Cultural Grants, Awards & Support Programs

Theatre Rental Grants

City of Vancouver - Inside the Vancouver Playhouse Civic TheatreTheatre Rental grants offer financial assistance to off-set the costs of venue rental, to non-profit arts and cultural organizations that present events in one of the Civic Theatres; the Orpheum, Vancouver Playhouse, or Queen Elizabeth Theatre. There is support for organizations who are regular uses of the Civic Theatres and for those who use them occasionally and for first-time users as well.

NEXT DEADLINE: November 18, 2011 at 4:30 pm

    The program is intended to ensure accessibility to the Civic Theatres for new and emerging arts and cultural organizations and particularly those from Vancouver’s diverse communities. It seeks to support groups that have the capacity to attract large audiences and can benefit from the experience of performing in a centrally located and well-equipped theatre by contributing to their artistic development, increasing their profile, and helping them expand their audiences.

Specific Criteria and Application Process for Occasional Users and New Groups

Program Objectives

The program is intended to ensure accessibility to the Civic Theatres for new and emerging arts and cultural organizations and particularly those from Vancouver’s diverse communities. It seeks to support groups that have the capacity to attract large audiences and can benefit from the experience of performing in a centrally located and well-equipped theatre by contributing to their artistic development, increasing their profile, and helping them expand their audiences.

Eligible and Ineligible Expenses

Theatre Rental grants can be used to cover the costs of rental charges only. They do NOT fund rehearsal expenses or any additional costs such as administrative, technical services or audience services charges.

    • Administrative charges (HST, insurance, licenses, etc.)
    • Technical Services charges (stage crew wages, dance floor installation, use of video for projection or recording, piano tuning, etc.)
    • Audience Services charges (labour for per and/or post show events and receptions, merchandising licensing and commission, additional security, etc.)

Detailed list of costs related to these items and others can be found at the Vancouver Civic Theatre’s website.

Applicant eligibility

To qualify for a grant, an applicant must be:

    • a registered non-profit society in British Columbia for at least 6 months as of the application deadline
    • have a mandate to present cultural events
    • based and active in the City of Vancouver
    • actively promoting its event to a city-wide audience
    • presenting an event between January 1 and December 31, 2012

The following are ineligible for Theatre Rental (Project) Grants:

    • non-profit arts organizations currently receiving an annual civic Theatre Rental Grant (Operating)
    • competitions; and
    • events whose prime purpose is fundraising for a third party

How to apply

  1. Call 604.829.2007 to discuss your plans with staff at Cultural Services to confirm your eligibility.
  2. Reserve a date at the Civic Theatres by calling the Booking Coordinator at 604.665.3028. If you have never held an event at the Civic Theatres, we recommend that you arrange to meet with Civic Theatres staff to discuss your plans and determine all expenses.
  3. Once you have a confirmed date with the Civic Theatres, contact staff at Cultural Services to obtain an application form or download it.
  4. Complete and return the original with two (2) copies of the application form, together with one original and two copies of the required documents listed on the signatures page to:

    City of Vancouver - Cultural Services
    Woodward's Heritage Building
    Suite 501 - 111 West Hastings Street
    Vancouver BC V6B 1H4

Deadline – November 18, 2011 for events proposed between January 1 and December 31, 2012. You should apply after you have confirmed a booking with the Civic Theatres office (604.665.3028).

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