Cultural Funding Framework Review

Each year, the City of Ottawa invests in the local non-profit arts, heritage, and culture community through 17 funding and awards programs. These programs support public programming and services that benefit Ottawa residents and visitors to the city. The funds are distributed within a framework that was first approved in 2002 and is referred to as the “Cultural Funding Framework”. This Framework, and subsequent reports to Council, determine how cultural funding and award programs are administered and distributed to Ottawa’s cultural community. They also outline program objectives, who is eligible for funding, and how funding decisions are made.

A lot has changed in Ottawa since 2002 and the City of Ottawa is now reviewing its Cultural Funding Framework that is administered through the Cultural Funding Support Unit. In order to do so, we need to learn more about what culture means to you and your community. We also want to know how our programs can better support you in delivering or accessing cultural activities in Ottawa. Based on the community’s feedback, the Cultural Funding Support Unit will put forward a new Cultural Funding Framework and Policy that will guide our Unit in supporting culture in today’s Ottawa.