Touring your work across Canada or internationally is expensive. Travel, freight, venues, and marketing add up fast. The Circulation and Touring stream under Arts Across Canada and Abroad helps Canadian artists and arts organizations cover up to 50% of eligible touring and exhibition costs, with funding of up to $200,000 per project.
This program supports national and international circulation. The goal is simple: help Canadian art reach new audiences at home and abroad.
The Arts Across Canada and Abroad — Circulation and Touring program is delivered by the Canada Council for the Arts. It funds projects that present existing artistic work to the public through tours, exhibitions, and other circulation activities.
Because the program is cost-shared, you must show confirmed or projected revenue from presenters, partners, sponsors, or other funding sources.
You may be eligible if you are:
You must also have a professional artistic track record, such as previous tours, exhibitions, public presentations, or recognized artistic activity.
Both domestic touring within Canada and international touring or exhibitions are eligible under this stream.
Eligible projects focus on the circulation of completed artistic work, not creation. Funded activities commonly include:
Projects must be confirmed or well-advanced in planning. Early ideas without venues or presenters are less competitive.
The Canada Council supports a wide range of touring-related costs, as long as they are directly tied to presenting the work.
Common eligible expenses include:
Administrative overhead not tied to the tour itself is usually not eligible.
For a broader breakdown, see also:
What expenses do arts, culture, and media grants cover?
Applying for Circulation and Touring funding is done through the Canada Council for the Arts online portal.
Before you apply, confirm that:
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you use filters for programs by province, discipline, and applicant type in seconds.
Your application should clearly explain:
Strong applications show clear demand and realistic scheduling.
Your budget must:
Cost overruns or missing revenue explanations are common reasons for rejection.
Deadlines vary by intake. Always check the Canada Council portal for current submission dates.
Applying with an unfinished work
This program funds circulation, not creation. Works still in development are usually ineligible.
No confirmed presenters or venues
Applications without clear touring partners are weaker and often declined.
Underestimating total project costs
Unrealistic budgets raise red flags. Review past tours to estimate accurately.
Misunderstanding funding type
This program offers a non-repayable grant. If you need other funding types, explore additional Canada Council programs.
For more on this distinction, see:
Repayable vs Non-Repayable Business Funding in Canada: Program Examples Explained
Q: Can I use Circulation and Touring funding for international tours?
Yes. The program supports both touring within Canada and international circulation of Canadian artistic work.
Q: Is the Circulation and Touring grant repayable?
No. Funding under this program is a non-repayable grant. You do not need to pay it back.
Q: What is considered a professional artistic track record?
This typically includes past tours, exhibitions, performances, or other public presentations recognized within your artistic discipline.
Q: How much of my project costs can this program cover?
The program covers up to 50% of eligible expenses, to a maximum of $200,000 per project.
Q: Are there fixed deadlines?
Deadlines vary by intake. Always confirm current dates in the Canada Council’s online funding portal.
If you’re planning a tour or exhibition, Circulation and Touring (Arts Across Canada and Abroad) can cover a major share of your costs. The key is strong planning, confirmed partners, and a realistic budget.
GrantHub tracks hundreds of active arts and culture grant programs across Canada — including federal, provincial, and international touring support — so you can quickly see which options match your project and timeline.
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