218 Montréal Arts Organizations to Receive Increased Grants in 2026 and 2027
Thanks to additional funding provided by the Urban Agglomeration of Montréal in 2026, the Conseil des arts de Montréal is pleased to announce a major increase in its General Program budget.
Additional funding of $1,587,090 is being invested to increase the grants awarded to arts organizations currently receiving support under the Four-Year Operating Grant Program. The basic grant paid to 218 of these organizations—representing 65% of the total—will therefore be increased by an average of 15% for the years 2026 and 2027.
With this step, the CAM is strengthening Montréal’s creative heart by providing stable, long-term support for arts organizations and their ongoing missions.
Promises kept
“The CAM’s commitment has always been clear: as soon as our budget was increased, we were determined to reinvest in the missions of arts organizations.
“Today, we are stating loud and clear that our strength as a city of arts and culture depends on an ecosystem that must be nurtured with the utmost care. That’s why the municipal government is rising to the challenges facing the cultural sector.
“On behalf of Montréal’s artistic community, the Conseil wishes to thank the Martinez-Ferrada administration for this remarkable investment and vote of confidence. Together we are sending a clear message: the arts are an essential part of Montréal’s vibrancy and influence.” – Nathalie Maillé, Executive Director, Conseil des arts de Montréal
Culture is a cornerstone of Montréal’s influence and vitality. By increasing its contribution to the Conseil des arts de Montréal by $2.5 million, the City has taken strong budgetary action that will make it possible to enhance support for organizations and sustainably strengthen Montréal’s creative heart. This investment is part of a comprehensive vision that focuses on creators, institutions and the arts and culture communities in every borough, with the goal of making our city ever more vibrant and dynamic.” – Andréanne Moreau, City of Montreal Executive Committee member responsible for culture, heritage, design and the French language
Grant increases by the numbers
- Number of organizations receiving four-year operating grants: 334
- Number of organizations receiving grant increases: 218 (65%)
- Average increase granted: 15%
- Additional annual amount invested in funding increases for 2026 and 2027: $1,587,090
- Total annual amount invested in the Operating Grant Program after applying the funding increases: $12,612,590
Assistance aligned with community needs
To maximize the impact of the increases awarded and avoid spreading them too thinly, the Conseil’s decisions took account of principles and criteria that reflect a careful consideration of the community’s most urgent needs.
The top criterion remains the recognition of artistic merit, as determined by peer reviews conducted in 2024 and 2025. Next, organizations operating venues, professional associations, service organizations and groups, along with artistic sectors newly funded by the CAM (circus arts, street arts, non-classical music) received favourable consideration.
Additional factors were also taken into account, including:
- Organizations that had already received 100% of the amount requested during their initial evaluation were automatically excluded.
- The goal of a minimum $15,000 grant was prioritized. As a result, 32 of the 43 organizations previously receiving grants of less than $15,000 now receive this minimum amount. The remaining 11 organizations had requested lower amounts in their initial applications.
- Factors related to equity and representativeness, local presence and environmental responsibility had already been considered in the previous evaluation cycle.
Timeline
- Payment of the enhanced grant amounts will begin in July 2026.
- The next funding cycle for the Four-Year Operating Grant Program will take place in 2028.
Background
In 2024, the CAM launched a four-year operating grant cycle with an annual budget of roughly $11 million. In 2025, it transferred the vast majority of organizations previously receiving two-year operating grants into the new four-year program.
Thanks to the higher contribution from the Urban Agglomeration of Montréal announced in January 2026, the CAM is now able to increase the grants previously awarded under this program, as it had committed to doing if its funding was increased.
These increases are based on the analyses conducted during the 2024 and 2025 evaluation cycles. The organizations in question were not required to submit a new application for financial assistance.
Any questions?
The Conseil’s team is here to answer!
Arts organizations can schedule a phone appointment with the designated cultural advisor for your artistic discipline. Depending on the volume of requests and summer-related factors, response times may vary.
Please note that the members of the Conseil’s evaluation committees and board of directors are not authorized to comment on applications.
