The Museums Assistance Program (MAP) supports heritage institutions and workers in preservation and presentation of heritage collections through several components, each with its own eligibility criteria. The Access to Heritage component provides funding to heritage organizations for travelling exhibitions in Canada, promoting access to heritage across different geographic regions and assisting organizations in reaching new audiences.

Program Objectives:

• Foster greater access to heritage across different geographic regions of Canada
• Support organization and circulation of travelling exhibitions
• Assist heritage organizations in reaching new audiences
• Reflect Canada's diverse cultural and natural heritage
• Facilitate development and circulation of Canadian travelling exhibitions and associated interpretive material

Eligible Project Types:

1. Research, design and production of travelling exhibition Where conceptual stage has been completed, including associated interpretive material (multimedia interactive displays, educational programs, mobile applications, public documentation, other online products and activities).

2. Circulation of exhibition Circulation to one or more venues in Canada.

Important Project Requirements:

• All products presented to public (in person and online) must be developed in both official languages
• Applicants encouraged to develop exhibitions in other languages relevant to project
• Projects not required to include all phases (production, promotion, circulation) in same funding application
• Applications for development/production phase must include letters of intent from at least one other Canadian venue
• Separate applications may be submitted later for circulation phase
• Host institutions may apply under Exhibition Circulation Fund component of MAP
• Travelling art exhibitions must be retrospective or present historical perspective (minimum 75% of visual art works drawn from public/private collections other than artist's collection)
• Applicants invited to explore circulating exhibitions to non-traditional spaces (schools, community centres)

Eligible expenses:

• Pro-rated salaries and wages (municipal/provincial government salaries eligible but not reimbursable)
• Travel for personnel working on project (must comply with government business travel rates)
• Honorarium, fees and travel for consultants, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and/or cultural practitioners (must comply with government business travel rates)
• Equipment rental, shipping fees, promotion and communication expenses
• Incremental administration costs (maximum 15% of eligible project expenses)
• Translation of public material in both official languages and other applicable languages (including Indigenous languages)
• Creation of education materials, catalogues and marketing materials
• Hospitality and gifts associated with traditional Indigenous ceremonies and protocol
• Additional insurance costs
• Copyright and reproduction permits
• Materials, supplies and minor capital assets (equipment): Maximum 25% of MAP project funding
• Project audit fees (if applicable)
• Other direct project-related costs