Toronto Arts Council’s Music Creation & Audio Recording program

📖 About the Program

Toronto Arts Council’s Music Creation & Audio Recording program offers grants to practicing professional artists to assist them in the writing and production of their original music. This program supports new work in any/all genres of music.

Note: Professional Development and Touring/Travel expenses are not eligible for funding.

📅 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: June 30, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 02, 2025
• Category: Grants
• Opportunity Location: Canada
• Eligible Locations: Canada

💰 Benefits

Artists may apply to one of three categories for funding:

1️⃣ Creation (Maximum Grant: $5,000)

• Supports the writing/composition phase of new work.
• Grants can assist with:
  • Artist fees for creating and composing original music.
  • Project costs (e.g., copying and preparing performing parts).
  • Recording costs only if directly related to the writing process.

2️⃣ Recording – Demo/EP (Maximum Grant: $4,000)

• Supports the creation of a short-form recording in a home-based or professional facility (not your own).
• Grants can assist with:
  • Artistic costs, production costs, mixing, editing, and mastering by professionals.
  • Packaging, design, and manufacturing costs (maximum 500 units) if completed in professional facilities.
  • Web design and online media management costs (maximum $500) associated with the recording project.

Note:

• Projects solely for manufacturing, online media management, and web design costs are not eligible.
• Artist fees for the applicant are not funded.
• Writing/composition costs are not funded in this category.

3️⃣ Recording – Full-Length (Maximum Grant: $10,000)

• Supports the production of a full-length audio recording in professional facilities.
• Grants can assist with:
  • Producer costs (if not self-produced).
  • Guest artist costs.
  • Costs for recording, mixing, editing, mastering, packaging, design, and manufacturing (maximum 1,000 units).
  • Web design and online media management costs (maximum $1,000) associated with the recording project.

Note:

• Projects solely for manufacturing, online media management, and web design costs are not eligible.
• Artist fees for the applicant are not funded.
• Writing/composition costs are not funded in this category.
• A small portion of the work may be completed in home-based facilities, but these costs are not eligible for support.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status. Grant recipients must have a Social Insurance Number.
• Be a current resident of the City of Toronto who has lived in the city for at least one year prior to applying.
  • Note: A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet the residency requirement.
• Be a professional artist who has maintained an independent practice for at least one year.
  • TAC defines a professional artist as someone who:
    • Has developed their skills through training and/or practice.
    • Is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic tradition.
    • Actively practices their art.
    • Seeks payment for their work.
    • Has a history of public presentation.
• Undergraduate students are not eligible to apply.
• Professional artists pursuing graduate studies may not apply for work related to their degree.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Collaborative proposals (involving a co-applicant) are eligible.
  • One applicant must identify as the principal applicant.
  • Co-applicants are subject to the same eligibility criteria.
  • Grant payment and T4A slip will be issued to the principal applicant.
• Currently, the program accepts applications only from individual artists.
  • Bands/ensembles can apply through one member (preferably lead).
  • If awarded, the grant payment and T4A slip will be issued to the primary applicant.

📝 Application Process

• Apply here.
• You will receive a confirmation email upon submission.
  • Tip: Check your spam/junk mail folder if the email doesn’t arrive in your inbox.

📅 Application Deadline

September 02, 2025

🔗 Additional Information

For more details, visit the Toronto Arts Council’s Music Creation & Audio Recording program page.

Apply directly via the application portal.

• Creation (maximum grant $5,000): For artists looking for funding to support the writing/composition phase of new work.
• Recording – Demo/EP (maximum grant $4,000): For artists looking for support to create a short form recording in a home-based or professional facility.
• Recording – Full-Length (maximum grant $10,000): For artists looking to undertake the production of a full-length audio recording in one or more professional facilities.