Cultural funding

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)}