Image from the Leaky Heaven Circus Happyland Carnival
Community and Neighbourhood Arts Development Program
2012 Granting Season
The deadline for 2012 applications is March 2, 2012.
Guidelines and Application Details
The program guide published below provides current information on the Community and Neighbourhood Arts Development Program and the application process. It is intended to assist applicants in making an application to Cultural Services.
In addition to the program description, it provides helpful information that on the program's objectives; information on who can apply; event, project and expense eligiblibility and those that are ineligible; what grants can be used for along with fund amounts; and details about the evaluation of applications and the evaluation criteria.
- Download the 2012 Community and Neighbourhood Arts Development Program - guidelines and application details
(127kb) (also published below),
- Contact staff first to determine project eligibility and then,
- Download the 2012 Community and Neighbourhood Arts Development Program application form
(376kb).
Program Description
In recognition of the numerous artist and community-driven collaborations taking place in Vancouver and contributing to a vibrant and creative city, this program supports projects that celebrate and promote Vancouver’s unique communities and neighbourhoods through arts and cultural activities ranging from amateur to professional practices.
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Program Objectives
- To celebrate and promote the diversity and unique characteristics of Vancouver’s communities and neighbourhoods
- To encourage meaningful creative collaboration, engagement and connection between artists and community members (residents, businesses, organizations)
- To encourage high levels of artistic merit, innovation and openness to new ideas
- To provide benefit to all participants (skill development, learning opportunities, exchange of ideas and experiences, sense of belonging)
- To provide opportunities for all to enjoy and actively participate in arts and culture in an inclusive and respectful environment.
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Eligible Applicants
City of Vancouver-based, not-for-profit societies, registered in BC and operating for at least 6 months prior to application deadline.
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Eligible projects and activities
- Festivals and Celebrations: events organized around an artistic or cultural theme, with a central focus on arts and cultural programming, open to the general public for broad public access and participation (ethno-cultural celebration or anniversary, neighbourhood festival, performing, literary or visual arts festival).
- Major Parades: one-day events with a significant artistic or cultural component (performances, costumes, floats, banners, arches and installations), with the ability to attract a large audience (over 10,000), have a budget of over $15,000, and have at least 20 organizations registered. Major Parades are also eligible to apply for a Service Grant to off-set costs and services provided by the City, of up to 50% to a maximum of $10,000.
- Community arts projects: projects that demonstrate a comprehensive artist and community creative collaborative and engagement process, encourage active participation with clear benefits to participants, communities and neighbourhoods involved, and which result in some form of public presentation or documentation to share knowledge and create awareness.
Projects can be artist or community-initiated, but should demonstrate strong partnerships with artists and/or arts and cultural organizations.
Only one project application and grant per applicant, per year: repeat applications for projects (or phases thereof) can be considered only if previously funded projects or phases are complete and a final report is submitted and approved.
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Ineligible projects and expenses
- Organizations and activities eligible for, or receiving funds through, the City of Vancouver Operating or Project Cultural grants programs
- Organizations receiving funds for programs and activity from other City of Vancouver departments are not eligible to apply for the same initiative but may be eligible to apply for a different project.
- Projects where artistic or cultural activities are not central
- Sporting events, demonstrations, marches, and rallies
- Core training or in-class educational or curriculum-based activity
- Marketing, promotional or commercially-oriented events
- Fundraising events
- Retroactive activity
- Deficit reduction
- Capital projects
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Use of Grant funds
Programming: fees* for artists and key creative or community contributors, production staff fees, exhibition costs, venue and equipment rental, design, display and decoration, documentation.
*The payment of artist fees is strongly encouraged. Refer to these organizations for guidelines to fees:
- American Federation of Musicians: www.afm.org
- Canadian Actors Equity Association: www.caea.com
- Canadian League of Composers: www.clc-lcc.ca
- Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists: www.cadabc.org
- Professional Writers Association of Canada: www.pwac.ca
- Canadian Artists Representation/CARFAC: www.carfac.ca
Administration: planning, co-ordination, event or project management, fundraising, and office expenses.
Publicity and marketing: development and implementation of publicity and marketing strategies, advertising and promotional expenses.
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Grant Fund Amounts
Under normal circumstances, the maximum level of grant will be $10,000. The level of grant will depend on the proposed budget and scope of the project and how well it supports the program objectives and meets the evaluation criteria. For initiatives that engage multiple neighbourhoods or communities and meet all the evaluation criteria at a high level, a larger award may be considered.
Generally grant amounts will not exceed 50% of the proposed budget.
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Evaluation
Members nominated from the community with relevant expertise and experience in community arts practice, festivals and celebrations, participate on the Assessment Committee along with staff. The Assessment Committee makes their recommendations based on how well the proposal meets and supports the program objectives, using the specific evaluation criteria outlined below. The proposals that meet most or all of the program objectives will rank the highest and will be the top priorities for funding. All recommendations are considered and given final approval by City Council.
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Evaluation Criteria
Merit
- Strength and clarity of the intent or vision of the proposal
- Experience of the artists and key participants involved and quality of their work as demonstrated through past projects, training or experience
- Evidence of meaningful creative collaboration between participants
- Quality of creative community engagement processes if applicable
- Potential for innovation, risk-taking and openness to new ideas and practices
Impact
- Degree to which the proposal addresses real opportunities or needs of a particular neighbourhood or community
- Degree to which the proposal expresses the diversity of the communities or neighbourhoods involved
- There are benefits for all participants (learning, exchange of ideas, skill development, sense of belonging)
- Evidence of encouraging participation in an inclusive and respectful environment (outreach, childcare provision, meals, transportation, safe accessible venues)
- Evidence of meaningful collaboration, engagement and connection between artists, residents, businesses and organizations
Capacity
- Commitment of all partners/key participants to the project (dedication to a practice, experience of key participants, partnerships in place)
- Strength and rationale of the partnerships proposed
- Evidence of competent administration, a functional board and appropriate governance structure with the applicant organization
- Evidence of financial accountability; proposed budget is achievable, diversified and balanced, and there is a demonstrated need for public sector assistance (unallocated accumulated surpluses of over 50% of last actual budget call into question the need for public sector assistance)
- Sufficient planning is in place to support project objectives in the form of realistic schedules, timelines, programming, research, and evaluation
In addition to the above criteria, geographic distribution of the proposals may come into consideration when assessing the requests.
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