Funding Opportunity: International Co-productions Grant (Canada)

Deadline: 04-Nov-2026

The International Co-productions Program supports Canadian artistic groups and organizations working with foreign arts organizations to develop, produce, and present new artistic works or exhibitions. As part of the Arts Across Canada and Abroad program, funding can support creative and financial co-productions, including artist fees, production, travel, accommodation, accessibility, promotion, project management, and other eligible project costs. The International Co-productions Program supports international artistic collaboration between Canadian and foreign arts organizations. The program is a component of the Arts Across Canada and Abroad initiative and is designed to create opportunities for Canadian artists to work with international partners while connecting artists with audiences in Canada and abroad. Funding supports collaborative projects involving the development, production, and public presentation of new works or exhibitions. The program supports two main types of international co-production projects: Both models provide opportunities for Canadian and international artistic partners to contribute to new or unfinished artistic projects and bring the resulting work to audiences. An artistic co-production involves two or more artistic groups or organizations working together to develop and produce a project.

Partners combine their

The participating organizations share credit as creators or producers of the resulting project. This model is intended for projects where Canadian and foreign partners have a substantive creative relationship and jointly contribute to the realization of the work. A financial co-production has a different structure. Under this model, a Canadian festival or presenter contributes financially to a new or unfinished artistic project being developed by a foreign artist, artistic group, or organization. The project must be intended for public presentation in Canada. Financial co-productions therefore provide a mechanism for Canadian presenters and festivals to help bring international artistic projects to Canadian audiences. Funding can support a broad range of expenses directly related to eligible co-production projects.

Eligible costs may include:

Applicants should ensure that proposed expenses are directly connected to the project and its delivery. The program recognizes accessibility as an important component of public artistic presentation. Eligible accessibility expenses can include: Child or dependent care required to enable project completion can also be included among eligible expenses. For financial co-productions, co-production fees paid to the foreign artist, group, or organization are also eligible. This allows Canadian festivals and presenters to contribute financially to the development or completion of international artistic projects intended for presentation to Canadian audiences. Eligible applicants must be Canadian artistic or presenting organizations that meet the program’s requirements.

Eligible applicant types include:

Applicants must also have received at least one Canada Council grant within the previous five years. A key eligibility requirement is previous support from the Canada Council. Applicants must have received at least one Canada Council grant during the five years before applying. Organizations considering an application should therefore confirm that they meet this prior funding requirement before developing their proposal. The program is designed around partnerships between Canadian and foreign arts organizations. Applicants should establish a clear role for each partner and explain how the collaboration contributes to the artistic project.

A strong partnership can demonstrate:

International Co-productions is intended not only to support artistic collaboration but also to create opportunities for audiences to experience new artistic work. Projects can contribute to connections between Canadian artists, international partners, and audiences both within Canada and internationally. Collaborative development can also provide artists and organizations with opportunities to exchange knowledge, creative approaches, and professional expertise. Applicants should clearly explain the artistic purpose of the collaboration and the contribution of each partner.

A strong proposal should describe:

For financial co-productions, applicants should also explain the Canadian presenter’s financial contribution and how the foreign project will be presented to Canadian audiences. Personnel costs are eligible where they are directly related to the project.

Applicants can include payments for:

Budgets should clearly identify the personnel required and their roles within the co-production. International artistic collaboration can involve travel for artists and project personnel.

Eligible expenses may include:

These costs should be directly connected to the development, production, or presentation of the eligible co-production. Projects can require a range of practical resources to move from development to public presentation. Eligible expenses can include production, publication, space, equipment, promotion, safety, and project management costs. Applicants should connect each major cost to a specific project activity. International co-productions provide Canadian artists and organizations with opportunities to develop creative relationships with international partners. Collaborative production can expand artistic networks, encourage knowledge exchange, and create opportunities for new works to reach audiences in different locations. The program also supports Canadian audiences by facilitating public presentation of internationally connected artistic projects. The International Co-productions Program supports Canadian artistic groups and organizations working with foreign arts partners to develop, produce, and publicly present new artistic works or exhibitions. The program supports artistic co-productions and financial co-produ