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Application guidelines – Local Festivals

Building Communities through Arts and Heritage

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Objectives and expected results for the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program

The Building Communities through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) program helps you celebrate your community, its past and its present. The program increases opportunities for local artists; local artisans; local heritage performers or specialists; and local First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultural carriers to be involved in their community. It also allows local groups to commemorate their local history and heritage.

Expected results for the BCAH program:

  • local residents have the opportunity to get involved in their community through the arts and heritage;
  • local artists, local artisans, local heritage performers or specialists, local cultural carriers and local Indigenous Elders have the opportunity to get involved in their community;
  • local community associations and businesses have the opportunity to support the local festivals and commemorative projects; and
  • local residents have access to local arts and local heritage.

Objectives for the Local Festivals component

The Local Festivals component provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, local artisans, local heritage performers or specialists, and local First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultural carriers. This includes the celebration of 2SLGBTQI+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations.

  • Objective 1: Integrate local artists, local artisans, local heritage performers and specialists, local cultural carriers, and local Indigenous Elders into the community through the delivery of in-person arts and heritage activities.
  • Objective 2: Integrate local community support into the planning and delivery of arts and heritage activities.
  • Objective 3: Provide local residents with opportunities to get involved by volunteering in their community through the planning and delivery of arts and heritage activities.
  • Objective 4: Provide local residents with access to their own local arts and heritage.

Application deadlines

  • January 31 – for festivals starting between September 1 and December 31 of the same calendar year.
  • April 30 – for festivals starting between January 1 and June 30 of the next calendar year.
  • October 15 – for festivals starting between July 1 and August 31 of the next calendar year.

The online application portal will open approximately 6 weeks prior to the application deadline.

When the application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it is postponed to the next business day.

Eligibility

The program is responsible for determining the eligibility of each applicant, their project and any project-related expenses.

Requests for funding consistently exceed our available resources. If your group is eligible for funding, submitting an application does not guarantee that the amount requested will be the amount awarded.

Who can apply

To be eligible for funding, your organization must:

  • be a local non-profit incorporated organization
  • be a local non-profit unincorporated group
  • be a local band council, a local tribal council or other local Indigenous government (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) or equivalent authority

The following are not eligible:

  • individuals
  • for-profit businesses
  • municipal, provincial, territorial, or federal governments and their agencies, councils or commissions
  • educational institutions, including universities, colleges and school boards
  • public libraries
  • hospitals
  • groups and organizations with a religious mandate
  • groups with an exclusively provincial, territorial, national or international mandate
  • groups who have more than 50% of their board members living in another locality, region or province
  • unions

Eligible projects

To be eligible for funding from the Local Festivals component, your project must meet all eligibility criteria.

Primarily Local Arts and Heritage

  • Your festival must feature dedicated live, in-person, eligible arts and heritage activities as a primary component, meaning as the majority (more than 50%) of its programming.
  • Eligible arts and heritage activities include live performances of music, dance, and theatre, arts and heritage demonstrations and workshops, sharing of cultural traditions, and audience engagement activities related to arts and heritage, such as question-and-answer sessions with artists/performers, arts and heritage panel discussions, and artist talks.
  • Your festival’s eligible arts and heritage activities must be delivered primarily by local artists, local artisans, local heritage performers or specialists, local cultural carriers, and local Indigenous Elders. Refer to the glossary at the end of this page for a definition of “local”.

Activities undertaken in the context of Indigenous celebrations that present eligible arts and heritage activities, such as Pow wows, seasonal celebrations, traditional knowledge gatherings, and events that showcase Indigenous artistic, cultural, or heritage practices are eligible.

Duration and Timing

  • Your festival must run for more than one calendar day and take place within a maximum four-week (28 day) period. Activities may be on non-consecutive days but must be within this time frame.
  • Your festival must present eligible arts and heritage activities on more than one calendar day.

Other Eligibility Requirements Your Festival Must Meet

Your project must:

  • be a recurring arts and heritage festival that has completed at least one prior edition:
    • The most recent edition must have taken place within two years of the proposed edition and must have met all eligibility requirements of the program.
  • present a balanced budget, where total expenses equal total revenues;
  • integrate volunteers in the planning and delivery of the festival;
  • receive cash or in-kind support from local community supporters;
  • receive financial or other tangible support from your municipality or equivalent authority for the proposed edition of your festival;
  • be open to the general public and designed to be accessible (physical access, affordability, inclusiveness);
  • be inclusive of diverse communities, including Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, and Canadians of various faiths, cultures, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities; and
  • be promoted to the local community through publicly accessible channels.

Applicants who received BCAH funding for a previous project must submit a Final Report. Subsequent applications cannot be considered until the Final Report has been submitted.

The following are not eligible:

  • activities of a religious or political nature
  • activities of a primarily commercial nature, including food preparation for community meals and for sales, art and craft sales, or book fairs
  • sports or recreational activities
  • entertainment activities unrelated to arts and heritage (e.g. bouncy castles)
  • activities whose primary purpose is fundraising or contest
  • film screenings and activities that are exclusively virtual
  • activities taking place outside of Canada
  • activities of a provincial, territorial, national or international nature
  • celebration of historical events that did not take place in Canada
  • activities that are, in whole or in part, an extension of your organization’s regular or permanent programming
  • programming that exclusively features activities presented by board members of the applicant
  • conferences and other events not intended for the general public
  • festivals that receive funding under the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, or one of the components of Canadian Heritage’s Celebration and Commemoration Program (such as Celebrate Canada)
  • events that celebrate Canada Day (July 1); National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21); Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24); Canadian Multiculturalism Day (June 27); National Acadian Day (August 15); National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) and other national holidays

Eligible expenses

Only project-related cash expenses are eligible and may include:

  • fees and expenses of local artists, local artisans, local heritage performers or specialists, local cultural carriers and local Indigenous Elders;
  • fees and expenses for temporary event contractors, for example, technical production, event coordination;
  • expenses related to the rental and temporary installation of certain items, such as lighting and sound, venues and tents;
  • expenses related to event logistics, for example, security barriers, portable toilets, garbage bins;
  • expenses related to copyright and operating licenses;
  • expenses related to advertising and promotion targeted to the local population;
  • fees and expenses related to translation costs into French, English, local Indigenous languages, and ASL interpretation;
  • fees and expenses related to volunteer management, including training, coordination and recognition, for example, first-aid courses, food and non-alcoholic beverages, distinctive clothing for volunteers;
  • expenses related to a financial audit when one is required by the program; and
  • expenses for insurance for eligible activities.

Recipients are strongly encouraged to obtain insurance to cover their own and their volunteers’ activities within the context of the event/project.

The following are not eligible:

  • your organization’s ongoing operating expenses, including salaries, utilities, employee travel, equipment and furniture purchase and maintenance, and vehicle costs
  • fees and expenses of non-local artists, artisans, heritage performers or specialists, cultural carriers, and Indigenous Elders
  • fees and expenses related to the commission, purchase, repair, or restoration of works of art or craft
  • costs related to creation, such as rehearsals, room rentals and creators’ fees
  • costs related to production, such as costumes, decor, floats and display cases
  • costs related to the research, planning and creation of books and exhibitions
  • alcohol permits and any other alcohol-related expense
  • fees and expenses related to digital or virtual programming, and live streaming
  • fees and expenses related to the purchase of equipment and other capital expenses, such as computers, stages, raised platforms, lighting and sound material
  • expenses related to the creation, production or distribution of souvenirs, such as t-shirts, mugs, keychains, or any product produced in large numbers
  • fees and expenses for security personnel and ambulance services
  • fireworks

The program cannot fund expenses incurred before the application deadline. If you incur expenses for your project before receiving written confirmation of your funding approval, you do so at your own risk.

Limits of government assistance

To ensure the success of your project, you must identify other funding sources. This may include contributions from your organization, the private sector or other levels of government.

The total amount of funding that you receive from the Local Festivals component and other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) cannot exceed 100% of your total project-related costs.

The total amount requested may not exceed $200,000. However, due to high demand, actual funding approved often represents a portion of eligible expenses that is less than 100%. As all program funding is shared among all eligible applicants with eligible projects, funding levels vary from year to year depending on demand and available resources.

How to apply

Read these Application Guidelines in their entirety before applying.

You must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package for your project to be considered. Incomplete applications will be rejected. A complete application package consists of the online application and the following supporting documents:

  • a copy of brochures, programs, plans, and promotional material from the previous edition of your festival
  • a completed final report for the previous completed edition of your festival (for previously funded applicants); and
  • a signed copy of the Confirmation of Support from municipal administration, local Indigenous government or equivalent body or a letter from the municipality expressing support for the event. Your application may be accepted and assessed, but will not be approved without the confirmation of financial or other tangible support of the municipal administration.

If your organization is incorporated, you must provide the following:

  • a copy of your organization’s letters patent and documents of incorporation
  • a copy of your organization’s by-laws
  • a copy of your organization’s two most recent financial statements (audited if available)
  • a list of your board of directors, including city or town of residence, and clearly indicating which members are elected representatives or employees from any level of government

If your group is unincorporated, you must provide the following:

If your group is an Indigenous governing body (council, government, or other), you must provide the following:

  • documentation establishing your governance structure and legal authority
  • documentation identifying the individual(s) authorized to sign legally binding documents on your organization’s behalf
  • a list of the current members of your governing body, clearly indicating which members are elected officials or employees of any level of government
  • copies of your two most recent financial statements (audited if available)

Application process

Your application, including all supporting documents, must be submitted electronically through the Canadian Heritage Funding Portal.

If you do not have access to the funding portal, please contact us.

How applications are evaluated

The program funds projects with clear objectives and measurable results.

Funding decisions are based on the number of applications received, and on the amount requested. The evaluation process considers the size of your town or city and could include a review of Internet content and articles in the media about your festival or your organization, and other public documents.

Failure to comply with any conditions of a previously funded project will be considered in the evaluation and could result in a rejection of your new application.

Evaluation criteria

The program only evaluates submitted applications that are complete, meet all eligibility criteria, demonstrate ability to carry out the festival as proposed, and clearly state how the festival aligns with Local Festivals objectives.

Local Festivals objective 1: Integrate local artists, local artisans, local heritage performers or specialists, local cultural carriers and local Indigenous Elders into the community through the delivery of in-person arts and heritage activities.

The program will evaluate:

  • The extent to which eligible arts and heritage activities constitute the majority (more than 50%) of festival programming and are a primary component of the festival.
  • The number of eligible arts and heritage activities in the festival programming that involve local artists and performers.
  • The proportion of local artists and performers relative to non-local artists and performers in your festival’s eligible arts and heritage programming.
  • The degree to which local artists and performers are prominently featured in promotional materials and public communications.

Local Festivals objective 2: Integrate local community support into the planning and delivery of arts and heritage activities.

The program will evaluate:

  • The number of community supporters involved in your festival, such as community associations, historical societies, philanthropic clubs, local businesses and individuals.
  • The type and value of support provided to the festival, including cash and in-kind contributions such as donated goods, services, or expertise.

Local Festivals objective 3: Provide local residents with opportunities to get involved by volunteering in their community through the planning and delivery of arts and heritage activities.

  • The number of volunteers who participate in the planning and realization of your festival.
  • The estimated total number of volunteer hours dedicated to the planning and realization of your festival.

Local Festivals objective 4: Provide local residents with access to their own local arts and heritage.

The program will evaluate:

  • The estimated total attendance across all festival activities, dates, and venues.
  • The extent to which your festival is accessible, including physical access, affordability, welcoming of all participants, and other accessibility features.
  • The extent to which the festival’s promotional activities clearly target and inform the local community about the festival, its location, dates and programming.

Organizational Capacity and Feasibility

The program will also evaluate your organization’s ability to deliver the project as proposed, taking into account:

  • Your ability to carry out the festival on a reasonable and balanced budget (without surplus or deficit).
  • The results of previous editions of your festival, particularly how they contributed to the Local Festivals objectives.
  • The adequacy of your contingency plans for weather, budget changes, staffing and volunteer capacity, and artist availability.
  • The extent to which Official languages requirements will be met, as outlined below.
  • The extent to which Diversity and Inclusion requirements will be met, as outlined below.

Application processing time

Please refer to the Service standards for Canadian Heritage funding programs or contact the program.

The program will acknowledge receipt of your application within two weeks of receiving it. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt within this time, please contact us.

Funding decisions

Please note that all decisions concerning eligibility and funding amounts are final.

How funding is provided

The program will determine whether funding will be disbursed as a grant or as a contribution.

A grant is a payment made to a recipient for a project. The conditions you agree to when you submitted the application will apply. At the end of your project, you may be required to submit a report and participate in the evaluation of results.

A contribution is a conditional payment made to your organization or group for a specific purpose defined in a funding agreement. This agreement is signed by your organization and by the program and outlines the terms and conditions for receiving payments. At the end of your project, you will be required to submit a final report.

Funding conditions

You may be required to submit progress reports during your project and a final report is required. Additional conditions may apply and, if so, will be written into the funding agreement.

Anti-racism and anti-hate

Canadian Heritage is committed to address systemic racism, promote diversity, and create environments where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered. We strive to challenge discriminatory beliefs and practices, cultivate understanding and empathy, and champion policies and programs that advance equality for all.

Organizations receiving funding, including any representatives whether employees, consultants, or other persons directly affiliated with the organization, must take steps to ensure they respect the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.

Workplace well-being

The Government of Canada is strongly committed to promoting healthy workplaces where harassment, abuse and discrimination are not tolerated. Organizations that receive funding from Canadian Heritage must take measures to create a workplace free from harassment, abuse and discrimination.

Official languages requirements

The program is committed to taking positive measures to enhance the vitality of official-language minority communities and promote the use of English and French in Canadian society. If you receive funding, you agree to comply with the official language requirements set out in your application and funding agreement. This may include, for example, the use of both official languages in the material used to promote and inform the community about your project.

Diversity and inclusion

It is expected that all activities undertaken as part of funded projects take into account the needs of all people in Canada, including but not limited to Indigenous peoples and people in Canada of various faiths, cultures, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities and expressions.

Acknowledgement of financial assistance

If you receive funding, you must publicly acknowledge – in English and in French – the financial support received from the Government of Canada in all communications materials and promotional activities. Additional requirements may be included in your funding agreement.

For additional information, please refer to our Guide on the public acknowledgement of financial support.

Access to information requests

Subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, the information you submit in your application may be disclosed in accordance with these acts.

Disclosure of information

By submitting your funding application, you authorize the program to disclose any information submitted with this application within the Government of Canada or to outside entities for the following purposes:

  • to reach a decision;
  • to evaluate the results of your project; and
  • to support transparency, accountability and citizen engagement.

Audits of recipients and evaluation of the program

The program reserves the right to audit your accounts and records to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of your funding agreement. The Department also conducts periodic program evaluations, during which you may be required to present documentation.

You must keep any records, documents, or other information that may be required to perform the audit or the evaluation for five years. Demonstrated failure to maintain such records may result in the repayment of amounts previously received.

Contact us

Canadian Heritage
Building Communities through Arts and Heritage
200 Sacré-Coeur Boulevard
Gatineau, QC  J8X 4C6

Email
info@pch.gc.ca
Telephone
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free)
TTY
1-888-997-3123 (for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired)

Agents are available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (ET)

Regional offices of the Department of Canadian Heritage

Glossary

Articles of association
Document outlining the goal (mandate) of a group and the legitimate purposes that are pursued. This document should provide assurance that the association does not intend to earn a profit and should list the association’s internal rules and regulations.
Artisan
An individual who makes crafts using materials such as glass, wood, stone, textiles and leather, according to ancestral traditions.
Artist
An individual who practices an artistic discipline: music, dance, theatre, literary, visual or media arts.
Arts and Heritage Festival
A festival that presents multiple arts and/or heritage performances, exhibits, demonstrations, or other activities to the public over a defined period of time and within a community or geographic area. Festivals provide opportunities for audiences to experience, celebrate, and engage with artistic expression, cultural practices, traditions, stories, or heritage. Festival activities are promoted and delivered as part of a single festival program under a common festival identity or banner. Arts and heritage activities must constitute the majority of the festival’s programming and be the primary focus and purpose of the festival.
Cash flow
A presentation of all anticipated revenues and planned expenses that will occur over the length of your project. At the beginning of your project, your cash flow will have only forecasted revenues and expenses. Over time, your cash flow will be updated to reflect the actual revenues and expenses.
Community
People who live in and share the same geographical area, which is smaller than a province or a territory, characterized by a shared history, a common culture and heritage.
Community engagement
Community engagement can take many forms. Local residents may be engaged as supporters, volunteers, board members, artists, artisans, heritage performers, heritage specialists, cultural carriers, professionals, consultants, audience members, etc. Local community supporters can include organized groups, local businesses, or individuals. Local supporters may be engaged by providing cash or in-kind support for the festival.
Contest

An activity in which participants are evaluated or judged. The Program will not fund any activities that rank or grade participants, give prizes or ribbons (for example: music/dance competitions, dog-sled racing, and agricultural competitions or rodeos).

Activities undertaken in the context of Indigenous celebrations such as Pow wows are not considered contest for the purpose of this program.

Cultural Carriers
Individuals whose role within First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities supports the preservation, retention, and knowledge transfer of Indigenous worldviews, cultural practices and traditions through art and creative practice. This may include Elders, knowledge keepers, traditional educators and language holders.
Final report
A form submitted at the end of your project based on the requirements in the funding agreement. Your final report provides the results of the activities you have undertaken for the duration of your project. A final report template will be provided to you for completion.
Heritage
Comprises activities related to tangible or intangible attributes related to history. Examples: artifacts, art objects, archives, stories, songs, legends, demonstrations, traditions, historical sites and events.
Heritage performer
A heritage performer typically refers to someone who celebrates or continues a tradition, ancestral practice, art form, or cultural practice that has historical significance. It can be applied to various contexts, such as music, dance, theatre, or historical events.
Indigenous communities
Indigenous communities are First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
In-kind contribution (in-kind support)
In-kind support is considered to be a real contribution to the total planned expenses, but is not reimbursable. Donated goods or services, assessed at market value, may be eligible if they are essential to the project’s success.
Interim report
Report submitted throughout the project according to the requirements set out in the funding agreement. It indicates the results of the activities carried out during a precise period. It also includes a report of work to be done and updated reports on revenue and expenses.
Local

Pertaining to a geographic area defined by the applicant that is smaller than a province or territory, such as a municipal area, traditional territory, or group of neighbouring communities. This area typically reflects a community with shared cultural, social, or economic connections.

And by extension:

  • local artist, local artisan, local heritage performer or specialist, local cultural carrier or local Indigenous Elder: an artist, artisan, heritage performer or specialist, cultural carrier or Indigenous Elder born in, residing in, or having a significant connection to the geographic community
  • local historical event: an occurrence in the past that contributed to shaping the geographic community
  • local organization: a group or organization that, through either its mandate, objectives or activities, clearly engages the geographic community in which it operates. Local organizations must have an active board of at least 3 members, and at least 50% of members must reside in the geographic community of the festival
  • local heritage: historical events or personalities, traditions, practices, and cultural expressions directly linked to the history of the geographic community
  • local historical personality: a person, now deceased, who originated from, lived in or is closely associated with the geographic community where the event will take place
Location of activities
The location where the activities take place (performance hall, outdoor amphitheatre, park or field).
Official-language minority communities
Official-language minority communities are Francophone communities located outside of Quebec and Anglophone communities located in Quebec.
Participation
The members of a community taking part in activities such as festivals, events or projects. This participation can take various forms including donations of time, money, goods, or services.
Souvenirs
Objects meant to commemorate events, people, places, or periods of time, that are produced in large numbers, either for sale or free as promotional material. Examples include pens, pins, snow globes, plates, or miniatures.
Tangible support
Non-financial support provided by a municipality, Indigenous government, or equivalent authority that contributes to the planning or delivery of a festival. Examples may include permits, access to municipal land or facilities, municipal services, promotional support, or other forms of documented assistance.
Temporary event contractors
Businesses or individuals that are not full-time employees of the applicant, but are contracted on a temporary basis (up to three months) for the purpose of a given project. Examples include, but are not limited to: production personnel, event managers or coordinators, sound and image professionals and tent/stage assembly contractors.
Unincorporated non-profit group
A group of at least three individuals who come together to conceive and carry out planned activities, operate on a cost recovery basis and do not in any manner distribute any income in excess of expenses to their members. Such a group is not a legal entity, nor is it necessarily permanent.
Volunteer
An individual working on behalf of an organization without receiving financial or material gain.

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2026-09-09