Deadline: 02-Sep-26
The Montreal Arts Council supports professional artist collectives and non-profit arts organizations in Montreal to develop creative projects in neighbourhoods where artistic activity is less present. The program provides financial assistance for research, creation, and production projects developed in collaboration with local community partners and rooted in the needs, identity, and characteristics of the targeted territory.
About the Program
The initiative is designed to strengthen artistic vitality across the Island of Montreal by encouraging professional artists and arts organizations to work directly with community actors.
Supported projects should connect artistic practice with the local context and create meaningful opportunities for collaboration outside the traditional cultural sector.
The program supports projects that:
- Encourage creative collaboration between artists and community partners.
- Respond to the characteristics and needs of a specific Montreal neighbourhood.
- Highlight the identity, history, experiences, or strengths of local residents.
- Create suitable conditions for professional artistic practice.
- Encourage partnerships between the arts and non-cultural sectors.
- Support diverse artistic approaches across the Island of Montreal.
- Respond to initiatives emerging from priority communities or groups.
What Projects Are Supported?
Funding is intended for research, creation, or production projects developed with community partners.
A proposed project should be rooted in the selected neighbourhood or territory and demonstrate how artistic activity will contribute to local engagement and vitality.
Eligible project costs may include:
- Artist remuneration.
- Artistic creation expenses.
- Technical production costs.
- Rental of spaces for artistic creation.
- Rental of rehearsal spaces.
- Other eligible costs directly related to developing or producing the project.
Projects should demonstrate genuine collaboration rather than simply delivering an artistic activity to a community.
Funding Available
Financial assistance can cover up to 90% of eligible project costs.
The remaining 10% of the financial package must be represented by contributions from the community partner, including:
- Services.
- In-kind contributions.
- Other eligible non-cash support.
This structure means applicants should establish a clear partnership with the community organization or actor before submitting their application.
Why It Matters
Artistic activity is not distributed evenly across Montreal. This initiative seeks to strengthen cultural participation and creative activity in neighbourhoods where artistic vitality is less present.
The program can help professional artists and arts organizations:
- Develop new artistic work.
- Build relationships with local communities.
- Explore new creative practices.
- Work with partners outside the cultural sector.
- Improve access to professional artistic opportunities.
- Reflect local identities and experiences through artistic creation.
- Establish longer-term community and institutional partnerships.
The emphasis on local collaboration also allows artists to develop projects that respond to specific neighbourhood contexts rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Who Is Eligible?
The program is open to professional artist collectives and non-profit arts organizations that meet the program’s requirements.
Professional Artist Collectives
Eligible collectives must:
- Include at least two professional artists.
- Have a majority of members residing on the Island of Montreal.
- Be represented by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Meet the applicable general eligibility requirements for professional artistic collectives.
Individual artists cannot apply independently under this program.
Non-Profit Arts Organizations
Eligible non-profit arts organizations must:
- Have their head office in Montreal.
- Meet the applicable requirements for non-profit arts organizations.
- Have a board composed mainly of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
- Operate as an eligible arts organization.
Community Partnership Requirement
A central requirement is collaboration with a community partner.
Applicants must provide a confirmation letter from the partner as part of the application.
The partnership should demonstrate that:
- The partner understands and supports the proposed project.
- The project is relevant to the targeted community.
- The partner is contributing to the project.
- The collaboration is meaningful and appropriate to the local context.
Applicants should therefore establish the partnership before finalizing their proposal.
Geographic Eligibility
Projects must take place in areas of Montreal where artistic vitality is less present.
The proposed project should have a clear relationship with the selected territory and its residents.
Applicants should explain why the neighbourhood is appropriate for the project and how the initiative responds to its local context.
Who Is Not Eligible?
The following applicants or projects are generally excluded:
- Individual artists applying alone.
- For-profit entities.
- Collectives that do not meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
- Arts organizations that do not meet the required organizational conditions.
- Organizations focused solely on artistic dissemination.
- Organizations focused solely on education.
- Projects completed before the Conseil’s funding decision.
- Projects that do not meet the required community partnership conditions.
- Projects outside eligible areas of Montreal.
How to Apply
Applicants should develop their proposal around the artistic project, community partnership, and local context.
Step 1: Identify an Eligible Territory
Select a neighbourhood or area of Montreal where artistic vitality is less present and where the proposed project can provide a meaningful artistic and community benefit.
Step 2: Develop the Artistic Project
Define whether the project focuses primarily on:
- Research.
- Artistic creation.
- Production.
Explain the artistic concept, objectives, proposed activities, expected results, and relevance to the selected territory.
Step 3: Establish a Community Partnership
Identify a suitable local community partner and develop the collaboration before submitting the application.
The partner should understand its role and provide the required confirmation letter.
Step 4: Explain the Local Impact
Clearly describe:
- Why the project is relevant to the neighbourhood.
- Who will benefit.
- How residents or community actors will participate.
- How the project reflects the territory or its residents.
- How the collaboration strengthens local artistic vitality.
Step 5: Prepare the Budget
Prepare a realistic project budget covering eligible expenses such as artist fees, creation costs, technical costs, and space rental.
The funding structure can cover up to 90% of project costs, while the partner’s services or in-kind contributions must account for the remaining 10% of the financial package.
Step 6: Submit the Application
Submit the completed application and required supporting documents, including the community partner’s confirmation letter.
Applicants should ensure that the project has not been completed before the Conseil’s decision, as completed projects are not eligible for support.
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants can strengthen their proposals by clearly connecting the artistic concept with the local community.
Important considerations include:
- Demonstrate genuine collaboration: Explain the partner’s role rather than presenting the partnership as a formality.
- Show local relevance: Identify specific characteristics, needs, or strengths of the targeted neighbourhood.
- Explain artistic value: Clearly describe what makes the proposed creative work professionally and artistically significant.
- Define community benefits: Explain who will benefit and how.
- Build a realistic budget: Ensure the requested financial assistance and partner contribution are clearly presented.
- Demonstrate feasibility: Provide a practical timeline and explain how the collective or organization will deliver the project.
- Avoid completed activities: Do not complete the project before the Conseil’s funding decision.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying as an individual artist.
- Selecting a location that does not meet the program’s geographic focus.
- Submitting without a community partner confirmation letter.
- Treating an in-kind contribution as an unspecified or unsupported amount.
- Failing to explain the project’s connection to local residents.
- Focusing only on artistic dissemination or education.
- Applying through a for-profit entity.
- Starting or completing the project before the funding decision.
- Providing insufficient information about the partner’s involvement.
Key Program Details
- Funding organization: Montreal Arts Council
- Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Eligible applicants: Professional artist collectives and eligible non-profit arts organizations
- Minimum collective size: Two artists
- Maximum assistance: Up to 90% of project costs
- Partner contribution: 10% of the financial package through services or in-kind support
- Eligible activities: Research, creation, and production
- Eligible costs: Artist remuneration, creation and technical costs, and creation/rehearsal space rental
- Community partnership: Required
- Partner confirmation letter: Required
- Geographic focus: Montreal areas where artistic vitality is less present
- Retroactive projects: Not eligible
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Montreal Arts Council community collaboration program?
It is a funding initiative supporting professional artist collectives and non-profit arts organizations to develop research, creation, or production projects in Montreal neighbourhoods where artistic vitality is less present.
How much funding can a project receive?
The financial assistance can cover up to 90% of eligible project costs. Contributions in services or in kind from the community partner constitute the remaining 10% of the financial package.
Can an individual artist apply?
No. Individual artists are not eligible to apply alone. Professional artists must apply through an eligible collective meeting the program requirements.
Is a community partner required?
Yes. Projects must involve a community partner, and applicants must provide a confirmation letter from the partner with the application.
What types of expenses can the funding cover?
Eligible assistance may cover artist remuneration, artistic creation and technical costs, and rental of spaces used for creation or rehearsal, subject to the program’s applicable rules.
Where must the project take place?
Projects must be carried out in Montreal areas where artistic vitality is less present and should demonstrate a clear connection with the targeted territory and its residents.
Can a completed project receive funding?
No. Projects completed before the Montreal Arts Council’s funding decision are not eligible.
Conclusion
The Montreal Arts Council’s community collaboration funding provides professional artists and non-profit arts organizations with an opportunity to develop meaningful creative projects in Montreal neighbourhoods with lower levels of artistic vitality. By combining artistic creation with strong local partnerships, the program seeks to expand cultural participation, strengthen community connections, and support diverse forms of professional artistic practice across Montreal.
For more information, visit Montreal Arts Council.