Canada Council for the Arts: Foreign Artists Tours

Deadline: April 14 & November 4, 2026

Program Summary:

Foreign Artists Tours is part of the Arts Across Canada and Abroad program. It supports not-for-profit arts organizations in Canada so that they can circulate exhibitions or tour artists from abroad to provide new experiences to the public in Canada.

Eligible Activities:

Support for projects involving the circulation or touring of work by international artists, groups or organizations with at least 2 consecutive performances, presentations or exhibitions to 2 different cities, towns, communities or reserves in Canada.

Arts Across Canada and Abroad:
Connecting Canadian artists to audiences and the world:
Arts Across Canada and Abroad fosters meaningful relationships and exchanges between artists and the Canadian public, and celebrates the creativity, innovation and excellence of Canadian artists by helping to bring Canadian works to the world. Artists, arts professionals, groups and arts organizations can apply to present and share artistic work with diverse communities across the country and around the world.

Grant Amount:

Maximum Funding Amount: Up to $50,000 per application. You can receive a maximum of $50,000 per year.

Eligible Applicants:

Potential applicants:

• Artistic organizations
• Presenting organizations
• First Nations, Inuit or Métis not-for-profit organizations

Organizations presently receiving core grants can apply.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANT PROFILE PARAMETERS:

Artistic organization:

This profile is for not-for-profit Canadian arts organizations that are primarily dedicated to the research, creation, production or curation of their own artistic programs or exhibitions.

To be eligible for this profile, your organization must:

• be incorporated or registered in Canada, provincially, territorially or federally
• operate as a not-for-profit corporation with a board of directors or governing body
• work in one or more artistic practices funded by the Canada Council
• have a mandate or demonstrated commitment to making and sharing your own artistic performances, productions or exhibitions for the public
• have a person, people or committee that provides artistic leadership
• have been active for at least 2 years
• have produced at least 2 artistic works, productions or exhibitions that were made available to the public, and generated revenue in a manner that is appropriate for your organization’s artistic practice and region
• have a history of paying professional fees and royalties to artists and arts workers according to the standards of your artistic practice and region.

Presenting organization:

This profile is for not-for-profit Canadian arts organizations that foster relationships and exchanges between artists and the public by curating professional artistic programming for audiences in Canada. Typical activities include live or virtual events, exhibitions, readings and performances.

To be eligible for this profile, your organization must:

• be incorporated or registered in Canada, provincially, territorially or federally
• operate as a not-for-profit corporation with a board of directors or governing body
• present or exhibit works in one or more artistic practices funded by the Canada Council
• have a mandate or demonstrated commitment to presenting artistic or literary works created by other artists, arts groups and organizations for a specific public or geographic region in Canada
• have a person, people or committee that provides artistic leadership
• have been active for at least 2 years
• have produced at least 2 professional artistic events, programs or exhibitions that were made available to the public and generated revenue in a manner that is appropriate for your organization’s artistic practice and region
• have a history of paying professional fees and royalties to artists and arts workers according to the standards of your artistic practice and region.

First Nations, Inuit or Métis not-for-profit organization:

This profile is for First Nations, Inuit or Métis not-for-profit organizations that make artistic work, share it with the public and/or support the artists and organizations who make the work. Artistic activities can include presenting, performing or exhibiting artistic or cultural events. Supporting activities can include publishing, organizing networking events, or providing services and opportunities that advance the creative and professional capacities of First Nations, Inuit or Métis artists, cultural workers and organizations.

To be eligible for this profile, your organization must:

• have been in operation for a minimum of 2 years as a not-for-profit corporation with a board of directors or governing body that has 3 or more members, a majority of whom are First Nations, Inuit or Métis people from the land now known as Canada
• have a mandate to support the artistic and cultural practices of First Nations, Inuit or Métis peoples, or provide resources and opportunities for First Nations, Inuit or Métis peoples
• dedicate financial or human resources to supporting the artistic and cultural practices of First Nations, Inuit or Métis peoples or providing resources and opportunities for First Nations, Inuit or Métis peoples
• have a written governance structure
• have presented, published, performed, exhibited or organized at least 2 artistic or cultural activities over 2 years.