On these pages you will find information on how to apply for funding through Calgary Arts Development, news and updates about our programs, logos you can use to recognize the support of The City of Calgary through Calgary Arts Development if you have received a grant, and more information about the groups we fund. 

Calgary Arts Development is responsible for a number of Community Investment Programs. Here is a current listing of the programs we administer:

InvestYYC - Updated Guidelines and Application Available

InvestYYC is a crowdfunding website exclusively for Calgary-based artists and arts organizations to raise funds, find volunteers and generate awareness. Developed as a legacy project of Calgary 2012 for Calgary's year as a Cultural Capital of Canada, the goal of the program is to provide a local, arts-focused opportunity for crowdfunding that allows Calgarians to invest both time and money into projects happening and created in our city.

New Client Induction Grant Program - Deadline was March 15, 2012

The goal of the New Client Induction Grant Program is to invest in organizations that are eligible, but not currently funded through Calgary Arts Development’s Operating Grant Program. Priority is given to diverse and emerging organizations that demonstrate high artistic and public impact while maintaining sound organizational resiliency.

A dedicated program for new clients enables Calgary Arts Development to plan for the future more effectively, while at the same time investing in organizations that often represent the next generation of artistic practice. The program also serves as a knowledge-building exercise for CADA, enhancing the ability to measure and communicate the impact of the arts on the long-term success of Calgary.

• Read more about the New Client Induction Grant Program
• Read the Press Release
• List of 2012 Grant Recipients

Remarkable Experience Accelerator - Applications Currently Closed

The goal of the Remarkable Experience Accelerator is to enhance the emerging story of Calgary as a cultural hotbed and give people even more reasons to visit Calgary as leisure travelers. This partnership will invest up to $825,000 (Destination Marketing Fund DMF) over three years to accelerate medium to long-term (at least two years) plans for remarkable downtown arts experiences.

The fund is intended to provide risk capital for applicants to enhance and/or build on an existing initiative or program and is not intended to fund single-time programs, projects or events. The program will place a premium on downtown activity that occurs over long weekends or during the months of January, February or August. Successful applicants will enter into a partnership with Calgary Arts Development for their proposed initiative and vision and will work closely in partnership with CADA to create the best possible conditions for success.

Applicants may be organizations, groups or committees who operate under non-profit or for-profit models and demonstrate a strong contribution to the economic and cultural vibrancy of Calgary's downtown core. Letters of Intent to participate in the program will be received on an invitation-only basis and on a rolling deadline schedule. Interested parties must contact CADA program staff to discuss their initiative and the suitability of being invited to prepare an initial letter of intent.

The Remarkable Experience Accelerator is not currently accepting applications. Interested parties are requested to contact Patti Pon, Director of Resource Development for Calgary Arts Development at 403-264-5330 ext.103 to discuss the initiative and future application intakes.

• Read the Remarkable Experience Accelerator Program Guidelines
• Review the Remarkable Experience Accelerator Eligibility Criteria

artsVest Calgary - Deadline was April 30, 2012

artsVest Calgary is a sponsorship training and matching incentive program of Business for the Arts, delivered in Calgary in partnership with Calgary Arts Development and with funding from Canadian Heritage and the City of Calgary through Calgary Arts Development. The goal of artsVest is to help develop new, mutually beneficial partnerships between businesses and arts organizations. artsVest Calgary will support non-profit arts organizations with annual budgets under $1million. Program participants will go through an intensive series of four sponsorship training workshops throughout the course of the year and will have matching incentive funds reserved for them (from $1,000 – $15,000) , which they must then match with a sponsorship(s) from the local business.
For more information on the artsVest program across Canada please visit the artsVest website.
Hear from some of the Ontario 2010 artsVest participants and their business partners in the artsVest video. 

• artsVest - 2012 Sponsorship Confirmation

Here is a list of the organizations participating in artsVest Calgary 2011.

Operating Grant Program - OGP - Deadline is Friday February 15, 2013 at 4:30pm

The Operating Grant Program invests annually in Calgary based, non-profit organizations driven by an arts mandate, with priority given to organizations that demonstrate high artistic and public impact while maintaining sound operations. The goal of the Operating Grant Program is to ensure that Calgary arts organizations have the opportunity to flourish in an environment with a stable base of resources.

Here is a list of organizations funded through our Operating Grant Program.

• OPG - General Eligibility Criteria

Fair Notice Policy:

This policy helps achieve the goal of the Operating Grant Program by ensuring that organizations that receive annual funding from CADA do not see considerable fluctuations in their grants in any single assessment year. The policy also creates a platform to measure and record any risks evident within the Operating Grant Program's portfolio and encourages organizations to work with CADA to create strategies that address any concerns of the assessment panel.

Download a copy of the full policy here.

Cultural Space Investment Process - CSIP - Deadline for LOIs is Friday, November 2, 2012

The Cultural Space Investment Process (formerly the Art Space Investment Process) is a capital project evaluation process established by Calgary Arts Development to inform City Council and the municipality of priorities for community-led, cultural infrastructure projects. CSIP 2013 will accommodate facility proposals at an advanced stage of readiness that enable a broad range of arts, culture and heritage activity throughout the city. As an initial assessment stage, CSIP recognizes projects that demonstrate a compelling vision, advanced readiness, strong feasibility and sustainability (social, economic, and environmental).

Not-for-profit organizations with capital space projects in arts and/or culture may submit project proposals to be recommended by Calgary Arts Development to The City of Calgary for up to 25% of the project's total costs. In 2008, City Council earmarked 5% of the province's $3.3 billion infrastructure contribution for arts and cutural space projects in the city. This amounts to $165 million in civic funding over the next 10 - 12 years for arts and culture spaces. A large portion of this support will be directed towards projects brought forward by Calgary Arts Development through CSIP.

Event Stimulus Program - ESP (Program unavailable for 2012)

Developed by The City of Calgary and administrated by Calgary Arts Development, the Event Stimulus Program is part of The City's Festival and Event Policy adopted in 2010. The Policy recognizes that festivals and events enhance the quality of life in Calgary and are an essential element in creating complete communities. The overall goal of the Event Stimulus Program is to increase both the quantity and quality of festivals and events in Calgary.

• ESP - General Eligibility Criteria

Contact Community Investment:

If you have any questions about our programs, please feel free to contact Calgary Arts Development at grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or 403.476.2031.