The Canada Council for the Arts has recently announced the $200 million Strategic Innovation Fund. From 2021 to 2026, the Canada Council for the Arts will invest in innovation and rebuilding the arts sector. The purpose behind the fund is to support organizations in their efforts to take risks, build capacity, share knowledge, find new networks, create prototypes, and scale up ambitious solutions. There are three main components to the fund; Seed, Cultivate and Grow.
- Seed Grants: The program focuses on innovation projects that address systemic issues in the arts sector. Funding for Seed grants is up to $25,000. There is no deadline for this grant.
- Cultivate Grants: Future-oriented innovation projects that address systemic issues in the sector and attempt to rebuild a more reliant sector. The maximum amount for the Cultivate grant is $250,000. The grant deadlines are May 11, 2022 and November 16, 2022.
- Grow Grants: provide multi-year support of up to $1,000,000 for a limited number of longer-term collaborative initiatives that propose solutions within and beyond the arts sector. The deadline to submit an expression of interest form is April 13, 2022, by 11:59pm PT to grow@canadacouncil.ca.