Creative County Grant Program

2026 Creative County Grant Program

The Creative County Grant Program was established in 2013 as an outcome of the County of Lambton Cultural Plan.

The program involves a community application process to allocate an annual investment of matching funds to support local arts, culture and heritage projects across Lambton County.

Funding is intended to enhance the cultural landscape by supporting new, unique and innovative projects that strengthen and build the creative community, define the County’s unique identity and enrich the quality of life for all residents.

Intake for the 2026 program year is now closed.

Visit the Funded Projects page to see a list of projects funded for the 2026 program year.

Available funding

Map showing funding distribution in Lambton County

For the 2026 intake, $75,000 in funding is available for the Creative County Grant Program to support the priorities noted above.

As a guideline, the Creative County Committee will make up to $10,000 in funding available in 2026 for each of four County quadrants:

Central Lambton (Petrolia, Enniskillen, Point Edward, Oil Springs)
South Lambton (St. Clair, Dawn-Euphemia, Brooke-Alvinston)
North Lambton (Lambton Shores, Plympton-Wyoming, Warwick)
Sarnia

The remaining $35,000 is available for projects that demonstrate cultural benefit for all areas of Lambton County.

Objectives

The objectives of the program respond to Building a Creative Economy: A Cultural Plan for Lambton County and the overall intent of the Creative County Committee (CCC) to:

Nurture creativity and imagination through arts, culture and heritage projects;
Promote innovation and support new, dynamic efforts in the creative community;
Develop unique cultural resources that enhance the health and vitality of our communities;
Support the development of new audiences;
Encourage inclusion and celebrate diversity through our rich creative community;
Foster creativity by encouraging collaborative partnership; and
Promote culture as a key component of economic growth and quality of life.
Foster awareness of Indigenous heritage and culture, or support the implementation of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

Building community partnerships

The Cedar Point II Wind Power Project donated $200,000 to the Creative County Grant Program. This significant investment provides additional opportunities for all of Lambton County, starting in 2017.

The Cedar Point II Wind Power Project is committed to building partnerships that foster the cultural capacity of our community. Through the newly formed partnership with the County of Lambton Creative County Grant Program, Cedar Point II Wind Power Project is committed to strengthening the creative community and expanding the capacity to innovate through arts and culture.

Program Guidelines and Application

Please view the program guidelines document for full details.

Eligible applicants must:

Respond to "Building a Creative Economy: A Cultural Plan for Lambton County" of Council and the overall intent of the Creative County Committee;
Have a cost sharing component with the contribution from the Creative County Grant Program (CCGP) not to exceed 50% of the proposed budget. The CCGP contribution will enable groups or individuals to leverage funding from other funding sources so that the CCGP is not the only funding source;
Be a new initiative, or considerable cultural enhancement to an existing program;
Support collaboration between organizations and/or different creative sectors such as arts, business districts, diversity, economic development, education, heritage, tourism, volunteers, youth etc.;
Build community capacity;
Demonstrate financial viability and include a budget and plan to generate revenue from other funding sources (i.e. corporate, Trillium). Well justified budgets are a prerequisite, and indications of future financial requirements;
Recognize the support of the CCGP in all marketing and promotional materials;
Must be completed within eighteen months of receipt of funds; and
Promote human rights by conforming with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Application

Intake for the 2026 program year is now closed.

Logo and Resources

As per the program guidelines, successful applicants must recognize the support of the CCGP in all marketing and promotional materials. CCGP logos are listed below in several formats. If you have any questions regarding the logo or its usage, please reach out to us using the contact info on the right side of the page.