OAC is an agency that operates at arm’s length from the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. The OAC’s grants and services to professional, Ontario-based artists and arts organizations support arts education, Indigenous arts, community arts, crafts, dance, Francophone arts, literature, media arts, multidisciplinary arts, music, theatre, touring, and visual arts. The OAC is directed by 12 volunteer board (council) members who come from communities throughout the province. They are appointed by the Government of Ontario for a three-year term. The OAC’s board is responsible for setting OAC’s policies and oversees the organization’s operation.

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) provides grants to Ontario-based individual artists and arts professionals, ad hoc groups/collectives and organizations. Grants support a range of arts activities and disciplines.

The OAC offers two types of grant programs:

• Project grants – one-time grants for specific projects, available to individual artists, ad hoc groups/collectives and organizations
• Operating grants – ongoing support for Ontario-based, not-for-profit arts organizations and for-profit book and magazine publishers

OAC funding streams:

• Creating and Presenting
• Building Audiences and Markets
• Engaging Communities and Schools
• Developing Careers and Arts Services

For a more granting guidance, check out the OAC granting page.