Applications the 2026 Arts & Culture Investment Program are closed. The deadline to apply for the 2026 program was Monday, January 19, 2026, at 11:59pm.
The mandate of the Arts & Culture Investment Program (ACIP) is to promote and assist in the development of the arts in all its diversity for the enjoyment and benefit of all Barrie residents and visitors. The City of Barrie welcomes and encourages diversity of cultural and artistic expression and practice.
The overall goal of the Arts & Culture Investment Program is to help strengthen Barrie’s arts and culture community through strategic investments in the work of not-for-profit creative organizations. Through this investment, the program provides Barrie residents and visitors to the area with the opportunity to enjoy and actively participate in arts and cultural activity while:
- Strengthening the relevance, responsiveness, effectiveness and resilience of Barrie’s arts and culture sector,
- Supporting capacity building by arts organizations,
- Developing Barrie’s identity as an arts friendly city, and
- Enhancing Barrie’s social, economic, and cultural prosperity by supporting Council’s Strategic Priorities.
The City of Barrie welcomes and encourages diversity of cultural and artistic expression and practice.
Program info sessions were offered on December 10, 2025 and January 5, 2026.
Eligible Arts & Culture Organizations
- Performing arts organizations (includes theatre, dance and music)
- Visual arts organizations
- Arts service organizations
- Literary arts organizations
- New media organizations
- Heritage Organizations
Funding Categories & Request Limits
The total amount of money dispersed through the Arts & Culture Investment Program is approved by City Council through the Recreation and Cultural Services Department’s annual budget.
Submitting Your Application
The deadline for submissions was Monday, January 19, 2026, at 11:59pm. Applications are no longer being accepted. The 2026 Barrie Arts & Culture Investment Program Guidelines remain available for reference.
Organizations that applied and received funds in 2025, were required to complete the 2025 Arts & Culture Investment Program Funding Report Form by December 31, 2025, to be eligible for 2026 funds.
Adjudication Panel
Arts & Culture Investment Program applications are adjudicated by a panel of individuals with significant expertise in the arts. City of Barrie staff select five adjudicators (one local and four individuals from other municipalities) to participate in the jury process. Applications to serve on the 2026 Arts & Culture Investment Program selection panel were accepted until December 17, 2025.
Personal information collected as part of this application process is under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25, as amended and will be used for the purpose of evaluating submissions for the Cultural Grant Program by the jury panel and City staff. When the process is complete, the names of the individuals that received funding, the amount they received and in which category—whether project or operating—will be made public.
No other personal information will be released without the express written permission of the grant applicant. Questions about this collection should be directed to Amanda Dyke, 70 Collier Street, Barrie, Ontario L4M 4T5, 705-739-4220 x4593.