Apply for funding to build export capacity in the culture sector: Creative Industries Fund
Creative and cultural businesses and non-profit organizations can apply for funding from the Creative Industries Fund to help grow the export capacity of Nova Scotian artists and creative producers. You can apply from 1 April to 1 December 2024.
Use the Creative Industries Fund Application Form to help grow the export capacity of Nova Scotian artists and creative producers.
The Creative Industries Fund helps creative and cultural businesses and non-profit organizations:
- promote distribution of creative content to national and international markets
- increase the exports of Nova Scotian creative products
- build brand awareness and increase audience engagement in new markets
- diversify and increase revenue streams
- increase the export potential for Nova Scotian cultural products outside of Nova Scotia
Funding amount
The Creative Industries Fund may fund up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $30,000 for each project. The applicant needs to fund the balance of the costs.
Eligible project costs and activities
Eligible project costs and activities include:
- business, strategic and marketing plans
- equity, diversity and inclusion activities (like consultations and engagement with a community, research, programming, training and governance)
- market intelligence, research, business matchmaking and lead generation in new markets
- digital marketing
- branding or rebranding for international markets
- improving ecommerce solutions
- development plans for ecommerce platforms for markets outside of Nova Scotia
- in-market travel
Ineligible costs include:
- recurring or ongoing operational activities
- employee wages not directly related to the project
- administration costs
- production costs and content creation costs
- website maintenance and hosting fees
- monthly subscriptions
- capital purchases (like buildings and software)
- projects or project components already funded through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage or Arts Nova Scotia
- GST, HST, PST and QST
- quarantine costs related to travel and touring
Streams
If you're a non-profit organization, you should apply for the Development Stream. If you're a creative and cultural business, you should apply for the Export Stream.
Eligibility
Creative businesses can apply for funding if the business or non-profit organization is registered with Registry of Joint Stock Companies and is in 1 of the following sectors:
- fashion and design
- screen
- music
- performing arts
- production and fine craft
- visual arts and applied arts
- publishing
You need to apply for funding by 1 December 2024. The funding program processes applications as they receive them until all available funds are allocated (gone). Once all funds are allocated, the program closes and no longer accepts new applications.
How to apply
- Review detailed program criteria in the Creative Industries Fund Guidelines.
- Determine your stream.
- Contact the Creative Industries Fund to discuss your project idea and confirm your eligibility.
- Complete the funding application.
- Check the application for details on all required supporting documents.
- Complete the budget template.
- Send your completed application, supporting documents and budget template by email.
How long it takes
It should take 3 to 4 months for the program to review your funding application and let you know if your funding application is approved. It can take longer if more information is needed or if your application hasn’t been filled in correctly.
Cost
There is no cost to apply.
Before you start
Make sure you have:
- Registry of Joint Stock Companies ID
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Business Number
- total cost of project
- description of project
- project locations
- project objectives
- work plan, including timelines, key steps and dates for completion