SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Kingston Arts Council launches Operating Grants and Festival Grants under the new City of Kingston Arts Fund Framework

The Kingston Arts Council (KAC) is now accepting applications for the City of Kingston Arts Fund (CKAF) 2026 Operating Grants and Festival Grants. 

Under the new CKAF Framework approved in November 2025, the Kingston Arts Council has introduced a brand new Festival Grant stream, alongside an updated Operating Grant stream, and expanded support for applicants. 

The KAC will be launching a call for applications to CKAF Project Grants and the new Creation & Development Grants for individual artists in summer 2026. 

This funding program is administered annually by the KAC on behalf of the City of Kingston, and serves as a catalyst for a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient arts sector in Kingston. In 2026, the total funding available through CKAF is over $738,000. By fostering creativity, accessibility, collaboration, and capacity building, CKAF strengthens Kingston’s cultural fabric, supports the professional growth of local artists, festivals, and arts organizations, and provides access to arts experiences to the broader Kingston community.

Operating Grants

Operating Grants support the operations, programs, and/or services of a wide range of non-profit arts organizations (professional, semi-professional, and emerging) in Kingston. Operating Grants range from $10,000–$65,000. 

Festival Grants

Festival Grants support the production, presentation, and operations of arts festivals that have a city-wide impact. This program has two categories, based on years of operation and festival history: Established Festivals and Emerging Festivals. Festival Grants range from $10,000–$55,000 for Established Festivals and $10,000–$20,000 for Emerging Festivals, and are awarded to support festivals occurring between September 2026 – December 2027. 

Grant Application Support

The Kingston Arts Council offers individualized support in navigating the granting process. Organizations and collectives seeking to apply for a CKAF grant are invited to contact KAC staff with inquiries or to book a meeting. ASL interpretation or Access Notes can be provided for virtual or in-person meetings, respectively, by request.

KAC staff will endeavour to respond to all inquiries in a timely manner. Please note that staff are only available during regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 10AM–5PM), and availability becomes limited closer to the application deadline.

The KAC is committed to equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all eligible applicants and encourage anyone with accessibility needs to contact the KAC as early in the application process as possible by emailing Shamara Peart, Grants Administrator, at [email protected]. 

New to CKAF: Applicants who are Deaf, living with a disability, illiterate, or do not have a working proficiency in English may be eligible to access up to $500 in financial support for grant writing services. 

About the City of Kingston Arts Fund

The City of Kingston Arts Fund (CKAF) provides grants to local arts organizations, artists, and collectives to foster creativity at all levels and enrich how Kingston residents experience and engage with the arts. CKAF is administered by the Kingston Arts Council (KAC) on behalf of the City of Kingston. Since its inception in 2007, CKAF has provided a mechanism for the City of Kingston to invest in the arts, accounting for over $10.3 million invested to date.

In 2025, the City of Kingston completed a review of the CKAF to determine how it can continue to best support the arts in Kingston. The new CKAF Framework was developed in response to the CKAF Review, and in 2026 the KAC will launch four grant streams: Operating Grants, Festival Grants, Project Grants and Creation & Development Grants.

CKAF is an investment in Kingston’s cultural capital that aims to foster cultural vitality, increase the capacity of the arts community to create and produce artistic work, engage residents and enhance our city’s cultural economy, and promote financial stability and sustainability. 

SUPPORT THE KAC

Love the arts? So do we!

When you support the Kingston Arts Council, you’re helping empower an arts sector that drives innovation, fuels the local economy, and enriches the lives of everyone in Katarokwi/Kingston.

Your donation – whether one-time, monthly, or annual – enables us to deliver impactful programs and services that support the artists and creatives shaping our cultural industry.

As a registered charity, we’ll provide a charitable tax receipt for your contribution. Join us in building a thriving, sustainable arts sector.

THE KINGSTON ARTS COUNCIL IS PROUDLY FUNDED BY