Open Call: Northern Youth Cultural Fund (Canada)

Deadline: 15-Oct-2026

The Northern Youth Cultural Fund (NYCF) provides up to $5,000 for cultural, artistic, and creative projects benefiting children and youth aged 4 to 19 in northern Saskatchewan. The fund supports interactive activities that improve access to cultural experiences, strengthen community connections, and promote reconciliation, particularly for young people facing financial barriers to participation. The Northern Youth Cultural Fund (NYCF) was established to increase access to cultural, artistic, and creative experiences for children and youth living in northern Saskatchewan. The fund places particular emphasis on young people who face economic barriers that may prevent them from participating in cultural activities. The program is delivered in partnership with the Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation District and supports interactive projects that encourage community engagement, creativity, cultural connection, and participation among young people. The fund is intended to benefit children and youth between 4 and 19 years of age. Projects should provide meaningful opportunities for young people to participate in cultural, artistic, or creative activities within their communities.

Priority is given to projects that:

The Northern Youth Cultural Fund aims to ensure that young people can participate in cultural programming regardless of their financial circumstances. Applicants should consider how their project will make participation accessible to children and youth who might otherwise face economic barriers. Projects that provide inclusive, community-based opportunities can help broaden access to cultural experiences throughout northern Saskatchewan. Special consideration is given to projects that address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action or contribute to other reconciliation efforts. Projects may incorporate Indigenous cultural knowledge, traditional arts, languages, heritage, or other activities that contribute to cultural understanding and reconciliation. Applicants should clearly explain how reconciliation is incorporated into the project where relevant. Projects must be cultural, artistic, or creative in nature and primarily benefit children and youth up to age 19.

Eligible activities may include:

Language projects are eligible when they involve languages other than French or English. Projects must take place primarily within the Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation District. Activities should generally take place outside regular school hours.

Most projects must:

Applicants should ensure their proposed schedule meets these timing requirements before submitting an application. Eligible applicants include organizations and institutions located within the Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation District.

Eligible applicants include:

Applicants must also meet the program’s funding-status requirements. Applicants must be in good standing with the Sask Lotteries Community Grant Program.

They must not have:

Organizations should resolve outstanding reporting or grant requirements before applying. The fund does not support all applicant types or project categories.

The following are not eligible:

Projects that do not meet the cultural or youth-focused requirements are also not eligible. Applicants can request up to $5,000 per project. Funding can support eligible expenses directly connected to delivering the cultural or creative activity. Applicants should develop a realistic project budget that clearly explains how requested funding will be used.

Eligible expenses may include:

Costs should be directly related to the proposed cultural, artistic, or creative activity. Up to 20% of the grant may be used for nutrition costs when the expense is directly connected to the cultural activity. This means nutrition can be included as part of the project budget when it supports participation in the eligible activity. However, food and nutrition expenses beyond the permitted limit are not eligible. The fund does not support several categories of expenses.

Ineligible expenses include:

Applicants should ensure that the central purpose of the project is cultural, artistic, or creative rather than primarily focused on an excluded activity. A strong application should clearly demonstrate how the proposed project will benefit children and youth aged 4–19.

Applicants should explain:

Applicants should also ensure that the project schedule, budget, and eligibility information are complete and consistent. The fund is designed to help young people access cultural experiences that may otherwise be difficult to reach because of financial barriers. Applicants can strengthen their project design by considering affordability, local access, inclusive participation, and opportunities for youth to actively engage rather than simply observe. Interactive activities can help young people develop creative skills while strengthening their connections with their communities and cultures. Cultural and creative activities can provide children and youth with opportunities to explore artistic expression, cultural knowledge, language, heritage, and community identity. The Northern Youth Cultural Fund supports this type of programming as part of building healthy, connected, and vibrant northern communities. Its focus on equitable access also helps ensure that financial circumstances do not become the main barrier preventing young people from participating. The Northern Youth Cultural Fund supports cultural, artistic, and creative activities that benefit children and youth aged 4–19 in northern Saskatchewan. Applicants can request up to $5,000 for eligible project costs. Projects must primarily benefit children and youth between 4 and 19 years old. Eligible applicants include registered non-profit organizations with a cultural mandate, First Nations, Tribal Councils, Métis Locals or Regions, municipalities, schools, libraries, and Friendship Centres located within the Northern Sport, Culture a