$59,000 awarded to 15 recipients in second 2025 round of funding for Windsor’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund (ACHF)

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Local artists and creators submitted forty-one applications in the second round of ACHF funding for 2025. This included thirty-three applications from individuals and eight applications from organizations. Of these, fifteen projects — twelve grants to individuals, and three grants to organizations will receive support for arts, culture and heritage projects in the community. 

The funding requests totalled about $174,600. With $59,000 available in this round, the competition was high, and the jury made difficult decisions. The jury was pleased to see thirteen of the total submissions in this round come from first-time applicants, and excited to be able to select three of those to receive funding. Additionally, fourteen of the projects will receive their full funding request. The jury selected a strong mix of projects across genres including music, performing arts, storytelling, dance, film, visual arts, and comedy; and some important projects supporting diversity, inclusivity, heritage, and the celebration of humanity in the city of Windsor.

The ACHF, approved by City Council, awards grants to individuals and cultural organizations to help stimulate creative and economic growth. Each project could be funded to a maximum of $5,000 in a given round. $118,000 in project funding is available each year, administered through two rounds of $59,000 each. In 2022, City Council approved a recommendation to increase funding by $30,800 to a total of $118,000 annual, which represents a 35% increase in funding to the program.

Since the launch of this program in 2014, and including this current round:

  • 1,030 applications have been submitted for consideration for funding;
  • 496 individual projects have received funding;
  • $1,186,000 has been awarded in project funding to local arts, culture and heritage initiatives benefitting our community, including funding for:
    • 35 community arts-based programs and initiatives,
    • 78 visual arts projects and initiatives,
    • 66 literary arts projects and initiatives,
    • 92 performing arts projects and initiatives,
    • 127 musical arts projects and initiatives,
    • 66 film arts projects and initiatives, and
    • 32 heritage and culture projects and initiatives.

The City extends congratulations to the following 2025 Round 2 recipients:

4th Wall Music. $5,000. 2025 –2026 Concert Series. Funding for artist fees for a chamber music series. 

Ken Amlin. $5,000. Strange Tales of the South Shore. Funding for artist fees for post-production work for a local film anthology series.

Walter Petrichyn. $5,000. Ojibway National Urban Park Film. Funding for artist fees, festival fees, production of a local documentary. 

Windsor Jewish Community Centre. $5,000. Windsor Jewish Book Fair and Cultural Day. Funding for artist fees for a multicultural, multi-genre arts festival.

Jennifer Willett. $5,000. Cosmic Communities: A Bioart Workshop Series. Funding for artist fees, production, and supplies for a visual art and bioart workshop series.

Rebecca Goldstein. $5,000. The Cosmos Between Us. Funding for artist fees and production costs for an original music theatre production.

John Strahl. $5,000. 3 Minutes. Funding for artist fees and production costs for a local short film.

Gemma Eva Cunial. $4,825. Wedding Smashers. Funding for artist fees and production costs for a local short film.

Jill Moysiuk. $4,700. Mom’s Night Out with Mom Said Duck at The Capitol Theatre. Funding for artist fees, venue rental, and productions costs for a multi-genre performing arts production. 

Black Kids in Action. $4,100. Dreams, a Black History Month Production. Funding for artist fees, venue rental, and production costs for a live theatre production. 

Brianna DeSantis. $3,500. Sonata Music Adventures in Concert. Funding for artist fees, venue rental, and production costs for a live music production. 

Sara Fontaine. $2,500. The Broadway Bunch: One Night Only. Funding for artist fees for performers and musicians for a cabaret-style concert. 

Lindsay Marr. $1,875. Mug Shots. Funding for artist fees, venue rental, marketing, and installation for a visual arts exhibition.

Demetre Kalmantis. $1,500. The Forgotten. Funding for artist fees, production, and distribution of a local graphic novel. 

Anthony Di Fazio. $1,000. Bog Moss Second EP. Funding for recording, mixing and mastering of a local extended play (EP) studio album. 

Of their collective experience working as part of the ACHF Jury for both rounds of funding for 2025, the members’ comments included the following:

“What we experienced was stellar teamwork of the highest order. They may be small in the grand scheme of things, but these [funding] decisions are impactful and will truly make a difference with a ripple effect in our arts community.”

“I was impressed by the quality and viability of several projects, including many rooted in meaningful community partnerships for the true benefit of a broad cross-section of the community.”

“The strongest project applications demonstrated defensible public interest and credible community impact, tangible and meaningful partnerships, a cogent operational plan and budget, as well as realistic quality outcomes.”

“I commend the ACHF administrative leadership team on seeing through many good applications and certainly a large volume of applications.”

The City extends thanks to the ACHF jury members who participated in the evaluation of the 2025 ACHF funding rounds. The jury consisted of the following:

  • Vincent Georgie – returning juror; Executive Director and Chief Programmer for Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF); Special Advisor to the President – Governmental Affairs, and Marketing Faculty, University of Windsor; arts board member (WIFF, and Windsor Symphony Orchestra); arts administrator, programmer, educator; holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Film Marketing; major film representative at events, including Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Cannes, and Telluride; and invited attendee to the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Emmy Awards.
  • Dan MacDonald – returning juror; Arts writer (Upfront Magazine, ROOM Magazine); radio programmer (CJAM-FM, Hear + Now); radio host (The Dan MacDonald Show on AM800 CKLW); performing artist; published poet and author; event emcee; arts educator; festival and event producer.
  • Matthew Dumouchel – Past President of Windsor Light Music Theatre (recipient of the arts organization 2024 Windsor Mayor’s Arts Award); actor; artist; small business owner; Director of Operations at the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce.
  • Peter Hrastovec – Windsor’s current Poet Laureate; lawyer; artist; actor; author; Rotarian; board member; arts volunteer.
  • Sheila Wisdom – Former City Councillor for City of Windsor; former Executive Director for the Windsor Symphony Orchestra; arts board member; arts volunteer. 

Call for 2026 ACHF Jurors:

The City of Windsor is currently seeking would-be jurors for the 2026 funding rounds of the Arts, Culture & Heritage Fund (ACHF) grant program. 2026 funding will be awarded in two rounds, with funding application dates yet to be set. Windsor residents who possess an aptitude for business; an eye for arts, culture and heritage; and a commitment to a vibrant cultural community are encouraged to apply to serve as volunteers on the ACHF jury to evaluate applications for next year. If you feel you have the qualities needed to help select winning entries, please apply today. This is a meaningful opportunity to spend a small amount of time and have a significant impact on our community.

The ACHF Juror Application form is available and administered entirely online, with no requirement to print and mail documents. When you select the Juror Application link during intake phases, you will be redirected to the MyWindsor Portal and required to create a local account or use an existing Google account to proceed with your application. 

Opportunity for Sponsors, Donors, Community-Builders with the ACHF:

As the ACHF program continues to evolve, the City offers two possible opportunities for partnership between sponsors, donors, and community builders in connection with the ACHF grant program to help support arts, culture and heritage in Windsor.

Those who wish to register as a Patron will be provided with information on funded ACHF projects that are seeking additional funding support to realize their project goals and increase community impact. City staff will facilitate a meeting between interested parties to see what possibilities exist. 

Those who wish to register to become an ACHF Partner will have the opportunity to donate funds to the ACHF funding stream, which will increase available funding in a given round, thus increasing opportunities for additional creators and projects to receive funding. The ACHF Jury will adjudicate all funding requests, and City staff will work with ACHF Partners to determine the best fit for donations in any given round. 

Those wishing to take advantage of these unique opportunities to direct support to Windsor’s arts, culture and heritage creative community, are asked to reach out to culturalaffairs@citywindsor.ca to begin the conversation.

Further details on the ACHF program guidelines and objectives, application process, eligibility requirements, success stories from previous recipients, and deadline dates for funding rounds as available are posted at www.ACHFWindsor.ca online.

To learn more about arts, culture and heritage services at the City of Windsor, visit www.CityWindsor.ca or contact 311.
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