About the CCDC

The Canadian Cultural Data Catalogue (CCDC) is a national initiative developed through collaboration between OCAD University and SynapseC under the Data Echo Culture partnership. The project emerged from the realization that cultural data in Canada—spanning arts, heritage, and creative industries—was fragmented and difficult to access.

To address this gap, the Building a Data Fluent Canadian Cultural Sector initiative was launched, using a forensic research approach to identify, document, and describe datasets across Canada. The CCDC functions as a "database of datasets and databases," offering a centralized, searchable catalogue that connects artists, researchers, policymakers, and organizations with cultural data resources.

Metadata standards

Metadata is the foundation of the CCDC. Each dataset is described using a structured metadata schema based on international and national standards, ensuring consistency and interoperability across institutions.

The metadata schema framework was informed by the Urban Data Centre's maturity model (University of Toronto). We categorizes datasets under six primary components:

Catalog scope

The Canadian Cultural Data Catalogue (CCDC) is hosted at OCAD University and operates under a research mandate that supports experimental, ethical, and collaborative development. To date, the catalogue includes over 1,500 cultural datasets, spanning national funding programs, provincial and regional collections, cultural assessments, and research reports.

Our current geographic focus includes Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and Ontario, with future expansion planned for the Prairies and the West Coast. All datasets are described using standardized metadata, enabling users to discover, evaluate, and access them through their original sources. The CCDC does not host data; it functions as a curated, searchable guide to where cultural data exists and how it can be accessed.

For this project, cultural datasets are broadly defined as structured information related to Canadian culture and lifestyle. This includes archives, heritage, performances, film, literature, applied arts, funding, community arts, Indigenous cultures, and research on the social impacts of cultural practices. Through this approach, the CCDC supports efficient access to high-quality, actionable information and helps users better understand Canada's evolving cultural landscape.

OCAP/CARE

The CCDC recognizes the inherent rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to govern their cultural information. Our work is guided by the OCAP® and CARE principles, which are embedded in how we identify, document, and describe datasets involving Indigenous communities and knowledge.

The CCDC acts solely as a discovery tool, not a repository of Indigenous-owned content. We catalogue only metadata for information that communities or data stewards have made publicly available, and we respect the access conditions they define. Our metadata schema includes explicit fields to identify Indigenous content, name the relevant community, record whether community permission exists, and indicate who collected the data.

During the identification process, we look for clear indicators of Indigenous involvement, such as Indigenous authorship, community-led research methodologies, Indigenous languages, oral histories, or land-based knowledge. When datasets appear on non-Indigenous platforms, we assess whether ownership and permissions are clearly documented. If this is unclear, the dataset is flagged for further review.

Through these practices, the CCDC aims to support ethical stewardship, transparency, and respect for Indigenous data sovereignty within Canada's cultural data ecosystem.

Partners

GOG

OCAD Policy Hub