Applications are open for Ignite Ideation funding. Learn more and apply below by June 2.

 

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 projects that foster community engagement, capacity-building initiatives and industry-specific mentorship.

In 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 Little Jamaica in 2025.

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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. A minimum of ten proposals will receive support in the 2025 funding cycle.

Neighbourhood: Kingston Galloway/Orton Park (KGO)

Ignite Ideation applications are currently open for KGO. The KGO boundary is Ellesmere Road to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, Markham Road to the west and Conlins/Manse Roads to the east.

Eligible Applicants

Ignite Ideation applicants, or majority of the collective applying if working collaboratively, must:

  • Be a Toronto resident
  • Live or be professionally based in KGO or have been displaced from the community

Eligible Activities

Funding may be used to support capacity-building activities, creative practices, planning, research, development and/or testing out new creative community arts project ideas that aim to benefit the KGO community. The proposed activity must support exploratory concept development and does not have to result in an artistic product.

Project Proposals

Ignite Ideation funding can be applied to capacity-building, exploratory and/or concept development activities, such as:

  • Working with a mentor or collaborator to develop new skills and/or knowledge
  • Registering in workshops, courses or tutorials to increase understanding
  • Experimenting, investigating and discovering new tools, techniques and/or technologies
  • Creating sample works to test ideas, validate activities or put new skills to practice
  • Outreach, engagement and community consultation initiatives with KGO residents that allow for critical feedback

Application Process

Eligible applicants are strongly encouraged to:

  1. Attend an in-person or virtual information session or watch a short informational video to learn more.
  2. Email CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca to discuss potential initiative details with a staff member before applying. Keep in mind that staff can only help review your application up to two weeks before the final deadline and are not available on evenings or weekends.
  3. Submit a proposal by completing the online application below. Alternate application format is available upon request. Applications in the form of video or audio links and/or files using the application questions as a guide to what content to include are also accepted. Please email CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca for details.

Applications must be submitted by June 2 at 4:59 p.m.

Apply Online

Contact

For questions, please email CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca.

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. Project activities and events take place from June through October 2026.

Neighbourhood: Kingston Galloway/Orton Park

SPARK Project funding applications for Kingston Galloway/Orton Park open in fall 2025.

Contact

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

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 workforce development opportunities via job placements 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 $22,000 per project. Project activities and events take place from June through October 2026.

Neighbourhood: Kingston Galloway/Orton Park

Signature Project funding applications for Kingston Galloway/Orton Park open in fall 2025.

Contact

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

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.