Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund

To generate revenue for the participating organization, tourism-based income for businesses and tax revenue for the Province of Ontario.
  • Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Overview of the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund program:

The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF) investment program was established in 1999 and is managed on behalf of the Government of Ontario by an independent, not-for-profit entity called the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation. OCAF aims to increase cultural tourism by assisting Ontario’s arts, cultural, and heritage organizations to capitalize on the potential of new and expanded events and activities, including exhibitions, festivals, and performances. OCAF achieves this by providing up-front working capital directed towards the applicant’s marketing and promotional costs. The OCAF investment takes the form of a partially repayable loan. Since 1999, OCAF has invested in a diverse range of projects that have attracted more than four million visitors while helping to strengthen the earned revenue streams of those organizations supported.

Benefits of the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund program:
  • OCAF investment reduces the financial risk associated with mounting such events.
  • Specifically, the program supports projects that aim to:
  • Attract new tourists to the region; and
  • Increase the earned revenue capability of the applicant organization
Eligibility criteria of the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund program:
  • To be eligible, projects must meet all of the following criteria:
  • The project must be distinct from ongoing programming or activity (this can be either a new event or a significant expansion or enhancement to existing programming)
  • The project must represent the single largest new programming initiative in the applicants business plan for that year
  • The project must run for a fixed or limited period
  • The project must have a marketing plan targeting new tourists to the community
  • The project must anticipate that at least 10% of the project's total revenues are secured from the private sector AND at least 40% of total revenues are achieved through the projects earned revenue
  • The project must demonstrate the capability of repayment to OCAF and to generate a surplus for the applicant
  • The Board typically considers projects with total attendance figures of at least 1,000 in rural areas and 10,000 in large urban centers. Special consideration will be given to projects with attendance between 7,500 and 10,000 in large urban centers or between 750 and 1,000 in rural and northern areas if there is a strong case for tourism potential.
Request Funding Information

Related Funding Opportunities

Explore similar funding opportunities that match your goals.

GroundBreak VenturesOPEN
  • Groundbreak ventures
Procurement and Supply ChainOPEN
  • Manitoba Procurement Services Branch
Jays Care Local Government ProgramOPEN
  • Jays Care Foundation
Equity Tax CreditOPEN
  • Nova Scotia Finance and Treasury Board

Other Grants and Funding by Region

Starter Company Plus Program - HamiltonOPEN
  • Hamilton Business Centre
Awesome Foundation Grant OPEN
  • The Awesome Foundation Grant
Duties Relief Program- Memorandum D7-4-1OPEN
  • Canada Border Services Agency
McRock Capital CorporationOPEN
  • McRock Capital Corporation
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR LOANOPEN
  • Prescott-Russell
Live Active GrantOPEN
  • City of Edmonton
Thrive Impact FundOPEN
  • Thrive Impact Fund
SXSW PitchOPEN
  • SXSW

More Grants and Funding by Industry

E-Commerce FinancingOPEN
  • Merchant Growth
StoneBridge Merchant Capital Corp.OPEN
  • StoneBridge Merchant Capital Corp.
Eventi Capital PartnersOPEN
  • Eventi Capital Partners
ACCESS TO TALENT PROGRAMOPEN
  • Natural Products Canada
Canada Apprentice LoanOPEN
  • Government of Canada
Bright SparkOPEN
  • Bright Spark