Cultural Hotspot Funding Opportunities

The Cultural Hotspot program celebrates the rich cultural diversity of Toronto’s outside-the-core communities by empowering local artists, organizations and residents. The program showcases select neighbourhoods over a period of multiple years. Funding is awarded to high-impact, innovative arts projects that foster community engagement, capacity-building initiatives and industry-specific mentorship.

From June to October 2026, the Cultural Hotspot will shine a spotlight on the Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood, supporting and highlighting communities within the geographic boundaries of Markham Road to the west, Ellesmere Road to the north, Manse/Conlins Roads to the east and Lake Ontario to the south. The Cultural Hotspot is also continuing to invest in the local creativity and culture of Jane and Finch in 2026 through Live Arts Mentorship funding.

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SPARK Project funding supports emerging and established equity-deserving artists, artist collectives, not-for-profits and community-based organizations from diverse communities with up to $9,000 per project. This includes up to $1,500 in funding to support youth employment and/or paid mentorship opportunities. Successful SPARK funding recipients that do not have official not-for-profit status must work with a trustee organization to receive funding.

Neighbourhood: Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park

SPARK Project Requirements

Local arts and community organizations from all art disciplines based in or with experience working in the Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park area are welcome to apply.

All proposals must meet the criteria below:

  • Align with the Cultural Hotspot theme of celebrating arts, culture and community.
  • An inclusive and accessible arts and culture project that engages community in the creation of the project, as participants and/or as audience members.
  • Applicant brings additional funding or in-kind support.
  • Be feasible, with realistic budget and timeframe.
  • Free to project participants and the public.

Selection Criteria

Projects will be assessed by a resident review panel with the following assessment criteria:

  • Meets SPARK Project requirements.
  • Engages with community, with a focus on one or more equity-deserving groups (persons with disabilities, women, Indigenous, Black, persons of colour, 2SLGBTQ, undocumented workers, immigrants and refugees, persons with low income, youth) and/or vulnerable populations (seniors, residents in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, persons with low literacy, persons who are homeless or under-housed and victims of violence).
  • Support emerging local artists.

Application Process

  1. Attend a Funding Information session.
  2. Watch a short informational video.
  3. Contact a staff member at CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca to discuss potential project details before submitting an application.
  4. Complete an online application. Alternate application formats are available, please contact the Cultural Hotspot to learn more.
  5. Project proposals will be assessed by a resident review panel.
  6. If your project is conditionally approved, you may be asked to submit additional information and letters of support.
  7. Successful applicants will be invited to enter into a formal agreement with the City of Toronto.

Contact

Contact the Cultural Hotspot team at CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca.

How to Apply

Application opens October 21. Application closes January 12, 2026.

Signature Project applicants should be established organizations with a proven track record to successfully deliver mid to large-sized community-based arts and cultural projects. Youth employment opportunities and/or paid mentorship are a mandatory component of each Signature Project with priority given to youth from equity-deserving communities. Signature project funding is up to $20,000 per project, with an additional $2,000 available to make projects more accessible for persons with disabilities.

Neighbourhood: Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park

Signature Project Requirements

Established local arts and community organizations from all art disciplines based in or with experience working in the Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park area are welcome to apply.

All proposals must meet the criteria below:

  • New, unique and dynamic project concept.
  • An inclusive and accessible arts and culture project that engages community in the creation of the project, as participants and/or as audience members.
  • Similar in scope to projects previously and successfully undertaken by the organization.
  • Youth employment opportunities and/or mentorship are a built-in component of the project – priority will be given to projects engaging youth from equity-deserving communities.
  • Applicant brings additional funding or in-kind support.
  • Be feasible, with a realistic budget and timeframe.
  • Based in Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park area.
  • Free to project participants and the public.

Selection Criteria

Projects will be assessed by a resident review panel with the following assessment criteria:

  • Meets Signature Project requirements.
  • Align with the Cultural Hotspot goals of celebrating arts, culture and community.
  • Engages with community, with a focus on one or more equity-deserving groups (persons with disabilities, women, Indigenous, Black, persons of colour, 2SLGBTQ, undocumented workers, immigrants and refugees, persons with low income, youth) and/or vulnerable populations (seniors, residents in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, persons with low literacy, persons who are homeless or under-housed and victims of violence).

Application Process

  1. Attend a Funding Information session.
  2. Watch a short informational video.
  3. Contact a staff member at CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca to discuss potential project details before submitting an application.
  4. Complete an online application. Alternate application formats are available, please contact the Cultural Hotspot to learn more.
  5. Project proposals will be assessed by a resident review panel.
  6. If your project is conditionally approved, you may be asked to submit additional information and letters of support.
  7. Successful applicants will be invited to enter into a formal agreement with the City of Toronto.

Contact

Contact the Cultural Hotspot team at CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca.

How to Apply

Application opens October 21. Application closes January 12, 2026.

 

Live Arts Mentor (LAM) funding seeks to build the capacity of IBPOC-led or serving arts organizations that deliver innovative, engaging arts programming and services in neighbourhoods that have been previously animated by the Cultural Hotspot. Smaller or newer organizations will partner with established arts organizations through a mentorship program to strengthen emerging organizations and to build the infrastructure of Toronto’s community arts sector. LAM funding is up to $5,500 per organization.

Neighbourhood: Little Jamaica

In 2025, Little Jamaica organizations are receiving LAM funding.

Contact

For further information on Live Arts Mentor funding, please email CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca.

Ignite Ideation Funding supports emerging, equity-deserving artists, artist collectives, not-for-profits and community-based organizations from diverse communities with up to $5,000 per capacity-building initiative. Funded initiatives take place from July through February 2026.

Neighbourhood: Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park

Ignite Ideation Project funding applications for Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park open in spring 2026.

    Contact

    For further information on Ignite Ideation Project Funding, please email CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca.