Two people DJ in a tent outdoors

City Council approves $2.6 Million in cultural grants

January 21 2025 –

Today, Vancouver City Council approved over $2.6 million in grants to 127 local arts and culture organizations in its first round of cultural grant allocations for 2025. These grants will support projects that promote creativity, inclusion, and community engagement across the city. The funding will help boost Vancouver's arts scene and support the creative economy. 

The grants cover several different programs, including: 

  • Communities and Artists Shifting Culture: $489,700 will go to 60 cultural projects in 17 neighborhoods, helping fund festivals, arts projects, and events. 
     
  • Cultural Operating Grants: Around $1.5 million will support 43 arts organizations, including five major cultural institutions.  
     
  • Multi-year Operating Funding: $611,000 will provide longer term support to 24 organizations, allowing them to focus on their work without needing to apply for grants every year. 
     
  • Critical Assistance Grants: $100,000 will be available for urgent facility repairs or safety upgrades needed by arts organizations. 

“These grants are an investment in the future of Vancouver’s cultural landscape,” said Mayor Ken Sim. “By supporting local artists, non-profits, and cultural institutions, we’re cultivating a vibrant arts scene that strengthens our community, creates economic opportunities, and brings people together.”

The City of Vancouver awards nearly 500 grants totaling over $17 million to support arts and culture projects and organizations each year. 

Funding Highlights: 

All Bodies Dance Project : $13,500 was granted to support Portraits and Landscapes, an inclusive, intergenerational video dance project made by artists with and without disabilities.
 
Asian-Canadian Special Events Association : $5,000 was granted to support LunarFest and The Lantern City, illuminating Vancouver in January and February with lantern installations, music, craft workshops, storytelling and artisan exchanges.  

Other Sights for Artists' Projects Association : $15,000 was granted to support artist residencies for three Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh artists at one of the new FLEET Mobile Studios.   

Public Disco : $5,000 was granted to support the 2025 outdoor music series, featuring diverse music in vibrant urban spaces across Vancouver. 

“We’re grateful to the City for this support,” said Jay Pahre, General Manager of FLEET Mobile Artist Studios. “This grant will help us create meaningful opportunities for Indigenous artists to create work in public spaces on their home territories. FLEET Mobile Artist Studios seek to bring art directly to people where they live and work, create accessible platforms for creative expression and foster meaningful dialogue around inclusion and reconciliation." 

These investments support important City policies and plans, including: 

For more information about Vancouver’s cultural grants and the full list of funded organizations for this round, visit: Report, 2025 Cultural Grants (351 KB).