Cultural funding summary reports

Ottawa is a vibrant, cultural capital city with a unique identity and a colourful history – a dynamic place in which to live, work, and play. The local arts, heritage, and culture scenes reflect, in both official languages, the vitality of Ottawa’s communities: exceptional homegrown festivals, fairs, and events; emerging and established artists in all disciplines, diverse cultures, historic rural communities and landscapes; and engaging street culture. In 2012, City Council approved the Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Heritage and Culture in Ottawa, a six-year strategy (2013-2018) that recommended strategic actions and investments to make local cultural organizations more sustainable, thus attracting talent, tourists, and business. “Culture plays a central role in cities, contributing positively to economic indicators, social cohesion measures, environmental initiatives, quality of life, prosperity, happiness, and health.”[1] 

The City of Ottawa values the contribution that local not-for-profit cultural organizations, professional artists and heritage workers make to our community; and annually invests in arts, heritage, and culture through its 18 Cultural Funding and Awards Programs. These programs are managed by the Cultural Funding Support Section and use a peer assessment model in the evaluation process, involving professionals who are active within their cultural community. This Council-approved process is a nationally-accepted best practice and is credible to the arts, heritage, and cultural communities.

Cultural funding support section programs

_{[1] A Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Heritage and Culture in Ottawa  (2013-2018)}

Through its cultural funding and awards programs, the City of Ottawa annually supports the creation, production and presentation of arts, festival, fair and heritage activities undertaken by individuals and not-for-profit professional organizations, as well as, community and amateur groups. The wide range of programs funded by the City creates opportunities for awareness and appreciation of the arts and culture in our community for everyone.

Please consult the 2022 Summary of Cultural Funding [PDF - 458 kb].

Through its cultural funding and awards programs, the City of Ottawa annually supports the creation, production and presentation of arts, festival, fair and heritage activities undertaken by individuals and not-for-profit professional organizations, as well as, community and amateur groups. The wide range of programs funded by the City creates opportunities for awareness and appreciation of the arts and culture in our community for everyone.

Please consult the 2021 Summary of Cultural Funding.

Through its cultural funding and awards programs, the City of Ottawa annually supports the creation, production and presentation of arts, festival, fair and heritage activities undertaken by individuals and not-for-profit professional organizations, as well as, community and amateur groups. The wide range of programs funded by the City creates opportunities for awareness and appreciation of the arts and culture in our community for everyone.

Please consult the 2020 Summary of Cultural Funding [ PDF - 376 KB ]

Through its Cultural Funding and Awards Programs, the City of Ottawa annually supports the creation, production and presentation of arts, festival, fair and heritage activities undertaken by individuals and not-for-profit professional organizations, as well as, community and amateur groups. The wide range of programs funded by the City creates opportunities for awareness and appreciation of the arts and culture in our community for everyone.

Please consult the 2018 Summary of Cultural Funding [ PDF - 369 KB ] for details.

Through its Cultural Funding and Awards Programs, the City of Ottawa annually supports the creation, production and presentation of arts, festival, fair and heritage activities undertaken by individuals and not-for-profit professional organizations, as well as, community and amateur groups. The wide range of programs funded by the City creates opportunities for awareness and appreciation of the arts and culture in our community for everyone.

Please consult the 2017 Cultural Funding Summary Report [ PDF - 456 KB ] for details.

Through its Cultural Funding and Awards Programs, the City of Ottawa annually supports the creation, production and presentation of arts, festival, fair and heritage activities undertaken by individuals and not-for-profit professional organizations, as well as, community and amateur groups. The wide range of programs funded by the City creates opportunities for awareness and appreciation of the arts and culture in our community for everyone.

Please consult the 2016 Summary of Cultural Funding [ PDF - 404 KB ] for details.