The St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP) is designed to support the creative sector and strengthen the overall cultural ecosystem in the City of St. Catharines. The program invests in new music, arts and cultural activities to revitalize our downtown and enhance our public life in the community.

To stay up to date with SCCIP news, subscribe to our Culture Ink Newsletter.

Before you apply

SCCIP has six different program streams each with their own distinct priorities, eligibility and evaluation criteria. To make sure you find the right program for your project, we require all applicants to contact our staff to discuss your plans and application before applying.

We also recommend checking out our SCCIP Cultural Investment Policy to learn all about our program, eligibility, and evaluation process.

Application deadlines

Deadlines for 2023 are as follows:

April 13: Sustaining - Core and Midsized Programs
May 4: Arts Development, Culture Builds Community, and Culture Days Activity Programs

Materials will be available in the coming months for programs with a Fall 2023 deadline.

September 21: Arts Development, Culture Builds Community and Sustaining - Festival Programs

Typically, materials for each program stream are released six to eight weeks prior to that program’s application deadline – please check back soon!

How to apply

All applications must be submitted online. Online applications will open in phases starting February 2023.

If you have any questions about the application process contact our staff.

Are you eligible?

Core and midsized arts organizations, and festival producers can apply for Sustaining Funding grants. Small and emerging arts organizations, and culture-related projects, can apply for Development Funding grants.

All applicants must:

Be active in St. Catharines
Provide programming or services that are open to the public and publicized city-wide
Have a diversified revenue base (Culture Days funding excluded)

Sustaining funding eligibility

Learn about our sustaining funding which has three grant programs as a part of SCCIP – Core, Midsized and Festival.

Core Program

Applications to the 2023 Core Program are now closed

To be eligible for the Core Program, you must:

Have a mission to develop, create, produce, present and disseminate artistic work in any artistic discipline

Have a mission that is clear and relevant with long-term goals and strategies
Be well-established programs and services that are developed and delivered with consistency
Be artistically strong with proven impact in the community
Have full-time paid professional leadership (artistic or administrative)
Be well-developed administrative structures
Have stable financial resources and planning
Have an active board of directors with a clear governance role
Be in existence for at least five years, operate on a year-round basis and be a Federally or Provincially incorporated not-for-profit
Have full-time paid professional artistic, curatorial or administrative staff
Have operating revenues of no less than $250,000 per year
Produce a full season of programming as per industry standards
Have significant resources that serve the local arts sector; i.e. facility, equipment, and people
Pay principal artistic contributors for their services that follow professional industry standards

If you receive the Core Program funds, you will be ineligible for any other SCCIP program stream. This excludes the Culture Days Activity Program. Capital requirements or festival activities may be considered for additional investment through this program.

For more information, view our Sustaining Core Program Guidelines.

Information for Applicants

Applications must be submitted via our online application. If you require assistance with the online portal, please contact Cultural Services staff at ajuddrifkin@stcatharines.ca or 905.688.5601 ext. 5229.

How to apply

Please follow each of these steps to complete your application for Sustaining-Core Program funding

Contact staff

All applicants must contact Cultural Services staff to review the program and eligibility requirements prior to applying. Please contact Ashley Judd-Rifkin, Culture Coordinator, at ajuddrifkin@stcatharines.ca or 905.688.5601 ext. 5229.

Prepare your documents

Gather and prepare the supporting documents required as part of the online application:

Applicant Information and Authorization Form with original signatures
Completed Activity/Programming List for Current Year and Request Year
Up to date CADAC Financial Information Form
Up to date CADAC Statistical Information Form (Actuals only)
Most recent Financial Statements as approved and signed by Board of Directors. (see Financial information section below)
Most recent Annual Report or Minutes from your most recent AGM
Organizational Chart– reporting structure; permanent or contract staff and volunteer positions; full-time or part-time
Completed list of your Board of Directors – include name, title and length of service
Sample promotional materials
Where appropriate please include relevant planning documents, in whole or in part, such as strategic plans, marketing plans and/or deficit reduction plans.
A completed budget form

If you are making an additional funding request you will also require:

Festival budget
Marketing plan (may be an outline plan if festival is more than four months out at time of deadline)

If you are a first time applicant you will also need a copy of your organization's Letters Patent or other incorporation documents

Apply online

Use the online application to review the terms of funding, provide organizational information and upload your supporting documents. This form will be linked below once applications open for the Core Program in 2024.

Financial Statements and Deficit Reduction Plans

Audited Financial Statements must be signed and approved by your Board of Directors. If your most recent year-end statements are not available at time of deadline, please inform City staff when they will be available and submit when ready.

If you had a deficit of more than 10 per cent of your annual operating budget at your most recent year-end, or if you have an overall net deficit of more than 10 per cent, please attach a deficit reduction plan that includes targets, timelines and responsibilities.

Midsized Program

Applications to the 2023 Midsized Program are now closed

To be eligible for the Midsized Program, you must:

Have a mission to develop, create, produce, present and disseminate artistic work in any artistic discipline
Have impactful annual programs or services that are delivered with consistency and are artistically strong
Have a paid professional leadership
Have developing or stabilizing administrative structures and financial resources
Have emerging long-term planning
Have engaged Board of Directors

Be in existence for at least two years and be a Federally or Provincially incorporated not-for-profit
Have ongoing paid professional artistic, curatorial or administrative staff
Produce a minimum of three public activities per year
Have operating revenues of no less than $30,000 per year
Pay principal artistic contributors for their services that follow professional industry standards

For more information, view our Sustaining Midsized Program Guidelines.

Information for Applicants

Applications must be submitted via our online application. If you require assistance with the online application, please contact Cultural Services staff at ajuddrifkin@stcatharines.ca or 905.688.5601 ext. 5229.

How to apply

Please follow each of these steps to complete your application for Sustaining-Midsized Program funding

Contact staff

All applicants must contact Cultural Services staff to review the program and eligibility requirements prior to applying and to obtain a budget form. Please contact Ashley Judd-Rifkin, Culture Coordinator, at ajuddrifkin@stcatharines.ca or 905.688.5601 ext. 5229.

Prepare your documents

Gather and prepare the supporting documents required as part of the online application:

Applicant Information and Authorization Form with original signatures
Completed Activity/Programming List for Current Year and Request Year
Completed Financial Information Form (CADAC forms are accepted in lieu)
Completed Statistical Information Form - last year’s actuals only (CADAC forms are accepted in lieu)
Most recent Financial Statements as approved and signed by Board of Directors. (see Financial and Statistical information section below)
Most recent Annual Report or Minutes from your most recent AGM
Completed list of your Board of Directors – include name, title and length of service
Staff list (programming and administrative) – include full-time, part-time or contract positions, key roles & responsibilities, reporting structure and volunteer positions
Sample promotional materials
Where appropriate please include relevant planning documents, in whole or in part, such as strategic plans, marketing plans and/or deficit reduction plans

A copy of your Letters Patent or other Incorporation Documents (first-time applicants only)

Apply online

Financial and Statistical Information

All applications must be accompanied by completed Financial and Statistical Information Forms as provided by the Cultural Services Office. Alternatively, those organizations applying for Ontario Arts Council funding may attach a completed copy of up to date CADAC Financial and Statistical Information Forms to this application instead.

For requests of $10,000 or less from organizations with revenues less than $100,000, un-audited financial statements may be submitted. Review engagements or audited financial statements are preferred when available. For higher requests and revenue levels, review engagements are required (or audited financial statements, when available). Financial statements must be signed and approved by your Board of Directors.

If you had a deficit of more than 10 per cent of your annual operating budget in your last completed year, or if you have an overall net deficit of more than 10 per cent, please attach a deficit reduction plan that includes targets, timelines and responsibilities.

Festival Program

Application deadline: September 21, 2023

The Festival Program is for professional festivals that:

Generate cultural tourism or significant economic impact
Contribute to the cultural vitality and diversity of St. Catharines

To be eligible for the Festival Program, the Festival must:

Offer unique programming which includes a significant component that takes place in St. Catharines
Attract audiences from within and beyond Niagara
Engage local artists and businesses in festival activities
Be professionally managed with paid staff resources or a dedicated volunteer management team
Provide evidence of effective marketing and business planning
Have stabilizing administrative structures and financial resources
Have grant support from other government sources
Have an engaged Board of Directors

You must also meet these eligibility requirements for the Festival Program:

Be in existence for a minimum of two years and be a Federally or Provincially incorporated not-for-profit organization or a non-incorporated organization that confirms it operates on a not-for-profit basis
Meet the definition of a festival, for more information view our Festival Program Guidelines
Provide programming or services that are continuous, open or otherwise accessible to the public
Have paid staff, a contracted festival coordinator or a dedicated volunteer management team
Have completed two successful festivals prior to application
Pay principal artistic contributors for their services that follow professional industry standards
Have a revenue base of no less than $30,000
Gather funding from other government sources such as Niagara Investment in Culture, Celebrate Ontario or the Department of Canadian Heritage Festival Program

Eligibility exceptions

You may be able to apply if you are a club, community centre, social service, religious or sports organization that has a significant festival that substantially engages broader audiences and meets all other program eligibility criteria. However, the festival cannot be a fundraiser.

For more information, view our Festival Program Guidelines.

Information for Applicants

How to apply

Please follow each of these steps to complete your application for Sustaining-Festival Program Funding

Contact staff

All applicants must contact Cultural Services staff to review the program and eligibility requirements prior to applying and to obtain budget and statistical forms. Please contact Ashley Judd-Rifkin, Culture Coordinator, at ajuddrifkin@stcatharines.ca or 905.688.5601 ext. 5229.

Prepare your documents

Gather and prepare the supporting documents required as part of the online application:

Applicant Information and Authorization Form with original signatures
Completed Financial Information Form
Completed Statistical Information Form - last year’s actuals only
Marketing Plan for request year
Economic Survey / Impact Report for your most recent festival
Most recent Financial Statements as approved and signed by Board of Directors. (see Financial and Statistical information section below)
Most recent Annual Report or Minutes from your most recent AGM
Program details for upcoming festival
Organizational Chart - reporting structure; permanent or contract staff and volunteer positions; full-time or part-time
Completed list of your Board of Directors – include name, title and length of service
Sample promotional materials
Where appropriate please include relevant planning documents, in whole or in part, such as strategic plans, marketing plans and/or deficit reduction plans

A copy of your Letters Patent or other Incorporation Documents (first-time applicants only)

Apply online

Financial and Statistical Information

Development funding eligibility

Learn about eligibility for our development funding program offering three different programs – Arts Development Program, Culture Builds Community Program and Culture Days Activity Program.

Arts Development Program

Application deadline: September 21, 2023

The Arts Development Program supports a range of cultural activities, art forms and art practices. Priority is given to Niagara-based arts creation and diverse cultural traditions. To be eligible for the Arts Development Program, you must be either a(n):

Emerging arts organization;
Artist ad-hoc group;
Arts organization that works on a project-to-project basis; or
New arts festival

If you have equipment and small capital costs, we may cover them if you show that this investment will directly serve the priorities of the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy.

You must also meet these eligibility requirements for the Arts Development Program:

Pay principal artistic contributors for their services that follow industry standards
Be in existence for a minimum of one year with evidence of public activity

Repeat applicants

If you're a repeat applicant, you must demonstrate:

Organizational evolution
Program innovation
Creative partnerships
Growth in community engagement

Eligibility exceptions

You may also be eligible if you are a:

Individual artists leading a community art project that engages the broader community and meets all other program requirements
Arts organization and artist ad-hoc group that operates on a not-for-profit basis but are registered
First-time applicant that has been in existence for less than a year and can show your two-year trajectory for Sustaining programs

For more information, view our Arts Development Program Guidelines.

Information for Applicants

How to apply

Please follow each of these steps to complete your application for Arts Development Program funding

Contact staff

All applicants must contact Cultural Services staff prior to applying to review the program and eligibility requirements and to obtain a budget form. Please contact Ashley Judd-Rifkin, Culture Coordinator, at ajuddrifkin@stcatharines.ca or 905.688.5601 ext. 5229.

Prepare your documents

Gather and prepare the supporting documents required as part of the online application:

Applicant Information and Authorization Form with original signatures
Completed Financial Information Form
Two letters of support for the organization and project
Sample promotional materials from past events
Where available, project planning documents and/or examples of artist’s work (optional)

For Incorporated Applicants:

Most recent financial statements approved and signed by your Board of Directors
Minutes from your most recent Annual General Meeting
A list of your board of directors – include name, title and length of service
A copy of your letters patent or other incorporation documents (first time applicants only)

For Non-Incorporated Applicants:

In lieu of financial statements a detailed profit and loss summary from the previous year's operations or your most recent project.
Brief bios of all members participating in the leadership of the project

Apply online

Culture Builds Community Program

Application deadline: September 21, 2023

To be eligible for the Culture Builds Community Program, you must:

Engage residents through community art experiences, neighbourhood cultural activities or experiences that encourage participation, creativity and innovation
Be open to artists, cultural organizations and other not-for-profit organizations that can engage residents at a local community level
Be able to offer a work of art or a public event
Engage under-served local communities to be given priority

Be in existence for a minimum of one year with evidence of public activity
Engage people from a local community in St. Catharines
Pay principal artistic contributors for their services that follow industry standards

Eligibility exceptions

You may be eligible if you are a:

Non-cultural organization that is registered not-for-profit and meet all other program requirements
Individual artists leading a community art project that engages the broader community and meets all other program requirements
Arts organization and artist ad-hoc group that operates on a not-for-profit basis but are registered
First-time applicant that has been in existence for less than a year and can show your two-year trajectory for Sustaining programs

Individual artists may be eligible for the Culture Builds Community Program

Please note projects that are political or religious in nature, or that further related doctrine, are not eligible to apply.

For more information, view our Culture Builds Community Guidelines.

Information for Applicants

How to apply

Please follow each of these steps to complete your application for Culture Builds Community Program funding.

Contact staff

Prepare your documents

Gather and prepare the supporting documents required as part of the online application:

Applicant Information and Authorization Form with original signatures
Completed Financial Information Form
Two letters of support for the organization and/or project, one of which is from within the local community this project will engage
Sample promotional materials from past events or similar activities (optional)
If applicable, project planning documents and/or examples of artist’s work (optional)

For Incorporated Applicants:

Most recent financial statements approved and signed by your Board of Directors.
Minutes from your most recent Annual General Meeting
A list of your board of directors – include name, title and length of service
A copy of your letters patent or other incorporation documents (first time applicants only)

For Non-Incorporated Applicants:

In lieu of financial statements a simple profit and loss summary from the previous year's operations.
Brief bios of all members participating in the leadership of the project.

For Community Art Projects Only:

Artist statement
Bios/descriptions of each of the participating artists

Apply online

Culture Days Activity Program

Applications to the 2023 Culture Days Activity Program are now closed

The Culture Days Activity Program is for artists, businesses or organizations who wish to run a Culture Days activity in St. Catharines. To be eligible for the Culture Days Activity Program, you must:

Respond to the mandate of Culture Days
Create public participation in cultural experiences
Aim to inspire future involvement in the cultural life of the community

You do not need to meet all the general eligibility requirements of SCCIP. However, activities must:

Take place in St. Catharines during Culture Days (Sept. 22 to Oct. 15, 2023)
Be free and open to the public
Engage the public in hands-on, interactive cultural experiences and encourage continued involvement in local culture
Employ and pay local artists and cultural workers
Be distinct from normal activities offered by applicant

Eligibility exceptions

For-profit businesses are eligible for this program when all other eligibility requirements are met. Business applicants are eligible for artist fee costs only.

For more information, view our Culture Days Activity Program Guidelines.

Information for Applicants

Applications must be completed using the online application form. If you require assistance with the online portal, please contact Cultural Services Staff at ajuddrifkin@stcatharines.ca or 905.688.5601 ext. 5229

How to apply

Please follow each of these steps to complete your application for Culture Days Activity Program funding.

Contact staff

All applicants must contact Cultural Services staff prior to applying to review the program and eligibility requirements. Please contact Ashley Judd-Rifkin, Culture Coordinator, at ajuddrifkin@stcatharines.ca or 905.688.5601 ext. 5229.

Prepare your application

Gather the information required as part of the online application:

Plans for where and when your activity will take place
A detailed description of your activity, including how you will engage participants
Budget information, including your funding request, artist fees and materials costs
Supporting documents, including: artist bio, resume, sample artistic work and/or photos from previous workshops or activities (optional)

Apply online

Use the online application to review the terms of funding, answer all application questions, complete the budget and upload any supporting documents. This form will be linked below once applications open for the Culture Days Activity Program in 2024.

About Culture Days

Culture Days is a national event held annually at the end of September to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities.

General ineligibility

Some activities are beyond the scope of the SCCIP. Those who cannot receive grants from any SCCIP stream include:

Civic departments, boards, commissions or advisory committees, City programs or projects (i.e. libraries, community centres)
Social service, religious, or sports organizations
Educational institutions (schools, colleges etc.)
Club or community centre programs
Conferences, conventions or banquets
Scholarships, prizes and awards
As donations (including the waiving of fees and charges)
Groups raising funds for non-cultural causes
Uniforms or personal equipment
Deficit reduction

Application review

Members of the St. Catharines' Arts and Culture Advisory Committee review all applications and make recommendations for investment to City Council.

The Review Committee uses these evaluation forms when reviewing applications:

Projects approved for SCIPP funding in 2022

Sustaining funding recipients

The Sustaining Core Program recipients include:

Carousel Players - $47,000
Chorus Niagara - $17,850
Niagara Artists Centre - $49,000
Niagara Symphony Orchestra - $60,000
Suitcase in Point - $33,000

The Sustaining Midsized Program recipients include:

Essential Collective Theatre - $33,000
The Gallery Players of Niagara - $12,000
The Willow Arts Community - $18,000

The Sustaining Festival Program recipients include:

Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts - $19,700
The Foster Festival - $27,500
In the Soil Arts Festival (Suitcase In Point) - $15,000
The TD Niagara Jazz Festival - $16,500

Development funding recipients

The Arts Development Program recipients include:

Aeris Körper Contemporary Dance - $3,000
Avanti Chamber Singers - $3,500
Cicada Music & Arts - $7,000
Amanda MacDonnell Ad Hoc Group - $1,000
Port Dalhousie Beautification and Works Committee - $4,000
Silver Spire United Church - $5,884

The Culture Builds Community Program recipients include:

Start Me Up Niagara - $9,000
Willow Arts Community - $8,500

The Culture Days Activity Program recipients include:

Rhiannon Barry - $950
Jana Bergsma - $862
Carousel Players - $1,000
Dena Colling Gelentso - $600
The Foster Festival - $1,000
Rajshree Jena - $500
Marcela Lagunas - $650
Janice Low - $600
Jelica Mijanovic - $650
Luis Molina - $650
Michelle Nicholls - $1,000
Dr. Nievin Shalabi - $700
Angela Siracusa - $450