Arts Grants Fund

Thriving communities support the Arts.

WRCF established the Arts Grants Fund in 2020 and continues to provide funding through arts focused grants based on the needs in our community, and indicators of the impact of this fund.

In 2024, $747,000 was distributed to organizations, individual artists, and art collectives in Waterloo Region through WRCF and the Region of Waterloo. Read our press release for additional information. The funding includes:

$502,000 to 37 small and mid-sized arts organizations and arts initiatives at community organizations through funding provided by WRCF’s Arts Grants Fund and several Fundholders, as well as $100,000 from the Region of Waterloo
$15,000 through WRCF’s Arts Grants Fund, as part of a collaboration with the City of Waterloo, that donated another $10,000 to provide a total of $25,000 to support individual artists in our region through the Microgrant Program facilitated by Pat the Dog Theatre Creation
$230,000 to 36 individual artists and arts collectives, through funding provided by the Region of Waterloo

For more information about WRCF’s Arts Grants Fund, contact info@wrcf.ca. For information about arts funding through the Region of Waterloo, contact culturalservices@regionofwaterloo.ca.

The Arts Grants Fund reinforces WRCF’s approach to encouraging self-led activities, with two volunteer committees from the local arts community developing the funding guidelines, reviewing applications and determining funding recipients and allocations for the two grant streams: (1) for organizations, qualified donees or those working with a Fiscal Partner; (2) for individual artists or art collectives without a Fiscal Partner.

WRCF is partnered with the Region of Waterloo for one year to maintain support for artists, collectives and arts organizations through the Region, while the Region completes a review of the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund Model. To learn more visit here.

We also appreciate the collaboration from the City of Waterloo in funding microgrants through Pat the Dog Theatre Creation

If you would like to support WRCF’s Arts Grants Fund, and have your donation assist with funding applications that WRCF receives, please click here to make your donation.

How can you apply?

The Arts Grants Fund accepted applications to both the Organizations and Individual Artists & Collectives grant streams between August 6, 2024 and September 16, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. (EST). Applications are now closed.

Downloadable documents to assist you when applying

We have included information below based on the grant stream you are applying to. You will find the funding guidelines for each grant stream, a copy of all the questions you will see in the applications, the evaluation form that you will be asked to complete if you receive funding, and the budget template that we ask you submit along with your application. For Organizations that are working with a Fiscal Partner to submit their applications – we’ve also included a link to the form you will need to complete.

Organization that is a registered charity, other qualified donee, or working with a Fiscal Partner

Individual Artist or Arts Collective applying without a Fiscal Partner

(Note: You have the option of submitting a paper or verbal application. If you prefer to submit a verbal application, please contact grants@wrcf.ca no later than September 1, 2024, at 4:00 pm (EST) to set up a time to do this.)

For questions and support with the Arts Grants Fund contact us at grants@wrcf.ca.

If you are an Individual Artist or Arts Collective and you have questions or need support, please refer to culturalservices@regionofwaterloo.ca.

Information Sessions: Arts Grants Fund
We hosted an informational webinar on August 2, 2024. You will find a recording of the video above.

Information Session: Individual Artists and Arts Collectives Grant
We hosted an informational webinar on August 2, 2024. You will find a recording of the video above.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

WRCF gathers data to connect local impact to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Applications to the Arts Grants Fund will ask charities to indicate which one(s) your funding requests align with. (Note: Responses to this question will not be a factor in the review and potential funding of an application).

Visit the United Nations website to learn more about the 17 UN SDGs by clicking the button below.

Learn more about the 17 UN SDGs