Cultural Hotspot Funding Opportunities

Submit a proposal for SPARK or Signature Project funding by January 13. Read the details below before submitting.

 

From June through October 2025, the Cultural Hotspot shines a spotlight on the Jane and Finch community. This prioritizes supporting and highlighting communities within the geographic boundaries of Steeles Avenue to the north, Wilson Avenue to the south, Weston Road to the west and Keele Street to the east.

The Cultural Hotspot provides a variety of funding opportunities for high impact and innovative project proposals that foster community engagement and create opportunities for people to connect and participate in community arts through workshops, activities and events.

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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 workforce development opportunities either through employment or paid mentorships. Successful SPARK funding recipients that do not have official not-for-profit status must work with a trustee organization to receive funding.

SPARK Project Requirements

Local arts and community organizations from all art disciplines based in or with experience working in the Jane and Finch area are welcome to apply. Priority may be given to those organizations based in the M3N, M3M, M3L and M3J postal codes.

All proposals must meet the criteria below:

  • Aligned with the Cultural Hotspot theme of celebrating arts, culture and community.
  • An inclusive and accessible arts and cultural project that engages community in the creation of the project, as participants, and/or as audience members.
  • A project that may bring some additional funding and/or in-kind support.
  • Feasible with a realistic budget, timeframe, etc.
  • Based in the Jane and Finch area.
  • Free to project participants and the public.

Selection Criteria

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

  • Meets SPARK Project requirements.
  • Engages with community, with a focus on 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, victims of violence).
  • Provide opportunities for local youth workforce development opportunities through employment or paid mentorship.
  • Supports emerging local artists.

How to Apply

Proposal submissions are due by January 13, 2025, 4:59 p.m.

  1. Attend a Virtual Cultural Hotspot Funding Information Session, an In-Person Information Session or watch this Funding Information Webinar.
  2. Contact a staff member at CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca to discuss potential project details before submitting an application.
  3. Complete an online application. Alternate application formats available by request.
  4. Project proposals will be assessed by a review panel.
  5. If your project is conditionally approved, you may be asked to submit additional information and letters of support.
  6. Successful applicants will be invited to enter into a formal agreement with the City of Toronto.

Apply Online

Alternate application formats available by request.

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 inclusive of up to $2,000 to make projects more accessible for persons with disabilities.

Signature Project Requirements

Local arts and community organizations from all art disciplines based in or with experience working in the Jane and Finch area are welcome to apply. Priority may be given to those organizations based in the M3N, M3M, M3L and M3J postal codes.

All proposals must meet the criteria below:

  • New, unique and dynamic project concept.
  • An inclusive and accessible arts and cultural 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 job placements and/or mentorship are a built-in component of the project – priority will be given to projects engaging youth from equity-deserving communities.
  • A project where the organization brings some additional funding and/or in-kind support.
  • Feasible with a realistic budget, timeframe, etc
  • Based in the Jane and Finch area.
  • Free to project participants and the public.

Selection criteria

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

  • Meets Signature Project requirements.
  • Aligned with the Cultural Hotspot goals of celebrating arts, culture and community.
  • Engages with community, with a focus on 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, victims of violence).

How to Apply

Proposal submissions are due by January 13, 2025, 4:59 p.m.

  1. Attend a Virtual Cultural Hotspot Funding Information Session, an In-Person Information Session or watch this Funding Information Webinar for more information.
  2. Contact a staff member at CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca to discuss potential project details before submitting an application.
  3. Complete an online application.
  4. Project proposals will be assessed by a review panel.
  5. If your project is conditionally approved, you may be asked to submit additional information and letters of support.
  6. Successful applicants will be invited to enter into a formal agreement with the City of Toronto.

Apply Online

Alternate application formats available by request.

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 project.

Ignite Ideation Funding applications are closed for the 2024 funding cycle.

Contact

For further information on Ignite Ideation 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 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.

Live Arts Mentor Funding applications are closed for the 2024 funding cycle.

Contact

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