Culture & Events Grants

NOW OPEN - The COVID-19 Events Recovery Program for Non-Profit Organizations

Halifax Regional Municipality has developed a dedicated grant program - The COVID-19 Events Recovery Program for Non-Profit Organizations to support nonprofit community and cultural event organizations to maintain or restart in-person events and increase activity that benefits residents and visitors to the municipality under the public health guidelines. The one-time grant is to assist with COVID-19 adaptation expenses incurred directly related to deliver in-person (live) events.

The total budget for the COVID-19 Events Recovery Fund is $150,000. This rolling intake grant program will remain open until the stated deadline or until such time as program funds have been fully allocated. Applications will be accepted no earlier than 30 days before the date of the event.

Details of the program including applicant eligibility, program criteria and the application, can be found by clicking the following link:

The COVID-19 Events Recovery Program for Non-Profit Organizations

Applications will close at 4:00pm on December 31, 2021, subject to availability of funds.

NOW OPEN - 2022/2023  Regional Special Events and MLSER event grant intake for applications. 

The Culture and Events division of the municipality administers two different funding programs; the Marketing Levy Special Events Grant program and the Regional Special Events Grants program. These programs are intended to support events that foster good community relations, supports culture, develops the local economy and tourism industry, and enriches the quality of life of all residents and visitors.

Marketing Levy Special Events Reserve Grant Program

The Marketing Levy Special Events Reserve grant program is governed by the Marketing Levy Special Event Reserve (MLSER) Administration Order Number 2014-020-GOV. The MLSER program provides financial support to large scale special events in Halifax Regional Municipality that support and promote tourism and business development. The program has four established funding sectors; Signature Events, Distinguished Events, Emerging New Events, and Major Hosting Events.  Funding for this program is generated from the 2% hotel tax that applies to overnight sleeping establishments with twenty (20) rooms or more. 

Signature Events 

This program supports large, annual tourism events that have a minimum budget of $100,000 and have been in existence for a minimum of five consecutive years. The maximum grant award through this program is 10% of the previous year's budget. As well, additional funding up to a maximum of 10% of the previous year’s total grant amount may be considered to support additional programming for an anniversary (quarter century (25) intervals) of the event. Events in this program are scored on number of room nights generated, economic impacts and media exposure. There is no restriction for annual funding from this program. 

Application intake for this program is on a three year basis and is NOW OPEN. The only application intake DEADLINE for funding events occurring between April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 and April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 is NOVEMBER 1, 2021 at 12:00 NOON.

2022/2023 Signature Application - NOW OPEN

Distinguished Events

The Distinguished Events program supports large one-time tourism events that have a minimum budget of $50,000 which have high potential for national and international exposure and encourage multiple day visits to the Municipality. The maximum grant award through this program is up to $50,000. Events in this program are scored on number of room nights generated, economic impacts and media exposure.

The first application intake is NOW OPEN for funding events occurring between April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022. The 1st intake DEADLINE to apply is NOVEMBER 1, 2021 at 12:00 NOON. The second application intake DEADLINE for events occurring between October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 is MAY 31, 2022.

2022/2023 Distinguished Events Applications 1st Intake - NOW OPEN  

New & Emerging Events

This program supports new/emerging events that address gaps in the existing event calendar and have the potential to become an annual tourism event. Organizations must have operated for a minimum of one (1) year, and the event must have a minimum budget of $50,000. The maximum grant award through this program is $25,000. The business case must show how the event would benefit the Municipality and increase tourism and business development in the “shoulder and/or off season” (November to April). Preference will be given to organizations that have secured funding from other level/s of government and corporate sponsorship.

The first application intake is NOW OPEN for funding events occurring between April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022. The DEADLINE to apply is NOVEMBER 1, 2021 at 12:00 NOON. The second application intake DEADLINE for events occurring between October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 is MAY 31, 2022.

2022/2023 New & Emerging Applications 1st Intake - NOW OPEN

Major Hosting Events

This program supports organizations bidding on the rights to host major events and supports programs, activities and services specific to the delivery of a major event being hosted in Halifax Regional Municipality. Events must be of a size and scope sufficient to draw tourists to the Municipality’s communities, attract significant media exposure, nationally and globally. Interested organizations for this program are to contact Shari Dillman at dillmas@halifax.ca. 

Events that are Not Eligible for funding under the MLSER program: 

• consumer shows
• conferences
• private events
• tradeshows
• marketing initiatives 
• seminars
• clinics
• symposiums
• banquets
• fundraising events 
• political events
• events that occur before April 1st of the respective submission year

Eligible Expenses:

Grants may be applied to programing, operating, marketing and promotional expenses. No portion of the grant shall be applied to staff wages, volunteer bursaries or honoraria; or paid to members or officers of an organization’s Board of Directors either directly or indirectly.

Applications: 

Major Hosting Events – Contact Shari Dillman at dillmas@halifax.ca. 

Regional Special Event Grants 

The Regional Special Event Grants program is governed by the Regional Special Events Grants Administrative Order Number 2014-021-GOV.  This program provides financial support for Non-Profit Organizations that host events which foster positive community development, celebrate heritage, arts and culture, build bridges between diverse populations, enrich quality of life for residents and improves civic pride in the Municipality. To be eligible for funding, events must be open to the general public to attend, held within the Municipality and be fourteen (14) days or less in duration.

Community Celebrations

This program supports organizations that deliver small civic events that are a maximum of five (5) days in length, are organized primarily for the benefit and enjoyment of local residents, coincide with a community gathering or civic holiday, and are free to the public to attend. The maximum grant award through this program is $1,000. Applications are accepted annually. 

Application intake for this program is NOW OPEN. The only application intake DEADLINE for funding events occurring between April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 is NOVEMBER 1, 2021 at 12:00 NOON.

2022/2023 Community Celebrations Application - NOW OPEN

Established Community Festivals 

This program supports organizations that deliver events that are a maximum of seven (7) days in length, are organized primarily for the benefit and enjoyment of local residents and are accessible to the public with free or low cost activities. Events must have been in existence for a minimum of three (3) consecutive years and have a minimum budget of $10,000. The maximum grant award through this program is $25,000 and provides up to three (3) years of sustainable funding.

Application intake for this program is on a three year basis and is NOW OPEN. The only application intake DEADLINE for funding events occurring between April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 and April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 is NOVEMBER 1, 2021 at 12:00 NOON.

2022/2023 Established Community Festivals Application - NOW OPEN

Significant Anniversaries 

This program supports organizations that deliver events organized around major quarterly (25, 50, 75, etc.) anniversaries that celebrate Halifax Regional Municipality's heritage and community. Events must have a minimum budget of $5,000 and cannot be eligible for consideration under any other HRM program. The maximum grant award through this program is $10,000. Applications are accepted annually.

Application intake for this program is NOW OPEN. The only application intake DEADLINE for funding events occurring between April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 is NOVEMBER 1, 2021 ay 12:00 NOON. 

2022/2023 Significant Anniversaries Application - NOW OPEN

Cultural Events & Showcases 

This program supports organizations that deliver arts and culture festivals that have strong cultural content, are accessible to the public with free or low cost activities and further the disciplines of literary, media, performing and visual arts. Events must have a minimum budget of $50,000 and further the principles and objectives of the HRM Cultural Plan specifically the ‘Seven Pillars of Culture: (1) Heritage, (2) the Arts, (3) Community Design, (4) Life Long Learning, (5) Diversity, (6) Leisure and Celebration and (7) Economic Development. The maximum grant award through this program is $60,000 and provides up to three (3) years of sustainable funding. 

Application intake for this program is on a three year basis and and is NOW OPEN. The only application intake DEADLINE for funding events occurring between April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 and April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025 is NOVEMBER 1, 2021 at 12:00 NOON.

2022/2023 Cultural Events & Showcases Application - NOW OPEN

Events that are Not Eligible for funding under the Regional Special Events grant program: 

• sporting tournaments
• consumer shows
• conferences
• private events
• tradeshows 
• seminars
• clinics
• symposiums
• banquets
• marketing initiatives 
• fundraising events
• political events
• events receiving funding from other HRM sources
• events that occur before April 1st of the respective submission year 

Eligible Expenses
Grants may be applied to programing, operating, marketing and promotional expenses. No portion of the grant shall be applied to staff wages, volunteer bursaries or honoraria; or paid to members or officers of an organization’s Board of Directors either directly or indirectly.

Municipal contact:

Shari Dillman

dillmas@halifax.ca