Deadline: 21-Oct-2025
The Ontario Arts Council is accepting applications for its Literary Creation Projects Grant Program to support Ontario-based literary artists to complete new works for book-length publication or for public performance, and literary performers who wish to record their own repertoire.
The program provides funding to support different aspects of literary creation and performance. Grants of $5,000 are available for the creation of literary works for performance, up to $10,000 for recording works created for performance, and up to $15,000 for combined creation and recording. Due to the high number of applications and limited funds, awards in the higher categories may be smaller than requested.
The program funds the creation and recording of original literary work for performance, with performance literatures including spoken word, storytelling, sound poetry, dub poetry, and American Sign Language literature. Creation grants support artist fees, research expenses, and related project activities. Recording grants cover studio time, fees for supporting artists and recording professionals, manufacturing of up to 1,000 physical copies, and digital distribution setup, marketing, and publicity costs.
Additional supports include childcare and dependent care costs directly enabling participation in the project, as well as expenses to make the project accessible to participants or audiences who are Deaf or have disabilities. Applicants identifying as Deaf or as having a disability may also apply for supplementary funds through the Accessibility Fund: Project Support.
Certain activities and works are not eligible under this program, such as writing for film, radio, television, theatre, or interactive digital media, editorial services, publication expenses, audiobooks, documentary recordings of works created for publication, and projects in languages other than English. Works in French and Indigenous languages are supported under separate Ontario Arts Council programs.
The funded activity must not finish before applicants receive grant results and must be completed within two years of results notification. Recording projects must be fully completed within this timeframe, while creation-only projects may continue beyond but must have all grant funds spent within two years.
Eligible applicants include Ontario residents with a professional history in dub, sound or performance poetry, storytelling, ASL poetry, or other performance literature forms. Those with a professional publishing history who meet eligibility for the Literary Creation Projects: Works for Publication program may also apply if they have a qualifying project. Applicants must meet the Ontario Arts Council’s definition of a professional artist or arts professional, be at least 18 years of age, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have an application pending for permanent residency, and have resided in Ontario for at least 12 consecutive months prior to application.
The deadline for applications is October 21, 2025, at 1 p.m. ET, with results expected approximately four and a half months later. Applications must be submitted through Nova, the Ontario Arts Council’s online granting system. Applicants will need to provide basic project information, responses to application questions, two audio or video recordings of recent performances (up to five minutes total), a history of their performed literary work, and supporting documentation. Successful applicants must also provide a final report including project outcomes, budget, work samples, and recognition of Ontario Arts Council support.
For more information, visit Ontario Arts Council.