2026 Festival Grant Recipients
Established Festivals
Kingston Canadian Film Festival | $46,000
The Kingston Canadian Film Festival (KCFF) is an annual film festival offering the largest showcase of exclusively Canadian film. KCFF presents a range of programming to engage audiences and nurture local film production, including feature films, short films, professional development programs, panels, Q&As, and occasional live performances.
Kingston WritersFest | $45,000
Kingston WritersFest is an annual literary festival that seeks to champion diverse literary expression, grow audiences for the literary arts, and support the creative development of writers of all ages and backgrounds. Through readings, panels, conversations, and classes, WritersFest sparks curiosity, ignites conversations, and brings readers and writers together around the power of the written word.
ReelOut Queer Film Festival | $32,807
ReelOut Queer Film Festival is an annual 10-day film festival showcasing short and feature-length narratives, documentaries, and experimental works made by and about 2SLGBTQ+ persons. ReelOut celebrates independent queer media art and contributes to community vitality through festival programming, educational programming, and REEL (ReelOut’s Entertainment and Education Library).
Skeleton Park Arts Festival | $40,000
Skeleton Park Arts Festival (SPAF) is a multidisciplinary arts festival and grassroots community organization that engages in collective care by fostering diverse cultural activities that are free, collaborative and accessible to all. SPAF supports a sense of enjoyment and civic belonging for diverse communities in Katarokwi/Kingston, with a particular focus on the Skeleton Park neighbourhood.
The Kick & Push Festival | $40,000
The Kick & Push Festival is an annual summer festival presented by the Kingston Theatre Alliance, dedicated to immersive, site-specific, and experimental performance. Through site-specific productions, interdisciplinary performance, artist residencies, and community events, the Kick & Push Festival creates space for innovation, champions artistic excellence, and fosters a sustainable and equitable ecosystem for live performance.
Emerging Festivals
Compton Park Music Festival | $17,050
Compton Park Music Festival is a community-driven music festival celebrating connection and local talent. Free and accessible to all, this festival is passionate about bringing neighbours together to build community and foster a sense of belonging through child-friendly programming including live music, food, face painting, and crafts.
Dia de los Muertos Kingston Community Celebration of Life | $10,000
Dia de los Muertos Kingston Community Celebration of Life is a community-driven arts and cultural festival run by Ollin Kingston which honours remembrance, healing, ancestral connection, and the celebration of life through visual arts, music, storytelling, dance, altars, workshops, and community gathering.
Ground UP Dance Festival | $17,050
Ground UP Dance Festival focuses on building community, platforming dance performance, and supporting artists throughout their journey in choreographic creation and development. Launched in the summer of 2021, they are the first annual festival for professional dance in Kingston, Ontario.
Spring Reverb | $10,500
Spring Reverb is a four-day festival run by KPP Concerts that promotes, develops, and showcases the Kingston music scene. With concerts, panels, and industry events, Spring Reverb seeks to uncover emerging artists, encourage deals between local artists and visiting industry, provide learning opportunities, and celebrate live music in Kingston.
CKAF 2026 Festival Grants Committee
Jurors
- Deirdre Logue
- Janelle MacPherson-Kenney
- Marta McDonald
- Kate Weekes
Ex Officio Members
- Nicole Daniels, Executive Director, Kingston Arts Council
- Shamara Peart, Grants Administrator, Kingston Arts Council
- Katherine Dionne, Administrative and Grants Assistant
- Danika Lochhead, Director, Arts & Culture Services, City of Kingston
About CKAF Festival Grants
The inaugural CKAF Festival Grant stream offered annual grants to support the production, presentation, and operations of arts festivals that have a city-wide impact. This grant program has two applicant categories, based on years of operation and festival history, each with its own set of documents and guidelines:
The program provides operational support for Established Festivals run by incorporated non-profit arts organizations with a sustained history of festival delivery, with grants ranging from $10,000–$55,000, and smaller festival grants for Emerging Festivals run by non-profit organizations and collectives, ranging from $10,000–$20,000. A festival is defined as a concentrated collection of arts activities with a common theme. Festivals funded through this program must have a primary focus on the arts and may be devoted to one or more artistic discipline(s).
Grant Amounts
Grants awarded to Established Festivals range from $10,000 – $55,000.
Grants awarded to Emerging Festivals range from $10,000 – $20,000.
Funding Period
CKAF 2026 Festival Grants are intended to support festival activities occurring between September 2026 – December 2027.
Applications
CKAF 2026 Festival Grants are now closed. Applications will reopen in Spring 2027.
Program Details
Interested applicants may review the Guidelines to learn more about the program:
CKAF 2026 Established Festival Grant Guidelines
CKAF 2026 Emerging Festival Grant Guidelines
Please note: program details and eligibility requirements are subject to change in 2027.
Information Sessions
The KAC will hosted an information session for the Festivals Grant stream, which will included a detailed review of the respective Guidelines, Application Forms, and Assessment Criteria, as well as a Q&A with KAC staff.
Information for CKAF Recipients
Acknowledgement Requirements
As outlined in the Terms and Conditions for CKAF Festival Grants, all grant recipients are required to acknowledge the support of CKAF by using both the City of Kingston and the Kingston Arts Council logos in advertising, programs, events and brochures relating to the activities for which funds are granted. If the recipient is unable to include these logos in a design (as when, on small flyer or advertisement, space does not permit them to be legibly included), the recipient must acknowledge the support of CKAF by specifying it in the text of the item.
For guidelines regarding the use of the City of Kingston logo, please refer to their webpage here.
If you require different formats or clarification regarding the acknowledgement requirements, please contact the KAC at Grants@ArtsKingston.ca
CITY OF KINGSTON LOGOS
City of Kingston (black)
City of Kingston (white)
City of Kingston (blue)
KINGSTON ARTS COUNCIL LOGOS
Kingston Arts Council - Horizontal (black)
Kingston Arts Council - Horizontal (white)
Kingston Arts Council - Horizontal (colour)
Kingston Arts Council - Vertical (black)
Kingston Arts Council - Vertical (white)
Kingston Arts Council - Vertical (colour)
Insurance
Established Festivals
All Established Festival Grant recipients must provide proof of $5 million liability insurance for their organizations before KAC can release CKAF funds. Recipients must maintain commercial general liability insurance for the entire duration of the grant term.
Emerging Festivals
All Emerging Festival Grant recipients must provide proof of $5 million liability insurance before KAC can release CKAF funds. A quote can also be accepted if the festival start date is too far away to secure insurance. Grant recipients may use grant funds to cover the cost of insurance. Insurance must be secured and paid for before festival activities begin. The KAC can help grant recipients connect with a suitable insurer.
Reporting Requirements
CKAF Festival Grant recipients are required to submit an Interim and a Final Report.
Interim Report
All 2026 Festival Grant recipients must submit an Interim Report no later than 15 January 2026. The Interim Report form will be made available in November 2026.
Final Report
Emerging Festival Grant recipients must submit a Final Report no more than 60 days after the Festival end date, and no later than 31 December 2027. The Final Report forms will be made available shortly.
The Final Report for Established Festival Grant recipients will be embedded in the 2027 application.
Extension Requests
Grant recipients may request an extension for Interim Reports. Requests must be made in writing at least five business days in advance of the deadline. Extensions will be granted at the discretion of the KAC Executive Director and will not exceed 30 calendar days.
Extension requests should be submitted via email to Grants@ArtsKingston.ca
Contact Information - Kingston Arts Council
Inquiries regarding the CKAF Festival Grant program should be directed to Shamara Peart, Grants Administrator at Grants@ArtsKingston.ca or 613-546-2787.
Applicants may also visit the KAC office in person during office hours.
The KAC Office:
Unit 115, Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning
370 King St W, Kingston ON K7L 2X4
Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM