Grants for Canadian Writers

Welcome to our guide for writer’s grants!

Okay… Grants can be tricky! For the most part in Canada, you need to have “established” yourself as a writer before you can apply for money to keep writing — the ultimate Catch 22 for new writers. Eligibility can get complicated, so we’ve done our best to provide you with what it means for each grant in this list.

Part One includes a number of grants for all writers, and Part Two includes resources exclusively for writers who are Black, Indigenous or People of Colour (BIPOC).

These grants may seem impossible, but they exist because people apply for them, so don’t be shy. Find your way in.

Cheering for you,

~ The Firefly Team

P.S. Is this list not up to date? That keeps happening. We’d love to know!

P.P.S. If you’re looking for places to submit your completed writing, visit our Contests for Canadian Writers resource.

Part One: Grants for Writers

Access Copyright Foundation GRANTS

Grants:

  • Marian Hebb Grant for research — $3,000 to $7,500 to support information gathering and exploration towards creating a publishable work in progress.

  • Professional Development Grants — up to $3,000 to support skills development in writing.

  • Events Grants — up to $7500 to showcase work to the public or to host professional development events for writers, visual artists, publishers and related arts professionals.

Eligibility: There are three categories.

1) Creators: Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have at least one of the following:

  • One professionally published book (excluding self-published books and chapbooks)

  • One exhibition catalogue

  • Eight publications in periodicals or journals.

2) Arts Professionals: Self-employed professionals working freelance in the writing, publishing and visual arts sector, including but not limited to: Editors, book coaches, translators, illustrators and designers. Publicists, independent literary agents, marketing and promotion specialists. Program, editorial, administrative, marketing and production staff of eligible organizations and publishers . Publishing consultants.

3) Artist Groups: Informal collectives or small groups of professional writers or visual artists that:

  • Have a mandate to provide mutual support, critique, discourse, professional or skills development

  • Have a minimum of five active members

  • Have met or have convened online at least monthly for one year prior to the date of application.

Ontario Arts Council — recommendeR grants for writers

Grant: $1,500 to $5,000

Eligibility: This one is for folks with an Ontario address. It’s intended to strengthen ties between Ontario writers, magazines, publishers and literary organizations, so you can submit directly to participating magazine and book publishers.

Applicants also need a “recent professional publishing history”, which means:

  • One traditionally published book (minimum of 48 pages) for which you have a publishing contract and receive royalties or

  • Three traditionally published short stories, comics, poems or other works for which you have received payment. Works can appear in magazines, newspapers, websites, and anthologies. Contest-winning work is considered publication or

  • Three year’s professional presentation of comics work through work-for-hire creation jobs (editorial cartooning, creation for commercial comics franchises), sales at curated comics festivals, or gallery exhibitions or

  • Two recent production writing credits for non-text media (radio, television, film, interactive digital media, and theatre).

Ontario Arts Council — Literary Creation Projects (Works for Publication)

Grant: $12,000

Eligibility: This one is for writers who already have books out in the world. Applicants need an Ontario address and a recent professional publishing history with one of these:

  • At least one traditionally published book (minimum of 48 pages) which you get royalties for.

  • At least three traditionally published short stories, comics, poems or other works for which you have received payment. Contest-winning work is considered publication.

  • A professional self-publishing practice.

Toronto Arts Council — Writer’s program

Grant: $5,000 (Level 1 or “Emerging” Writers) or $10,000 (Level 2 or “Established” Writers)

Eligibility for “emerging writers”: Applicants need a Toronto address and at least one professionally published poem, article or short story, or a history of public performance.

Eligibility for “established writers”: Applicants need a Toronto address and at least one of the following:

  • 1 professionally published book

  • 20 pages of published poems

  • 60 pages of short stories, articles or non-fiction published in literary magazines, periodicals or anthologies

  • Artists working with oral traditions must have a substantial history of public performance and be recognized as established artists by their peers.

Part Two: Resources for BIPOC Writers

BIPOC Writers Connect — Facilitating Mentorship, Creating Community

This is a virtual conference for Black, Indigenous and racialized emerging writers to connect with the literary world. This event includes one-on-one feedback with a professional writer, panel discussions, workshops and community connection. Advance application is required.

Canada Council for the Arts — Grants for Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples

Grant: $3,000 to $300,000 depending on project scale

Eligibility: This grant is for First Nations, Inuit and Métis professional artists, aspiring artists, or arts/cultural professionals, groups and organizations.

Diaspora Dialogues — Mentorship programs

Grants: This isn’t a grant exactly, it’s a one-on-one mentorship programs for emerging Canadian writers.

Eligibility: Writers must be citizens or permanent residents of Canada who haven’t have a previously published full-length manuscript (although appearances in magazines and/or anthologies are OK).