On Oct. 21, 2021 Regional Council approved the cancellation of the Niagara Investment in Culture program. The program will be reconsidered in a Regional incentives report that is expected by October 2024.
The Niagara Investment in Culture program was created to:
Build capacity in Niagara’s culture sector
Increase access to culture for residents and visitors in all parts of Niagara
Promote partnerships between public, private and governmental sectors
Provide support to Niagara culture groups and participants
Celebrate Niagara’s history, people and identity
Our goal is to support interesting, innovative and high quality cultural programming that is Niagara-based, inclusive, collaborative and accountable.
Program categories
There are two categories of eligibility for the program:
Any one of Niagara's 12 municipalities; or
Non-profit Niagara cultural organizations
Arms-length cultural organizations, such as organizations which receive some regular municipal operating funding but answer to a board or are similarly separate from the municipality, such as museums or libraries, may submit under the cultural organization-led category.
Apply for the Niagara Investment in Culture Program
The 2021 Niagara Investment in Culture program has been adapted in response to COVID-19 and related requirements. Read through the material carefully to ensure your project is eligible and can comply with the revised program guidelines.
To be eligible for funding under either category, the project application must meet the following criteria
Projects must be organized and hosted in Niagara
The majority of people hired as a part of the project must reside in Niagara
Municipalities and organizations can only be project lead on one Niagara Investment in Culture project per funding year, but can partner or work with other organizations or municipalities on other Niagara Investment in Culture projects
Project events / activities must be open to the public and publicized
Project should be new, or in special cases, a demonstrably new component of an existing project, not just a new format
Project should have clear, significant and measurable indicators and evaluation data
Project should have a clear and reasonable budget
Project must have confirmed support from at least two key partners specifying their support and role(s)
Project must be completed by Dec. 26, 2021
Cultural organization applicants must be governed by an accountable board, steering committee or the equivalent
Applicants must be in verifiable fiscal health
Niagara Investment in Culture funding requests may be for up to 75 per cent of the total cash budget
For municipally-led projects, municipalities will be expected to contribute a minimum of 25 per cent of the total Niagara Investment in Culture funds requested
Key evaluation criteria for Niagara in Culture submissions are:
Overall quality of the project
Novelty and innovation of the project
Number, nature and diversity of partnerships
Number of people in Niagara who will benefit from the project
Ways / degrees to which the project supports the goals of the Niagara Culture Plan
Potential of the project to have a strong legacy component
Potential of the project to build cultural capacity in Niagara
Amount of non-governmental funding committed toward the project
In addition to the criteria listed above, adjudicators will also consider:
Quality and viability of the project in the current and evolving pandemic environment
Potential of the project to be successfully delivered in 2021
Ability / record of the applicant to provide complete, timely program reporting
Each application will be reviewed by Niagara Region staff to ensure it's complete and meets the eligibility criteria. A Niagara Investment in Culture 2021 Adjudication Panel composed of members of the cultural community, Niagara Region Culture Committee, Regional Council and Niagara Region staff (non-voting) will review applications. A list of successful applications will be received by Regional Council, followed by a public announcement of the recipients.
The Niagara Investment in Culture program reserves the right to determine award amounts which may or may not reflect applicant requests, and the right not to designate awards in any given instance. There will be no appeals. Available program funding subject to Council approval.
Niagara Investment in Culture program funding may NOT be used for:
Operating funding for any organization or program
Retroactively for any project expenses incurred before Feb. 15, 2021
Direct grants, bursaries or awards to individuals or organizations
Capital infrastructure or software purchase (small-scale equipment rental or purchase may be considered on a case-by-case basis)
Fireworks
Alcohol
Projects promoting specific religious beliefs or any discriminatory activities
Stand-alone commercial, fundraising or for-profit activities
Debt repayment
Any project not completed by Dec. 26, 2021
Project leads are required to notify Niagara Region of any actual or anticipated major changes to their projects as soon as possible, and within one day in writing of project cancellations.
Applications are closed for the 2021 Niagara Investment in Culture program.