Culture and media programs for Indigenous businesses and communities

Ranked programs

11 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Celebrate Canada Funding Program

   Canadian Heritage

   Funds community activities held on National Indigenous Peoples Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day.

   OpenFederalGrants
   36

   Worth a look

2. Changing Narratives Fund

   Department of Canadian Heritage

   The Changing Narratives Fund supports diverse communities (Indigenous, Black, racialized, ethno-religious minority, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+) in sharing...

   OngoingFederalGrants
   30

   Worth a look

3. Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program - Events component

   Canadian Heritage

   Funds community events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, discuss multiculturalism and racism, or celebrate a community's history and culture such...

   OpenFederalGrants
   29

   Worth a look

4. Ontario Arts Council Project Grants (35+ programs)

   Ontario Arts Council

   One-time grants for specific projects by Ontario artists, arts professionals, collectives and organizations, delivered through about 40 discipline and priority-group...

   Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $60K
   24

   Long shot

5. Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage - Local Festivals

   Canadian Heritage

   Funds local festivals that celebrate local arts and heritage and encourage community engagement.

   Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $200K
   23

   Long shot

6. Canada Council for the Arts - Creating, Knowing and Sharing (First Nations, Inuit and Metis arts)

   Canada Council for the Arts

   Funds Indigenous individuals, groups and Indigenous-led arts organizations that foster a vital and resilient Indigenous arts ecosystem, via five funding opportunities...

   OngoingFederalGrants
   22

   Long shot

7. Movable Cultural Property Grants

   Department of Canadian Heritage

   Movable Cultural Property Grants help designated organizations, Indigenous governing bodies, and Indigenous-led heritage organizations acquire cultural property or...

   OngoingFederalGrants
   22

   Long shot

8. Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF)

   Canadian Heritage

   Supports improving physical conditions for arts, heritage and creative innovation, including renovation projects and the acquisition of specialized equipment for...

   OngoingFederalGrants
   20

   Long shot

9. Indigenous Languages Program (Indigenous Languages Component, Canadian Heritage)

   Canadian Heritage

   Supports Indigenous communities and organizations to reclaim, revitalize, maintain and strengthen Indigenous languages through distinctions-based funding models, plus...

   OpenFederalGrants
   18

   Long shot

10. Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF)

    Canadian Heritage

    Financial assistance to organizations that professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series, and to presenter support organizations; supports about 800...

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    17

    Long shot

11. Museums Assistance Program (MAP)

    Canadian Heritage

    Supports heritage institutions and workers to preserve and present heritage collections, with components for Indigenous Heritage, Access to Heritage, Exhibition...

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    15

    Long shot

Questions

How many culture and media programs for Indigenous businesses and communities are open right now?

Of the 15 culture and media programs for Indigenous businesses and communities in our database, 7 are open or ongoing and 4 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Oct 31, 2026; programs can change without notice.

Which culture and media programs for Indigenous businesses and communities rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Celebrate Canada Funding Program (36, Worth a look), Changing Narratives Fund (30, Worth a look), Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program - Events component (29, Worth a look). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 7 open or ongoing programs here, 7 are in our Grants category, 0 are loans and 0 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

7 of the 7 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 0 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.