Explore and Create: Concept to Realization Program 2025 (Canada)

The Concept to Realization component of Explore and Create supports the full creative cycle from the initial idea through to presentation, at any stage of the creative continuum. Grants provide support for artistic research, creation, project development, remounts, production, post-production and presentation.

You can apply for:

• a project grants for a single project
• a composite grant for a 1-3 year grant for multiple projects.

Funding Information

• Project requests: Normally up to $60 000, exceptionally up to $100 000.
• Composite requests: Normally up to $60 000 per year, exceptionally up to $100 000 (to a maximum of $300 000 over 3 years).

Eligible Expenses 

• Direct costs related to the activity, including:
  • professional fees or compensation for working on the project (for you and the people you hire)
  • child/dependent care costs if required to complete the activities (not including regular, ongoing expenses)
  • equipment purchases required specifically for the activity (not including equipment related to a building)
    • maximum of $1,000 per item purchased
    • total combined cost up to 10% of the grant awarded.

Eligible Activities

• Support for creative research, project development, creation and production that result in:
  • a public presentation
  • a confirmed exhibition
  • a media arts or digital arts production ready for dissemination

Ineligible Activities

• An artist books for visual arts publishers or visual artists
  • literary writing projects are not eligible
  • self-publishing and author-subsidized publishing of literary works are not eligible
• In addition to the criteria set out in the applicant profiles, the following activities and expenses are not eligible for grants from the Canada Council:
  • activities proposed by someone under 18 years old
  • activities that are illegal according to the Criminal Code of Canada
  • artistic activities that are led by non-professionals (this does not apply to new and early career artists)
  • activities that are carried out to satisfy the course requirements of an educational institution
  • activities that directly support the delivery of an educational program or course
  • activities that are funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) (unless applying to a component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples)
  • self-publishing or author-subsidized publishing of literary works (unless applying to a component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples)
  • activities carried out by organizations that have not paid, or do not pay, fees or royalties to artists according the standards of the arts practice or sector
  • fundraising activities

Eligibility Criteria

• Types of potential applicants to this component include:
  • Artists
  • artistic groups and collectives
  • artistic organizations
  • visual arts publishers
• You may be eligible for Application Assistance to pay someone to help you with the application process if you are experiencing difficulty and self-identify as:
  • an artist who is Deaf, hard of hearing, has a disability or is living with a mental illness
  • a First Nations, Inuit or Métis artist facing language, geographic and/or cultural barriers.

Application Requirements

• Once registered in the portal, you will need to provide information about:
  • your project and its potential impact
  • the key artist(s) leading the project and short biographies
  • your plans for distribution, exhibition, dissemination and promotion
  • professional fees and safe working conditions for the hired artists and technical staff (if applicable)
  • your timeline
  • your budget
• You will also need to include:
  • samples of previous work(s) or the work-in-progress
  • confirmation of support from partners, a presenter, producer, exhibitor or, if applicable, a co-production agreement
  • relevant document related to your project.

For more information, visit Canada Council for the Arts.