Professional Arts Organizations Operating Grant Program
Applications open August 24, 2026
The Professional Arts Organizations Operating Grant Program provides annual operating grants on a four-year cycle, and will commit funding for 2027 – 2030.
Current Grantees Only:
- February 18, 2026: Report deadline for 2025 funding year
- February – April 2026: Funds distributed for 2026 funding year
Application Process (Current Grantees & New Applicants):
- June 2026: Guidelines published
- August 24, 2026: Applications open for 2027 – 2030 funding cycle
- October 7, 2026: Application deadline (no applications accepted after 4:30 pm MT)
- October – November 2026: Evaluation of grants
- December 2026: Notification of results for 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 funding years
Reporting:
- February 17, 2027: Report deadline for 2026 funding year
- February 16, 2028: Report deadline for 2027 funding year
- February 14, 2029: Report deadline for 2028 funding year
- February 13, 2030: Report deadline for 2029 funding year
Brief Overview
This program provides unrestricted operating funding to registered non-profit professional arts organizations in Calgary. Grants through this program are committed on a four-year basis for funding years 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030. This program is open to both current grantees and new applicants.
This program supports Professional Arts Organizations. Organizations that received operating funding in 2025 (current grantees) will have their agreement and current grant amount renewed for the 2026 funding year and will be assessed through this program for 2027 – 2030.
New applicants will also be welcome to apply for the 2027 – 2030 funding cycle if they did not receive funding in 2026.
Organizations that were successful in the one-year New Professional Arts Organizations Operating Grant in 2026 must reapply for 2027 – 2030 through this program. They will be considered new applicants.
Note: Operating grants are now assessed and awarded through two separate programs: one for community arts organizations and one for professional arts organizations. Information about the Community Arts Organizations Operating Grant can be found here.
If you have questions about this program or need help applying, please contact one of the following Community Investment Program Specialists:
Perpetual Atife at perpetual.atife@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or 403.264.5330 ext.229
Areum Kim at areum.kim@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or 403.264.5330 ext.122
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