Program Objectives
The City of Niagara Falls Arts, Culture and Museum Committee created the Niagara Falls Cultural Development Fund (NFCDF) with the following objectives:
- Allocate funding to new cultural initiatives and innovative programs and projects that engage the local community with cultural and heritage-related ideas and activities
- Build capacity in Niagara Falls’ culture sector
- Increase access to culture for residents and visitors in Niagara Falls
- Promote cultural partnerships between public, private and governmental sectors
- Provide support to Niagara Falls culture groups and participants
- Celebrate Niagara Falls’ history, people, and identity
The aim is to support interesting, innovative, and high quality cultural programming that is:
- Niagara Falls-based (i.e., created by, experienced in and celebrates the arts and heritage of Niagara Falls)
- Inclusive (i.e. accessible, open to the public)
- Collaborative (i.e. features shared costs and enhanced partnerships)
- Accountable (i.e. has measurable impact and sustainability)
The grants offer funding to individuals, groups, collectives and organizations for the creation, production, presentation and distribution of culture and cultural services. Funding is not renewable from year to year. Applicants that have received funding from the NFCDF are not eligible to apply for the same project in subsequent years. However past applicants, may apply for new initiatives related to previous successful grant projects.
Level of Funding
In 2019, the maximum level of funding that will be allocated to one project may be up to $10,000.00.
Program Dates 2019/20
- Applications Available: October 2, 2019
- Applicant Information Sessions: 6:00-7:00pm, Wednesday November 26, 2019, and 6:00-7:00pm, January 8, 2020. 5810 Ferry Street, Niagara Falls History Museum (both sessions will be identical)
- Application Deadline: January 31, 2020 at 11:59pm.
- Announcement of Successful Applicants: It is anticipated that successful applicants will be notified by April 15, 2020. This is also contingent on City of Niagara Falls Council Budget Approval.
Note: Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to seek feedback from the committee to strengthen any future applications that they may submit.
- Project Dates: Projects must occur between April 2020 and February 2021
- Final Reports Due: Within one month of the project completion. The final installment will be paid once all reporting requirements are satisfied.
Full details of the fund and criteria are available in the application package.
To Apply
- Email Kim Van Stygeren, Cultural Program Assistant for the application and criteria materials or call 905-356-7521, extension 5911.
2019 Fund Recipients
Alley and Laneway Project
Celebrate Out Downtown
This pilot would be designed to engage Niagara artists to design alley and laneway spaces in Downtown as entertainment hubs, photo experiences, downtown beautification, legacy pieces and assist in bring our community to life. Five launches are planned for June 17, June 23, June 27, June 28 & July 1.
$5000
Day of 1000 Musicians
Day of 1000 Musicians
A unique music event bringing a diverse group of a 1,000 amateur and professional musicians to perform music together … a positive, organic experience! At the Gale Centre on July 20,2019 (rain date July 21,2019)
$6000
Feed Me
Manuel Trujillo
This project is a creative, playful and interactive exhibit depicting the complexity of our inter-dependent external and internal ecosystem in an easy to digest way. By using simple concepts like the food chain, recycling and the water cycle, people can participate in altering and nourishing the environments. Locations will include the Canada Day Parade and the Niagara Falls Night of Art Sept 19, amongst others.
$8520
Funk-tional Art Installation
Third Space Cafe
“Funk-tional Art” features local artists May, June, July and August in a unique gallery in the Third Space Café, and encourages community engagement through workshops and an Open House showing the completed art pieces.
$2500
Mock Archeological Dig
Niagara Falls Art Gallery and Children's Museum
To create a mock Archeological Dig program to provide opportunities for students grade 3 – 8 to participate in learning experiences related to math, science, history, archeology and visual arts.
$7000
NF Writers Festival
Niagara Falls Writer’s Festival (Writer’s Festival Group)
A series of literary workshops, readings and lectures spanning across Niagara Falls featuring local and national authors. October 12, 2019, NF public libraries.
$2500
Niagara’s Gift Shop
Permanent Vacation (Art Collective)
Permanent Vacation is partnering with NFHM, NFAG, NAC to create a series of innovative souvenir themed art-objects to be exhibited at various Niagara Falls venues. Multiple venues, premieres at Niagara Falls Night of Art on September 19.
$4950
Opera Niagara
Opera Niagara
Producing two full operatic productions for the Niagara region. Now in our 3rd season, Opera Niagara is Niagara’s only operatic company. Bellini’s La Sonnambula, April 26 & 27, and Massenet’s Manon in autumn 2019.
$7000
Pollinator Trail Native Species Sculpture Installation
Heartland Forest Nature Experience
With this grant we will host an artist competition to create a sculpture for our new pollinator trail. The outdoor sculpture will have both visual and tactile components and be environmentally and kid friendly.
$3150
Shift
Andrea Letourneau
An exhibition combining Photography, See Through Canvas and Dance! This show will be a zoom-in lens on how Letourneau Art appropriates the movements of dance she captures on the camera to the see through canvas. September 26th at the QUBE Escape Rooms.
$1380
The Boy from Niagara
Ayo Adewumi
A documentary film about an international artiste, Big John ‘T-Bone’ Little, and his city, Niagara Falls. Niagara screenings in November and December at the Seneca Theatre, NF Museums, City Library and the BME Church.
$7000
The Harder They Fall
David Green
A 4 part episodic comedy series centered around the trials and tribulations of a comic trying to make it big while living in Niagara Falls. In collaboration with numerous local comics, actors, musicians and dancers with support of local business and organizations. This will submitted to the Canadian Comedy Awards and to online streaming sites Crave TV, Crackle and Hulu.
$4000
Water for Life Children and Adolescent Art Workshops
Antoine Gaber
Art Workshops engaging 120-240 kids/adolescents through art sensitize the importance of clean drinking water in our lives today and to protect it in the future. Artworks will be displayed to the public at the Niagara Falls Art Gallery and NF Library. Selected Artworks from 10 - 12 participants approved by an Art Committee will represent NF in itinerant art exhibitions in prestigious spaces in Florence, Italy in November 2019 as part of the United Nations’ III edition of the World Day for the Rights of Children.
$6000
2018 Fund Recipients
15th Anniversary of Summertime Blues in the Park
Stamford Centre Volunteer Firemen’s Association Bluesfest 2018
Free Family Concerts every Thursday from June to September at Firemen’s Park
$10,000
4680Q
Rick Rose
4680 Q is an innovative broadcast platform to celebrate arts, heritage and culture interactive using live interviews, podcasts, streaming to build capacity within every medium of Niagara’s growing talent.
$4,000
Carmel Fine Art and Music Festival Expansion
Niagara Arts Showcase
To grow the festival to include interactive and educational artistic and cultural experiences with an eye to strategic planning for future re-branding
$10,000
Depiction
Andrea Letourneau
This exhibition is not your typical gallery showing. The audience can "plug-in", connect via headphones and mobile / tablet and watch the creation unfold
$1,500
Niagara Falls Elvis Festival 2018
Greg Frewin Theatre
The Project addresses financial and physical barriers hindering population segments from accessing Arts & Culture in Niagara Falls; it generates financial stimulus, reduces seniors’ social isolation, and strengthens community ties.
$8,500
Fairy Heart Forest
Torena Gardner-Durdle
Create a Fairy Village in a special section of the trail at Heartland Forest for enjoyment of the community at an accessible level for all
$2,000
MADD Camp
NF Art Gallery
A collaborative partnership between two not-for-profit organizations: the Niagara Falls Art Gallery and The Firehall Theatre, and one private business Ring Productions to present a summer Music, Art, Dance and Drama camp for children ages 7 – 16.
$9,000
Market Niagara
Livestock Niagara
Market Niagara is a multi-displinary music, artisan, food and vendor market held in downtown Niagara Falls on Queen St. and throughout Valley Way.
$5,000
The Great Canadian Historical Songbook
Aaron Berger
A collection of original songs and narratives bringing Niagara history with performance and podcasts - stories of saints, sinners, heroes, inventors and neighbours.
$10,000
2017 Fund Recipients
Niagara Falls Art Gallery
Celebrating Canada 150 through Animation
A collaborative project between Heartland Forest and the Gallery to provide 2 weeks of summer programming at the Heartland Forest Celebrating Canada 150 incorporating digital animation with nature.
$8,800
Laura-Lee Burey
Share Peace, Discover Niagara River
The Niagara River is the backdrop of a walking circuit with street art, music, and talks focusing on peace through local culture.
$6,000
Marinko Jareb
“Niagara Falls Sunset Market”
Weekly family friendly pop-up market combining art, music, vendors and food trucks, with a focus on local culture.
$4,500
Niagara Arts Showcase
Carmel Fine Art & Music Festival
A 3-day Art & Musical Festival featuring local artisans & musicians in a fun, family atmosphere of exploration, learning & enterprise.
$9,700
Planet 3 Communications Ltd
INDIGENOUS 150+
INDIGENOUS 150+ is an indigenous film series dedicated to showcasing Indigenous films and artists, using story-telling and cinema as a vehicle for reconciliation.
$8,000
Shelley Glica
Porchfest
Porchfest is a celebration of music and art in the community. Front porches act as stages to showcase the diverse talent in Niagara Falls.
$3,000
Rafik Guirguis
Livestock Niagara Music & Arts Festival 2017
Project Summary: Livestock Niagara is a multi-disciplinary community event hosting 40 bands, 20 visual artists, 8 artisan vendors over a 14-hour day. Free to the public.
$10,000
2016 Fund Recipients
Niagara Falls Art Gallery
Seniors Teaching Seniors
The purpose of this project is to continue to pilot a program of providing in resident seniors art programs.
$5,000
Rafik Guirguis
Livestock Music Festival
Livestock Niagara Music Festival will host 45 bands (4 stages, 13 craft-art vendors, over a 14-hour day. Non-profit. Community event. Free to the public.
$5,000
Niagara Falls Military Museum
WWI Escape from Niagara Falls Internment Barracks
Participants will experience the live scenario of being under military discipline for being drunk and disorderly on duty during WWI at Camp Niagara and will attempt to escape.
$4,500
Shelley Glica
Porchfest
Porchfest Niagara Falls is a celebration of music in the community. Porches in the downtown residential area will host musicians on July 24th from 1-4pm.
$500
Marinko Jareb
Niagara Falls Arts Walk
A public art project consisting of murals by various artists on accessible outdoor space at 5400 Robinson Street in Niagara Falls with designated signage.
$2,500
C.D. Onofrio
Perpetual Peace Project’s Culture Jam
The Culture Jam will be a 1 week long musical exploration of synergy and creativity with a focus on creating a hospitable and welcoming environment for artists and audience to partake in the jam or simply listen and be.
$2,500
