Creative Export Canada (CEC)
Receive up to $2,500,000 in Export Grant Funding.
The Creative Export Canada (CEC) is a government funding program that offers funding for projects that generate export revenues and help Canadian Creative Industries reach more people around the world.
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Amount of Funding
The Creative Export Canada (CEC) program provides non-repayable contribution funding covering up to 75% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $2,500,000 per project.
Funding is intended to support Canadian creative organizations undertaking export-focused initiatives that increase the international visibility, audience reach, and commercial success of Canadian creative content and intellectual property.
The total funding amount available depends on factors such as:
- Project scope and budget
- Export market opportunities
- Anticipated economic impact
- International audience development objectives
- Organizational capacity and export readiness
Applicants are expected to contribute a portion of project costs through internal resources or other eligible funding sources.
Eligible Applicants
The Creative Export Canada program supports Canadian organizations operating within the creative industries sector.
Eligible applicants may include:
- For-profit corporations
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Industry associations
- Indigenous organizations
- Creative sector businesses and enterprises
To qualify, applicants must generally:
- Be incorporated or legally established in Canada
- Operate within an eligible creative industry
- Demonstrate ownership, control, or rights to the creative content being exported
- Have at least one full-time employee (or equivalent)
- Generate annual revenues below $500 million
Creative industries commonly supported include:
- Film and television
- Music and sound recording
- Interactive digital media
- Book and magazine publishing
- Performing arts
- Visual arts
- Video game development
- Creative content production and distribution
Applicants should demonstrate a clear strategy for international market expansion and revenue generation.
Eligible Activities
Projects funded through Creative Export Canada must focus on increasing the international export potential of Canadian creative works and businesses.
Eligible activities may include:
- International marketing and promotional campaigns
- Export market development initiatives
- Participation in international trade shows and industry events
- Audience development activities in foreign markets
- International distribution and commercialization strategies
- Business development and partnership-building activities
- Digital export and content distribution initiatives
- Market research and export planning
Projects must:
- Have a minimum total budget of $150,000
- Be export-focused and target international audiences
- Demonstrate measurable commercial outcomes
- Occur within a single federal fiscal year
- Contribute to the growth and sustainability of Canada’s creative sector
Projects should clearly identify target export markets, expected outcomes, and strategies for generating international revenues.
Program Deadline
Speak with a Ryan government funding advisor to confirm the latest intake period, funding availability, and application requirements for your proposed project.
Need help applying? Ryan’s government funding specialists can assess your eligibility, identify project strengths, and support the preparation of a competitive Creative Export Canada application.
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Successfully applying for the right funding program at the right time, focusing on the right topics is no easy challenge. We provide an average 95% time savings to our clients, compared to businesses that apply for funding in-house.
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