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Cultural Development Fund

Are you an artist, performer, or group with a creative idea? The Niagara Falls Cultural Development Fund helps bring exciting arts and culture projects to life in our city. Each year, we support local projects that engage the community in arts, culture and heritage-related activities.

What the fund supports

We support projects that:

  • Take place in Niagara Falls
  • Welcome everyone, and is easy to access
  • Collaborate and get people, public, private and government groups to partner together and share costs
  • Have a clear goal and make a lasting impact that can be measured

You can apply for funding to help with:

  • Art exhibitions, events and public programs
  • Workshops, tours, and public talks
  • Community celebrations, interactive experiences and performances
  • Research and planning for future culture-based projects
  • Projects that use innovative ways to help people learn or feel included through art and culture

We welcome creative ideas that grow the culture sector, unite people, and celebrate Niagara Falls' history, people, and identity.

Who can apply

You can apply if you are:

  • An artist or performer living in Niagara Falls
  • A local organization, group, or collective that operates in Niagara Falls
  • Planning a project that will happen in Niagara Falls between March 2026 and February 2027

Funding levels

  • Full Grants: Up to $10,000 to one project
  • Microgrants: Up to $2,500

Important dates

  • Application opens: October 9, 2025
  • Info session for applicants: The info session held on October 22, 2025, at 6:00 pm has concluded
  • Application deadline: December 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm
  • Project timeline: March 2026 to February 2027
  • Funding announcements: Expected by March 2026 (based on City Council budget approval)
  • Final reports due: Approved projects must submit a financial report within one month of completion to receive their final installment of funding

How to apply

  1. Before you submit your application, speak with the Cultural Division staff. We can help with the process and give advice.
  2. Choose the correct online form for your project
  3. Review the form for full details about eligibility, required documents, and the evaluation criteria
  4. Apply online between October 9, 2025 and Monday, December 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm (Applications are now closed)

Applications and final report:

Full details of the fund and criteria are available in the application package.

Apply for a full grant Apply for a micro grant Submit your final report (if you received funding)

Each year, the City of Niagara Falls Culture Committee selects recipients for funding from the Niagara Falls Cultural Development Fund (NFCDF).

2025 NFCDF recipients

Project/Event Funding Amount

BFF – Beyond Films
A film festival at the Niagara Falls Exchange that celebrated global filmmaking, highlighted local talent, and leveraged the unparalleled beauty and significance of Niagara Falls as the "7th Wonder of the World."

$8,250

Carry Me Home 2: Song Visions of Niagara
A 10-song music video compilation featuring Niagara's original talent, followed by a red carpet screening premiere of these music videos and a DJ dance party.

$5,000

Downtown Niagara Falls Big Easy 2nd Line Parade
Summer Festival Pre-Launch, including a 2nd Line Parade ft. two bands (brass + drums), plus workshops in partnership with local Queen Street businesses and organizations.

$8,250

Echoes and Reflections
A series of community art workshops exploring the spaces we inhabit; using theatre arts, music, writing and visual art to facilitate collective artistic reflections.

$4,000

Enter The Void
Immersive installation based art exhibition located within the Sherman Zavitz Theatre and outside of the Exchange/NF History Museum.

$8,250

Krampusfest
Niagara Falls event featuring Krampus parade embracing Germanic, Austrian and European heritage, and culture in Canada. A Krampus/Christmas market, kids' activities, performers and more.

$8,250

Niagara Ukrainian Family Festival
The Niagara Ukrainian Family Festival is a vibrant celebration of Ukrainian culture and newcomers' sense of belonging featuring over 40 local talents, music, dance, food.

$8,250

Poetry In The Falls
Poetry in The Falls is a one-day event publicly promoting culture through performances and panels, fostering creativity, inclusivity, & community partnerships through poetry in Niagara Falls.

$2,500

Sing It, Canada!: A Celebration of Songs in Every Tongue!
A showcase of ethno-cultural musicians covering Canadian Song Artists in their cultural language, using their ethnocultural instruments. Cultural artists vendors also to be invited to display/sell.

$5,295

Soft Opening - A Podcast and Performance Series
Created and hosted by Niagara Falls secular minister, counsellor, and poet Cat Skinner, this explores the connection between vulnerability and creativity.

$5,000

YAAN Spring Musical
Producing a full-scale musical experience for youth actors from low-income families.

$4,600

Contact Us

City of Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls Exchange
5943 Sylvia Place
Niagara Falls, ON L2G 1S9
Canada
905-356-7521 ext. 5912
culture@niagarafalls.ca