Culture Innovation Fund (Nova Scotia)

Overview of the Culture Innovation Fund (Nova Scotia) program:

The Culture Innovation Fund is a provincial funding initiative offered through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (CCTH). It provides financial support to non-profit organizations and co-operatives engaged in arts, culture, and heritage to implement innovative, community-centered projects that use creativity and cultural engagement to address local challenges. The fund aims to strengthen organizational capacity, support new arts and cultural activities, promote equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA), and encourage sustainable growth. Projects must demonstrate innovative approaches that bring people together, promote community health, enhance social impact, and foster inclusiveness. Eligible projects may involve training staff and volunteers, testing new programming, diversifying revenue streams, or improving organizational systems. The program supports adaptive change and pilot projects that carry an element of risk but promise meaningful outcomes. Applications are assessed under two tiers—Tier 1 for smaller initiatives and Tier 2 for larger, more collaborative or evaluative projects. Tier 2 proposals must include measurable outcomes and demonstrate community partnerships or funding contributions. The program operates on a rolling intake basis until funds are depleted, encouraging early consultation with program officers. The initiative aligns with Nova Scotia’s EDIA principles, promoting equitable access and participation across diverse cultural communities. The fund excludes projects that are commercial, operationally recurring, or primarily employment-based, focusing instead on projects with clear artistic and social impacts.

Benefits of the Culture Innovation Fund (Nova Scotia) program:

• The applicants are eligible for the below funding options:
• Tier 1: Up to $15,000 for eligible costs no matching funds required.
• Tier 2: Up to $50,000, funding up to 75% of total eligible costs; the applicant must contribute at least 25% of the budget.

Eligibility criteria of the Culture Innovation Fund (Nova Scotia) program:

• Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Be a non-profit society or non-profit co-operative with an arts, culture, or heritage mandate.
• Be registered with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock Companies.
• Support, present, or produce work by professional artists or employ paid staff administering cultural programs.
• Ineligible applicants:
• For-profit businesses and sole proprietorships
• Individuals
• Public and private schools or colleges
• Organizations based outside Nova Scotia
• Organizations not registered with the Registry of Joint Stock Companies
• Ineligible activities include:
• Ongoing operations, routine wages, fundraising, capital purchases, maintenance costs, and projects already funded through CCTH or Arts Nova Scotia.
• Partisan or religious activities, contingency funds, and projects primarily aimed at employment.