2026 BAO Professional Development Fund

2025 BAO Professional Development Fund
Brampton Arts Organization’s (BAO) professional development fund supports activities that help grow and advance your career or professional practice as an artist, creative professional, or arts administrator.. This may include engaging in career or artistic development activities to support your learning. This could include participation in a presentation or exhibition opportunity, specialized training, research or participation in conferences.

Funding is provided as a one time advance payment upon approval of proposed activities. You cannot apply for activities that have already happened before funding approval (ie. funding is not retroactive).

Funding Amount: Up to $400

Application Deadline: Nov 30, 2026 or until funds are depleted

Application Review Process: Monthly intake

Eligible activities

You may apply for one or more of the following activities:
- Market and network development
- Participation in a presentation or exhibition opportunity
- Mentorship
- Internships
- Specialized training or coaching
- Taking workshops (ie. registration or tuition fees)
- Research activities related to professional development (examples or leave open ended)
- Participation in conferences, residencies, seminars, or other significant events
  Accessibility training or integration of access practices
- Portfolio /demo reel development costs
- Artwork documentation/photography costs
- Membership in professional associations such as ACTRA, WIFT, etc
Ineligible
- Equipment purchases
- Commercial or residential rent
- Personal living expenses (e.g., groceries, childcare, personal debts)
- Activities that have already taken place before funding approval
- Medical/wellness expenses
Please reach out to Katy Belshaw, Head of Programming, katy@bramptonartsorg.ca with any questions.

If you need assistance or support to complete the application, please get in touch with us at info@bramptonartsorg.ca as soon as possible (minimum of 5 business in advance of deadline) so that we can make the necessary accommodation to support you.
Eligibility Screening

I am operating as a Professional Artist as defined by the Ontario Arts Council. The Ontario Arts Council defines a professional artist or arts professional as someone who has developed skills through training or practice, is recognized by artists working in the same artistic tradition, has a history of public presentation or publication, seeks payment for their work and actively practices their art.
Contact Information
Legal Name

First NameLast Name
What is your preferred artist/business name (to be shown publicly on forms of communications and other media)?
Personal Pronouns (e.g. she/her, he/him, they/them, other)
Address of Current Residence

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Email
example@example.com
Phone Number
What is your connection to Brampton?

Other
Voluntary Self-Identification

Please check any of the following identities that resonate for you. This section is optional and is a way to help BAO determine whether our programs and services are reaching a diverse range of Bramptonians, and to support prioritization where applicable.
Please check any of the following identities that resonate for you.
Applicant Profile
Artistic Discipline

Other
Which activity are you applying for (you may select more then one)?

Other
Short artist bio and statement of experience

0/250
Briefly describe the activity for which you are applying and why it is important to advance your artistic career or practice as a creative or arts administrator.

0/250
Please include any links to your proposed activities to confirm eligibility.
Please provide a budget for how you plan to use the funds
If there is anything else we should know about you or your activity that we didn't ask in a previous question, please tell us about it here.

0/200
Please provide a link to your website or any additional social media accounts/handles you feel may help contextualize your experience and/or career goals (optional).
Please verify that you are human
Privacy Statement

The Brampton Arts Organization (BAO) is committed to protecting the privacy of any personal information, including your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and other typical personal information that you may provide when visiting our website(s) or interact with our services. Part of that commitment is to explain what information may be collected and why; how it will be used; and who may have access to it.

BAO uses personal information in a limited number of ways: to contact individuals applying for calls, to complete registration at events, to add names to newsletter subscriptions, to process donations and to respond to questions or comments.

Our privacy practices are designed to comply with the privacy provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, (“FIPPA”) and its regulations, all as amended from time to time.

The Brampton Arts Organization uses third party vendors to provide it with the technology infrastructure, systems and software to operate its website(s) and several of its services. When engaging these third-party vendors, the Brampton Arts Organization requires them to use your personal information in accordance to FIPPA, and BAO policies and procedures, including this Privacy Statement.

Read our full Privacy Policy here: https://bramptonartsorg.ca/privacy-policy/

Any questions you may have regarding the administration of the privacy policies may be directed to info@bramptonartsorg.ca.
Should be Empty:

2025 BAO Professional Development Fund

Contact Information

Voluntary Self-Identification

Applicant Profile