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:

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).

PIA’s Special Project awards one grant at a time 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.

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

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

Special Project

For larger-projects happening in 2025 or 2026, seeking $100,000-$150,000, PIA is accepting applications between Jun. 30 until Sept. 15, 2024. Applicants can anticipate a response in late November or early December 2024. This category is only open to organizations who have a Canadian charitable number, producing a visual arts project.

Grants for Projects $15,000 and over

For projects happening in 2025, that fall in the $15,000 and over category, PIA is accepting applications between Jul. 15-31, 2024. Applicants can expect to hear the results of adjudication in mid-November 2024.

Grants for Projects $15,000 and under

For projects happening in 2025, that fall in the $15,000 and under category, PIA is accepting applications between Jan. 15-31, 2025. Applicants can anticipate a response in early Spring 2025.

Artist-Direct Grant

For projects in 2025, Artist-Direct Funding will open again in Jan. 2025. Details to be provided in Fall 2024. Artist-Direct granting is closed for 2024.

PIA’s Artist-Direct Grants will award funds directly to GTA-based artists who have confirmed exhibitions in Canada between. See 2024’s 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. This grant aims to address the lack of funding for artists on a more holistic level. PIA acknowledges the barriers artists in Toronto face due to the soaring living costs, shortage of studio spaces, and reduced opportunities to create and showcase their work. With this new funding stream, PIA will not only support more excellent, contemporary art projects exhibitions Canada-wide, but aims to also bolster artists’ ability to live and prosper in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). 

Inquiries

For any questions regarding Grants for Projects $10,000 and over and $15,000 and under, please email projectdevelopment@partnersinart.ca.

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

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.