Grants

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Operational Support

The Operational Support program, administered by artsnb, replaces the previous Core Support program administered by the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture (THC). Please note that the program will be open for applications on the Online Application System on April 1st, 2026.

artsnb will be offering presentations about this new program on April 9 and 10. For more information on these presentations and to register, please visit this page.

The Operational Support program is designed to help not-for-profit arts & culture organizations fulfill their mandates more effectively and assist with costs such as the administration, creation, production and presentation of art, arts & cultural programming and services.

A professional arts and culture organization is one which is mandated to:

  • produce or present work by professional artists,
  • present programs facilitated by professional artists,
  • and/or provide services intended for professional artists.

FORMS

Guidelines – Operational Support program

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM

The Operational Support program is intended to support established, professional not-for-profit arts and culture organizations, by assisting with costs such as the administration, creation, production, and presentation of art, and arts & cultural programming and services. Interested organizations should first review the program guidelines to ensure eligibility. To apply, visit https://artsnb.ca/oa and follow the application instructions provided in the guidelines.
Yes. As of 2026, the Operational Support program replaces the Core Support program and is now administered by artsnb. Following a formal program review—which considered departmental mandates, sector data, stakeholder feedback, and comparisons with other jurisdictions—the program was redesigned, with delivery shifted to artsnb to align with national best practices. To see if you qualify, please review the eligibility criteria in the program guidelines.
Interested organizations should first review the program guidelines to ensure eligibility. If you have questions regarding the criteria, please contact artsnb at ops_pso@artsnb.ca for clarification.
Yes. Organizations that were not previously served by the Core Support program may be eligible to apply for the Operational Support program. To see if you qualify, review the eligibility criteria in the program guidelines.
This program operates on a three-year funding cycle that spans fiscal years 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029, with the cycle opening in April 2026. If the organization receives funding, the recommended grant amount will be paid each year of the funding cycle, depending on provincial budget allocations and approval of the organization’s yearly funding reports. The next intake after this cycle is planned for 2029. For more information, please refer to the program guidelines.
In the Operational Support program, an organization can request a maximum grant representing a portion of its Total Operating Revenue (TOR).
  • Organizations with TOR of $50K - $250K are eligible to request: Up to 30% of Total Operating Revenue or $50K, whichever is less
  • Organizations with TOR of $251K - $500K are eligible to request: Up to 25% of Total Operating Revenue or $75K, whichever is less
  • Organizations with TOR of $501K - $1M are eligible to request: Up to 20% of Total Operating Revenue or $100K, whichever is less
  • Organizations with TOR of $1M-$2M are eligible to request: Up to 15% of Total Operating Revenue or $180K, whichever is less
  • Organizations with TOR over $2M are eligible to request: Up to 12.5% of Total Operating Revenue or $400K, whichever is less.
Total Operating Revenue is defined as the median of an organization’s annual Operating Revenue over five years: the last 3 completed fiscal years, the current fiscal year, and the first projected year of the program cycle. Total Operating Revenue does not include in-kind support. Please refer to the program guidelines for detailed information on how to calculate Total Operating Revenue.
The median of a multi-year range is used to calculate the organization’s budget category because it provides a fair way to measure typical operating revenue over time. This approach minimizes the impact of unusually high or low years and aligns with best practices for operational funding programs.
Submitted applications are first reviewed by an artsnb Program Officer to ensure they are complete and meet eligibility requirements. Eligible applications are then evaluated by a peer jury of arts professionals and/or professional artists assembled by artsnb. The evaluation focuses on the organization's demonstrated Organizational Effectiveness, Impact of Programs & Services, Financial Health, and Relevance. Please refer to the program guidelines for detailed information on the evaluation process.
No. The Operational Support program does not include minimum funding guarantees for applicants. This aligns with best practices across other jurisdictions, respects the peer jury process, and ensures that funding can be distributed more equitably and flexibly, in addition to providing opportunities for new applicants to potentially receive support.
Yes. This program has detailed guidelines with information on eligibility, funding levels, how to apply, and more. In early April, artsnb will also offer info sessions on Zoom to help applicants understand the submission process and the program guidelines. These will be recorded and uploaded to the artsnb website. If there are additional questions not answered in the program guidelines and info sessions, you can get in touch with the Program Officer in charge of the Operational Support Program at osp_pso@artsnb.ca.
New applicants must register with CADAC by contacting artsnb osp_pso@artsnb.ca and receiving an invitation code via email. The code can then be redeemed on the CADAC website to access the required forms. 
Yes. CADAC provides a variety of training videos and support material, including frequently asked questions and line instructions: https://www.cadac.ca/organization_training.html
Applicants will be notified of evaluation results by email within 3 months of the deadline.
Upon approval, the grant awarded for the first year of the funding cycle will be paid in full by artsnb. Grants for subsequent years are contingent on the approval of yearly funding reports and the availability of provincial funding.
A yearly funding report, including all CADAC financial reporting requirements, must be submitted by the annual reporting deadline (March 31) for each year of the funding cycle. Once it has reviewed and approved the report, artsnb will confirm and release the grant amount for the ollowing year. Missing or incomplete reports may jeopardize the next year’s grant. If issues arise from a final report, artsnb will reach out to discuss.
All promotional material and activities relating to this grant, such as brochures, posters, interviews, should credit artsnb for its support. For sample acknowledgment text and logos, please refer to the “If You Receive a Grant” page on artsnb’s website.
Yes. Applicants who do not receive funding through this program can contact the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture to learn about available project-based funding opportunities.
No. For-profit cultural industries are not eligible for this program, but may be eligible for other project-based programs administered by the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture. This includes book and periodical publishers, fine craft industries, and for-profit art galleries. Music industry artists and businesses can continue seeking support from Music NB’s Music Industry Development (MID) program.
No. Non-incorporated artist collectives are not eligible for operational funding. They may contact artsnb or THC to explore other funding programs.

If you still have questions about this program, please send us an email at osp_pso@artsnb.ca

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Upcoming Deadlines

April 30, 2026
Andrea deBruijn. Paper stencils used in the making of a print series. Photo: Andrea deBruijn.