The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is grateful, and honoured to announce that Peterborough City Council approved $100,000 in operating funding in the 2026 City Budget this week, along with $25,000 towards Artsweek 2027. EC3 is delighted to report that City Council also restored $25,000 to the Grants to Individual Artists program for a total of $50,000 in 2026.

This funding assists EC3 in providing programs and services to the local arts community, including the Peterborough Arts Awards, Grants for Individual Artists, Artsweek, EC3 Poets in Residence Program, mentorships, Professional Development Workshops, research, education, information, and more.

All of these activities strengthen and advance the arts in Peterborough and contribute to our overall health and vitality as a community, attracting tourists, retaining businesses and in-demand professionals, supporting the downtown and contributing to our quality of life. 

For the full announcement see the EC3 Bulletin: https://mailchi.mp/ecthree/ec3-receives-2026-funding-from-the-city-of-peterborough

The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is pleased and honoured to announce that we received an Operating Grant for Arts Service Organizations (2025) of $17,600 from the Ontario Arts Council (OAC). EC3 continues to receive an outstanding rating from the OAC and is thankful for a 20% increase in our grant for this upcoming year.

The OAC is supported by the Government of Ontario. EC3 acknowledges Dave Smith, MPP and the Government of Ontario’s contribution to the Ontario Arts Council. Read the full Bulletin by following the link below. 

https://mailchi.mp/ecthree/ontario-arts-council-grant-for-ec3

You-Can-Write-a-Multi-and-Inter-Arts-Projects-Grant-Presentation-Slides

Follow this link to download the presentations slides from the November 27th, 2025 Professional Development Workshop: Yes, You Can Write a Multi and Inter-Arts Project Grant Application! with Adom Acheampong from the Ontario Arts Council, presented in Partnership with Public Energy Performing Arts.

Below are further resources EC3 has shared in past Professional Development Workshops.

Grant Writing 2.0 TIPs

Thinking of applying for an artist grant? Read these expert tips first | CBC Arts

Artists and Arts leaders from across Canada are converging on Ottawa this Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, to advocate for the sector with political leaders. Chosen from applications across our membership, these individuals reflect the diversity of our sector and our country and share a common purpose – to ensure that the arts and culture sector is part of what makes Canada strong now and in the future.

Arts Day on the Hill is a national effort by the Coalition to ensure that artists from all parts of the sector and all regions of the Country can speak with one voice about vital issues that make us stronger through joint advocacy. While the landscape has changed over the past 20 years, the need for education and collaboration remains as important as ever, and we are grateful for the time and commitment of our volunteer advocates to support this effort.

Mark Carney’s government has made some excellent investments in its first budget in Fall 2025, primarily through funding for the Arts programs of Canadian Heritage and increased investment in the CBC, Telefilm, and other cultural institutions. However, the Canada Council for the Arts, which funds artistic activity and cultural outreach in every riding through funding for individual artists, arts organizations and groups, did not get its needed investment. The arts community is diverse, and the Canada Council is the best mechanism to ensure there is professional regional creativity and artistry that fuels the national conversation and helps Canada take its place on the international stage.

In addition to the welcome recent investments, the missing piece is the permanent investment of an additional $140 million in the Canada Council for the Arts and a move to permanently fund the arts programs of Canadian Heritage, helping Canada reach 1% of its annual spending on Arts and Culture.

#artsday2025 @emmaaharrisonmp @artscoalitionca

EC3 Recognizes Arts Day on the Hill

Today is Arts Day on the Hill, a national annual event organized by the Canadian Arts Coalition. This is an important advocacy initiative drawing attention to the high social and economic impact, value and importance of the arts and the critical importance of public funding for the arts, particularly at the federal level.

Volunteer arts leaders from across the country (including Katherine Carleton from Orchestras Canada and Chair of our own municipal Arts and Culture Advisory Committee) travel to Ottawa to meet with MPs. Please read all about it above.

Many arts organizations in Peterborough benefit from funding provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage (now Canadian Identity and Culture) or the Canada Council for the Arts. The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) receives much-needed and much-appreciated funding from the federal government for Artsweek, a grant that helps support the Festival every other year.

Individual artist in all disciplines, arts producers and presenters all benefit enormously from federal support for the arts.

All three levels of government support the arts in Peterborough, and that makes an extraordinary difference to the quality of life in this city.

https://canadianartscoalition.com/arts-day-on-the-hill-2025-20th-anniversary/

Where: Artspace, 3-378 Aylmer Street North, Peterborough, Ontario

When: Thursday, November 27th, 2025, at 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm EST

Cost: FREE

Meet your OAC Multi and Inter-Arts Grant Officer!

Adom Acheampong has extensive experience in the arts and culture sector, dedicating her career to supporting the growth and sustainability of artists and arts organizations. Currently, she serves as the Multi- and Inter-Arts and Community-Engaged Arts Officer at the Ontario Arts Council. Adom Acheampong has a formidable background in supporting the sustainability and recognition of multidisciplinary practices. Most recently, Adom was the Artistic and Professional Development Manager at Nia Centre for the Arts, Canada’s first multidisciplinary Black arts centre, where she spearheaded the development and presentation of multidisciplinary artistic programming. 

Read the full Bulletin here: https://mailchi.mp/ecthree/meet-your-oac-grant-officer

See the Media Release here: https://mailchi.mp/ecthree/media-release-for-immediate-release

EC3 Shares the Canadian Arts Coalition’s Update on the Federal Budget, Published on November 4th

Quoting from the CAC below:

CAC Welcomes Steps Forward in Budget 2025 

Ottawa, ON — The Canadian Arts Coalition applauds elements of Budget 2025, which includes increased support for cultural and media programs, and stated recognition of the importance of arts, culture, and heritage to Canada’s economy, social fabric and identity. 

The Canadian Arts Coalition works on behalf of artists and cultural organisations to increase investment in the sector and to advise the government on policies that will positively impact both the sector and all of Canada. In the past two years, that focus has been a recommendation on two main investments: the Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Canadian Heritage. Recently, the Coalition’s Campaign for Culture inspired over 50,000 letters to the government in support of that ask for new investment and no cuts to the Council, and we are pleased to see that the Government heard that message. 

We welcome the inclusion of new and renewed investments in many vital programs that serve artists and cultural organisations across Canada, such as the Canada Music Fund, Building Communities through Arts and Heritage, and the Canada Arts Presentation Fund.Communities will benefit from the increased investment in Heritage’s Celebration and Commemoration Program to support Canada Day celebrations, and Canadians will benefit from the opportunity provided through the Canada Strong Pass to visit their art galleries and museums.  The investment in Canada Summer Jobs will positively impact many cultural  organizations across the country as well as providing essential employment opportunities for young Canadians.  The Coalition also applauds the various important investments in media through the Canada Media Fund, the National Film Board, Telefilm Canada and the CBC, all committed to helping  tell the stories of Canada. These targeted investments will ensure that many artists, ensembles, festivals, and cultural institutions across the country receive the predictable funding they require to plan and thrive.

The Coalition also recognises that the Liberal government has acknowledged the importance of individual artistic creation through proposed changes to the Copyright Act to include an Artist’s Resale Right.  This ensures that Canadian visual artists benefit from future sales of their work. 

While we are pleased with the demonstrated commitment to the Arts and Culture sector there is still work to be done.  Budget 2025 does not yet adequately address the need for significant investment in the Canada Council for the Arts. The Canadian Arts Coalition will continue to work on behalf of its members and the sector to ensure that the Council’s role is recognised with appropriate funding for the benefit of all Canadians. 

However, the recognition of the arts  expressed in this budget,  along with the listed investments demonstrate that arts and heritage remain part of the national conversation, which we deeply welcome, and offer a foundation upon which further commitments can be built. We congratulate the Government on the positive initiatives in Budget 2025, and we commit to working constructively with ministers and parliamentary committees to continue to strengthen arts and culture in Canada.  

For more stay tuned to their News page: https://canadianartscoalition.com/news/

The City’s Community Grants Applications Opened Wednesday, November 5 and close on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 12 p.m. 

Any not-for-profit group or association in the City that would like to be considered for the Community Grants Program in 2026 is invited to complete an online application for a Community Project Grant or a Community Investment Grant. The online application and details on the Community Grants Program are on the City’s website at peterborough.ca/CommunityGrants.

The Community Grants program provides financial assistance to non-profit, community-based organizations that provide direct programs, services, or activities that enhance the quality of life for Peterborough residents in the areas of social services and health, arts, culture, heritage, recreation, or the environment.

See the News Release here: https://www.peterborough.ca/news/posts/community-grants-applications-open-wednesday-november-5/

City Launches a New Feedback Series “Let’s Talk About Tourism: City of Peterborough Hosting Pop-Up Community Cafés to Inform Tourism Strategy”

Attend these upcoming public forums to speak up on the importance of the City’s arts and cultural assets in tourism strategy!

Members of the community are invited to attend one of two drop-in community cafés being held on the following days:

• Wednesday, November 12 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lansdowne Place, 645 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough (upper level, near Entrance 5/SportChek/Old Navy)
• Thursday, November 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr., Peterborough

These drop-in events are open to all, and light refreshments will be available.

The Community Cafés are a space for residents to provide insights, perspectives, and feedback on the future vision and priorities of tourism in the City of Peterborough, as well as provide input around the value propositions associated with the city’s tourism assets.

See the post here: https://www.peterborough.ca/news/posts/let-s-talk-about-tourism-city-of-peterborough-hosting-pop-up-community-cafes-to-inform-tourism-strategy/

FREE Professional Development Workshop: Yes, You Can Write a Multi and Inter-Arts Project Grant Application!

Part of EC3’s Professional Development Workshop Program, this Grant Writing Workshop is presented in partnership with Public Energy Performing Arts (PE), the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) and the Ontario Arts Council (OAC).

See the Eventbrite for registration and further information: https://tinyurl.com/28en4svv

When

Thursday, November 27th, 2025

6:00pm to 8:00pm EST

Where

Artspace

3-378 Aylmer Street North

Peterborough, ON K9H 3V8

FREE

Join Public Energy Performing Arts, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) and the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) for a grant information session and grant writing workshop, focusing on the Ontario Arts Council’s Multi and Inter-Arts: Projects Program.

If you are an artist working across disciplines and are looking to hone your multidisciplinary and inter-arts grant writing skills, book your spot in this FREE workshop.

While the presentation is geared to multidisciplinary artists, this workshop will benefit any aspiring grant writer. This workshop is suitable for grant seekers of all career stages and all experience levels, from artists who have never written a grant before, to more seasoned grant writers.

See our latest Bulletin here for further information: https://us6.campaign-archive.com/?u=556d040c55c5256ca90a5c271&id=807c2a9405

Speak up for arts funding! 

City Council and City staff will begin public meetings on the 2026 draft budget as soon as November 3rd, 2025.

City staff have not included funding for Grants to Individual Artists, the Poet Laureate Program, or the Artsweek 2027 Festival in the 2026 draft budget.

See EC3’s Bulletin on Upcoming 2026 City Budget Consultations & Meetings: https://mailchi.mp/ecthree/upcoming-2026-city-budget-consultations-meetings

For every dollar the OAC invests, $25 in total revenues are generated by funded arts organizations. See the 2025 “Arts Across Ontario” report.