Express Micro-grant for creative and cultural industries to improve funding accessibility

Minister Pillai -  photo credit Government of Yukon/ Andrew Strain

The Express Micro-grant, a new funding program for the Yukon’s creative and cultural industries, will offer $150,000 annually for short-term, economic and growth opportunities starting September 1.

The Express Micro-grant is designed to be flexible and will offer a rolling intake. A simplified application process and reporting requirements, with a quick turnaround time for approvals, will allow the sector to be more responsive to emergent opportunities. The maximum amount available per application is $5,000. 

The Express Micro-grant fills a gap in the current creative and cultural industries funding supports offered by the Yukon government. The micro-grant was identified as a priority action in Creative Potential: Advancing the Yukon’s Creative and Cultural Industries strategy released in November 2021.

Two additional funding programs identified in the strategy will be developed following a review of Yukon government creative and cultural funding programs.

The Express Micro-grant is yet another tool to help stimulate more sector growth in our already vibrant creative and cultural industries. This funding will contribute to expanding skills and knowledge, while also enabling new partnerships and increased industry capacity. This will ultimately increase contributions to economic sustainability as well as positive community and social outcomes.

Minister of Tourism and Culture and Economic Development Ranj Pillai

Quick facts 
  • The Express Micro-grant has two funding tiers:

    • Tier 1: Up to $1,500; and
    • Tier 2: $1,501 to $5,000.
  • The fund aims to improve accessibility to funding for first-time and diverse equity-deserving applicants as well as those already participating in the sector.

  • In support of program outcomes, the voluntary collection of gender, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic indicators during the application process will help determine if program objectives are being met. This supports Creative Potential Action 4.5, targeted at establishing baseline data to regularly measure, monitor and report on the economic and social impacts of the sector.

  • The new funding program will be administered by the Department of Tourism and Culture, with support from Economic Development.

Media contact 

Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
[email protected]


Alicia Debreceni
Communications, Tourism and Culture
867-332-3670
[email protected] 


Damian Topps
Communications, Economic Development
867-667-5378
[email protected] 

News release #: 
22-224