Continuing on in the series of arts funding organizations, in this article we will explore some of the organizations that provide funding at a provincial and municipal level.
Provincial and Municipal Arts Funding Organizations
Alberta Foundation for the Arts [AFA]
The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is an entity that was formed by the Government of Alberta with a goal to support and promote arts and artists within the Province of Alberta. The AFA has increased its budget by $4.5 million for the 2025 – 2026 year. Each year, applications by prospective artists will have to be submitted before the deadline in order to considered under the relevant program. Once approved, the funding that you receive can make a significant contribution to lifting your project off the ground.
Alberta Media Fund
[https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-media-fund]
For filmmakers based in Alberta, there is the Alberta Media Fund [AMF]. The AMF is an entity that offers grants to help filmmakers finance the filming, script creation, sound recording, book publishing and magazine publishing related projects. The AMF issues grants ranging from $20 000 to $200 000 for your project. People who have projects that promote economic diversification in Alberta, create jobs and attract new talent both within and outside Alberta will score favourably with their applications.
Calgary Arts Development Authority
[https://calgaryartsdevelopment.com/]
CADA [Calgary Arts Development Authority] is city-level arts granting entity that is responsible for investing and allocating municipal funding for the arts. CADA’s grant investment programs support individual artists, collaborations and arts organizations in their artistic endeavor. The grants can be used to fund operations, projects, skill development and other initiatives that strengthen Calgary’s arts sector.
Calgary Foundation
[https://calgaryfoundation.org/]
The Calgary Foundation has been around since 1955. The organization supports charitable organizations in Calgary by distributing income from endowments to initiatives that address social, cultural, educational and community needs. Art projects that achieve any of these objectives are also eligible to receive funding. To receive funding, you must be a qualified donee as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency and live within the Calgary area. There are different categories under which an applicant may qualify under.
