City champions the arts with $5.7M in latest round of cultural grant funding

Yesterday, Vancouver City Council approved $5.7M in grants to 270 cultural organizations to support the delivery of critical programs and services for artists, the cultural community and the public.

This latest round of funding builds on investments made by the City earlier this year, including $2.6M in arts and culture grants awarded in January and a further $3.8M in operational support grants provided to cultural organizations in April. 

The City of Vancouver’s arts and culture grants program advances Vibrant Vancouver, Council’s strategic priorities and key directives related to arts and culture, including  Vancouver’s 10-year culture plan, Culture|Shift, and the Making Space for Arts and Culture infrastructure plan. It also aligns with the City’s Reconciliation, Equity, Healthy City and Accessibility goals.

“Arts and culture play a significant role in elevating our city’s identity and contributing to vibrancy, quality of life, economic prosperity, and social connection,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “As rising costs and real estate pressures continue to impact the sector, these grants provide essential support for local arts organizations, programs and projects. They also help to protect and sustain the cultural spaces they need to create, connect, and thrive.” 

The 270 grant awards were the result of a rigorous staff and peer-driven assessment processes. They include: 

• 84 Communities and Artists Shifting Culture (CASC) Grants totalling $615,593 that support a wide-range of short-term, one-time or limited series arts, cultural and creative projects.
• 17 Cultural Learning and Sharing (CLS) grants totalling $200,275, to help artists and cultural organizations access or deliver learning opportunities that will build and strengthen skills, knowledge and relationships.  
• 21 Affordable Spaces Grants totalling $335,000 to support facility operating costs for local non-profit space operators who provide subsidized affordable space for Vancouver-based artists and/or cultural organizations.
• 108 Theatre Rental Grants totalling $3,180,875 to support users of Vancouver’s four civic theatres (Orpheum, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse and Annex).
• 39 Cultural Spaces Capital Grants totalling $1,308,989 which support cultural building-based projects including space planning, purchase, renovation or expansion of an arts and cultural facility.

Grant recipients include: 

Some Assembly Arts Society
Granted $14,000 for Breaking Vicious Cycles, a community-engaged theatre project created by and for youth exploring anxiety, expectations and strength-based support. 

Pride in Art Society 
Granted $13,500 to sponsor the artist-led celebration project Emancipation Day 2025 which is led by a longstanding advocate for queer Black visibility in Vancouver. 

Protect the Burrard Inlet Society
Granted $13,500 for a Salish Sea ceremonial canoe journey supporting cultural resurgence for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. 

Recorded Movement Society
Granted $17,500 for a capacity-building project called Documenting RMS’s Youth-Led Leadership Model, which will include a case study, report and toolkit to document and share a leadership succession strategy in a youth-centred, values-driven organization.

Musqueam Indian Band
Awarded a capital grant of $175,000 to support improvements to their Longhouse and cultural burn site ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Musqueam Declaration in June 2026.

Chinese Canadian Museum Society
Awarded a capital grant of $125,000 to support improvements to Wing Sang building, home of the Chinese Canadian Museum.

Learn more about the City of Vancouver’s Arts and Culture Grants program here.