to performers and audiences and those that contribute to arts education or community engagement, such as composing for children’s choirs.
Funding is available up to $4,000 for self-directed creation projects and up to $20,000 for commissioning projects.
Eligible applicants include Ontario-based professional artists, ad hoc groups, collectives, and organizations. Individual applicants must be at least 18 years old, a resident of Ontario, and either a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or someone with pending permanent residency status. They must be recognized professionals with a track record of public presentation and payment for their work.
Ad hoc groups or collectives must have at least two members who meet individual eligibility criteria and at least 50% of their members residing in Ontario. These groups cannot be incorporated and must be able to receive grant payments under their collective name.
Incorporated not-for-profit organizations must be registered in Ontario or federally, have a head office in Ontario, and be governed by a volunteer or advisory board. Eligible for-profit applicants include Ontario-based Canadian-owned book or magazine publishers eligible for OAC’s publishing programs.
Colleges or universities may also apply if they are Ontario-based, registered through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and involve professional Ontario artists in their programming. Municipalities, school boards, First Nations, or Indigenous-administered schools may also apply if they present or engage professional Ontario artists and have staff responsible for arts programming.
However, ad hoc groups, collectives, and organizations are not eligible to apply to the self-directed creation category, though individuals may create collaboratively. Professional composers or songwriters currently enrolled in composition or songwriting programs are also ineligible for the self-directed creation category. They may still apply in the commissioning category if the work is clearly separate from their academic studies and professionally contracted.
Applications must include project details, responses to application questions, a budget, and two to three artistic samples in audio or video format. Supporting documents such as artist bios or résumés, score excerpts or lyrics, and, in commissioning cases, a letter from the commissioner must also be provided.
For more information, visit Ontario Arts Council.
