Partners in Art (PIA) funds contemporary art projects via our Project Development, Artist-Direct, and Special Project Committees.

We currently offer four funding streams for arts organizations and artists:

Annually, via Project Development, grants for visual arts projects $15,000 and under and $15,000 and over are open to arts organizations with Canadian charitable numbers, or organizations partnering with a charitable organization(s).

Annually, Artist-Direct Grants are open to GTA-based artists who have confirmed exhibitions in Canada.

For 2024, PIA’s Special Project awards a one-time grant to an organization with a Canadian charitable number for a visual arts project with notable impact in the GTA. This grant is in the amount of $100,000-$150,000.

Please note the specific deadlines, application forms, and eligibility for each stream via the buttons below.

Grants for Projects $15,000 and over

OPEN: For projects happening in 2026, that fall in the $15,000 and over category, PIA is accepting applications between Jul. 15-31, 2025. Applicants can expect to hear the results of adjudication in November 2025.

Grants for Projects $15,000 and under

CLOSED: For projects happening in 2025, that fall in the $15,000 and Under category, PIA is accepting applications between Jan. 15-31, 2026. Applicants can anticipate a response in early Spring 2026. Download the application and read more information via the button below.

Artist-Direct Grant

CLOSED: For exhibitions and projects taking place between May 1, 2026 to May 1, 2027, Artist-Direct Funding is accepting applications from Jan. 1-15 2026. PIA’s Artist-Direct Grants awards funds (in the amount of $5000) directly to GTA-based artists who have confirmed exhibitions in Canada. Please thoroughly review full eligibility and the application form through the links below.

The goal of PIA’s Artist-Direct Grants is to provide funds directly to artists to cover supplies, studio rentals, exhibition expenses, production costs, and up to 50% of the grant can be used to pay for their time and labor.

Special Project

CLOSED: PIA accepted applications between Jun. 30- Sept. 15, 2024. Applicants can anticipate a response in late November or early December 2024.

Inquiries

For any questions regarding Grants for Projects $15,000 and Over and $15,000 and Under, please email projectdevelopment@partnersinart.ca.

For questions regarding the Artist-Direct Grant, please email artistdirect@partnersinart.ca.

For general inquires, please email admin@partnersinart.ca

Funding Disclaimer

PIA’s mission is to “fund and champion contemporary visual art through philanthropy, volunteerism and education”. In this pursuit, PIA supports artists and projects that provide thoughtful and challenging perspectives on our world. As a result, PIA may, at times, associate itself with controversial points of view, opinions, and activism from the diverse individuals and groups that PIA supports. The views expressed by these individuals and organizations are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policies or points of view of PIA or its members. PIA is comprised of 200+ members from different cultural, ethnic, and religious demographics, and as an organization, PIA strives to meet our core principles of tolerance, the health of dissent, freedom of association, and freedom of expression.