Are you an individual or an organization involved in the delivery of programs, performances, services, events, or meetings related to arts and cultural activities? The Oakville Arts Council can help you! We offer a wide variety of information and services intended to support artists and arts groups across all artistic disciplines. As a member of the Oakville Arts Council you are a part of a united voice for the arts. We keep you informed about the state of the arts and you receive many benefits that are all about promoting you.

Digital Arts Archive

In 2019, the OAC received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for a seed grant to establish the feasibility of developing a local digital arts archive. In 2023, the OAC began work with Film and Audio-Visual arts Alberta to develop this archive using the Arts Management System developed by FAVA. 

Beginning in 2024, local artists and arts organizations who are members of the OAC, will be able to include a wide variety of materials including video, photographic, text and audio files displaying their body of work that can be stored, searched and presented to the public. 

Cultural Grants Program

Each year since 1989, the Town of Oakville has provided operating and project grants to qualified not-for-profit cultural organizations through the Cultural Grants Program. The Oakville Arts Council, on behalf of the Town of Oakville administers this process at-arms length, with the applications reviewed by the Cultural Grants Review Committee commissioned by and responsible to the Board of Directors of the Oakville Arts Council.  Over the past 35 years, 78 different cultural organizations in Oakville have benefited from the support of approximately $3.2 million. In 2014, the OAC renewed our Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Oakville:

• To ensure that Oakville shall be a community where art is embraced and Oakville artists and art organizations are supported and recognized as vital and central to the creative life of the Town.
• To service the Oakville community through enabling the activity of artists, arts groups and businesses.
• To provide, through the OAC, a non-partisan, arms-length service that advocates, communicates, enables, and sustains the arts for the community of Oakville.
• To administer grants to the artists and arts groups of Oakville on behalf of the CTO, ensuring accountability and transparency.

Workshops

Our annual workshop series offers information on a wide variety of topics including finance for not-for-profit organizations, business skills for the artist, how to apply for a Cultural Grant, photographing your artwork, storytelling and more.

Networking

Our regular networking sessions, Creative Connections, are open to all! The format and schedule for 2025 has changed. We will now be holding four (4) sessions per year, in person with some in the evenings and some during the day.

Publicity & Promotion

OAC members can post their arts events for the public to view and we use this information from the calendar to further promote our artist's events to Oakville residents through the use of social media, weekly e-bulletins and other promotional projects.

Artist Directory

All members who consent are listed in our online directory. Your listing contains everything the public needs to connect with you.

News, Information & Opportunities

We keep members informed of important sector issues and opportunities through regular publications and newsletters including calls for auditions and entry, employment and volunteer opportunities, funding, workshops and networking opportunities.