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.

For more information, visit: artskingston.ca/ckaf-operating

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.

For more information, visit: artskingston.ca/ckaf-festivals

Application Deadline

Applications for CKAF 2026 Operating Grants and Festival Grants are due Thursday, 7 May 2026 by 11:59 PM ET.

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 Grants@ArtsKingston.ca.

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.

Information Sessions

The KAC will host an information session for each grant stream, which will include a detailed review of the respective Guidelines, Application Forms, and Assessment Criteria, as well as a Q&A with KAC staff. Each session will be hosted virtually via Zoom, with ASL interpretation provided. The sessions will be recorded and shared via the KAC website for applicants who are unable to attend. The sessions are scheduled as follows:

CKAF 2026 Operating Grants Information Session:
Tuesday, 14 April 2026, 2:00 - 3:00 PM
Register to attend here: ckaf-operating.eventbrite.ca

CKAF 2026 Festival Grants Information Session:
Thursday, 16 April 2026, 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Register to attend here: ckaf-festivals.eventbrite.ca

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.

CKAF Grant Streams

Operating
Grants

Festival
Grants

Project
Grants

Creation & Development Grants (Coming Soon)

CKAF News

Kingston City Council approves $100,000 one-time additional investment into City of Kingston Arts Fund (CKAF)

Kingston City Council voted to amend the 2026 City Budget to include a one-time increased investment to the City of Kingston Arts Fund (CKAF) in the amount of $100,000.

The $100,000 investment will be added to the CKAF 2026 allocation and distributed directly into our local arts sector through CKAF grants. In combination with the base investment of $612,790 and returned funds and interest from previous years, this brings the total funding available through CKAF 2026 grants to over $738,000 — an increase of 20% from 2025.

The amendment, moved by Councillor Ridge and seconded by Councillor Amos, with support from Councillor Cinanni and Councillor Chaves, was approved unanimously at the conclusion of the City Council Budget Meeting on Tuesday, January 20th. The one-time investment is allocated from the Working Fund Reserve, meaning there is no effect on tax rates for Kingston residents.

“The City of Kingston has a strong history of supporting the arts and culture sector, to the benefit of our civic identity, local economy, and community wellbeing,” says Nicole Daniels, Executive Director of the Kingston Arts Council.

“The caliber and volume of creative experiences Kingston has to offer are essential to residents' quality of life and at the heart of Kingston’s identity. In the face of looming threats to the arts sector at the provincial and national level, this investment is an important step in sustaining the industry — the organizations, the festivals, and the artists who make Kingston a great place to live and to visit. Amidst a challenging economic landscape and with the pressures the City continues to face to maintain services and respond to community needs, we are deeply grateful for this support.”

With the conclusion of the CKAF Review and the approval of the new CKAF Framework in 2025, this investment in 2026 will help ensure that CKAF is accessible and inclusive, supports Kingston artists, increases opportunity for arts programming and community engagement, helps build capacity and resiliency of arts organizations, and encourages collaboration and partnerships.

For nineteen years, CKAF has bolstered and sustained Kingston's arts industry — at this exciting moment in the program's history, we are positioned to lead with more accessible, forward-thinking, and supportive granting practices, to the benefit of all Kingstonians. The 2026 funding investment will enable us to launch four grant streams in 2026: Operating Grants, Festival Grants, Project Grants, and Creation & Development Grants.