Cultural grants celebrate, elevate, and support the range of creative people, projects, and organizations who contribute to Vancouver’s diverse communities.
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Why we invest in cultural grants
These investments will:
- Celebrate and reflect the diversity of the unique creative people who live here
- Uphold, recognize, and support Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Urban Indigenous artists and cultural workers, grounded in inherent and constitutionally protected Indigenous rights
- Elevate racialized artists and cultural workers, and support work to dismantle racism in the arts and culture sector
- Provide accessible opportunities for diverse public participation in arts and cultural activities
- Build reciprocal and meaningful relations
- Be embedded in community (informed by and led by)
- Centre the artists and people whose stories are being told
- Compensate artists and creative people involved
- Draw from the depth of local knowledge
- Build leadership, knowledge, and resources for artists and cultural leaders across the sector
Project support grants
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Communities and Artists Shifting Culture (CASC): Cultural Project Grants Program
Applications open September 3, 2025. Closing date October 22, 2025.
CASC grants support a wide range of short-term, one-time, or limited series arts, cultural, and creative projects delivered by registered non-profit organizations, societies, charities, registered co-ops, and local First Nation Band Councils that advance the goals of our culture plan, Culture|Shift. Non-incorporated collectives and individual artists from equity-denied communities may apply via a sponsor registered organization.
Information icon There are 2 application deadlines for 2026 projects. Grants range from $2,500 to $15,000.
Key dates for 2026 (subject to change)
Description First intake Second intake Applications open September 3, 2025 January 21, 2026 Applications due October 22, 2025 March 4, 2026 Council approval of recommendation January 2026 May 2026 Project start dates January to June 2026 July to December 2026 Eligible projects and activities
CASC grants support projects:
- With an arts or culture focus
- In any artistic discipline (examples: Indigenous arts and culture, community-engaged arts, dance, literary, media, music, theatre, visual arts, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, cultural heritage)
- In any phase of a project, from research and development through to presentation
- In all forms (examples: exhibitions, performances, publications, presentations, video, film, media, radio, audio recordings, virtual, online-based creative initiatives, or community-engaged art or cultural projects led by professional artists, cultural workers, Elders, knowledge-keepers)
- Based in Vancouver or led by the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), or səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples and held on their traditional lands
- That engage artists and creative collaborators with the relevant skills, permission, knowledge, experience, and expertise to lead and contribute to the work
- That aim to compensate artists and cultural practitioners and minimum creative sector standard rates
Examples of eligible project types and activities
- Community-engaged art and culture projects
- Led by or involving artists, cultural workers, Elders, knowledge-keepers, that engage or collaborate with communities through:
- Collaborative creative initiatives that address local interest or concerns
- Neighbourhood-based projects that offer opportunities to participate in cultural life or produce creative work
- Led by or involving artists, cultural workers, Elders, knowledge-keepers, that engage or collaborate with communities through:
- Festivals, celebrations, and parades
- Free public cultural festivals and celebrations
- Ticketed or free arts festivals in any creative discipline
- Large-scale parades with a strong arts or cultural focus that can demonstrate the ability to attract a city-wide audience of over 10,000
- Artistic creation or production
- Research, development, or staging of a single production or series of related curated or produced arts and cultural events, exhibitions, performances, residencies, publications, or programs
How to apply
- Review the CASC information guide PDF file (422 KB)
- New applicants: Contact a cultural planner to discuss the eligibility of your project and obtain access to the application form.
Application support
Applicants who are Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or live with a disability and need support to complete their grant applications can access up to $500 towards the costs of assistance from service providers. Contact program staff for more information.
Application form preview
Contact
Organizations with names starting with A to M:
- Vanessa Richards, cultural planner
Email: [email protected]
Organizations with names starting with N to Z:
- Joyce Rosario, cultural planner
Email: [email protected]
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Cultural Learning and Sharing (CLS) Grant Program
Applications are now closed. They will reopen in January 2026.
This capacity-building program provides up to $20,000 to non-profit arts and cultural organizations to access or deliver learning opportunities that will build and strengthen skills, knowledge, relationships, and experience. The goal is to strengthen organizational, sectoral, or individual arts and leadership practices.
Some of our recently-funded activities
- A land-based Indigenous placenames and local languages toolkit and an economic redress process and cultural consultation exchange with a local First Nation
- A Black-led music industry symposium which focuses on strategies to combat systemic discrimination and racism in Canada's live music business
- A mentorship program for emerging Latin/e/x film programmers
- Two supportive succession processes for founders of equity-mandated organizations that pave the way for new leaders from equity-denied communities
- A mentorship for emerging BIPOC and Hard of Hearing artists and curators and an engagement process for arts organizations to deepen engagement and inclusion with Deaf/deaf & Hard of Hearing communities
2025 key dates
Process milestones Key dates Applications open in VanApply January 22, 2025 Applications due March 19, 2025, 11:59pm Council approval of recommendation Early June 2025 Project start dates July 2025 and after Who can apply
- Artists and cultural leaders who identify as:
- xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), urban Indigenous
- Black or of African descent
- People of Colour
- Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing
- Living with a disability/disabled people
- LGBTQ2+ and gender diverse
- Arts and culture organizations’ leaders, artists and staff that wish to build their pathways to becoming more equitable
- Individual artists and cultural leaders may apply through a sponsor non-profit arts and cultural organization
How to apply
Review the 2025 information guide PDF file (209 KB)
Contact
Contact a cultural planner to discuss your eligibility, access the online application form, and, benefit from valuable advice:
Joyce Rosario
Cultural Planner
[email protected]Marnie Rice
Cultural Planner
[email protected]
Core support grants
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Cultural Operating Funding (COF)
The COF program provides core support to Vancouver-based, professional non-profit arts, and cultural organizations to develop, create, produce, present, and disseminate artistic work, or provide professional services or space in any artistic discipline.
Key dates (subject to change)
Description Date Applications open September 24, 2025 Applications due November 5, 2025, 11:59pm Council approval of advance grant Late January 2026 Council approval of grant recommendation Late March to early April 2026 Eligible applicants
In an effort to achieve more equity in cultural core support, organizations with explicit commitments to equity in their mission, programs, practices, and people, will be prioritized when adding new groups to this program.
To be considered for this program, organizations need to meet the following criteria:
- Have an existing funding relationship with the City of Vancouver:
- Currently receive Cultural Operating Funding or have received 3 Communities and Artists Shifting Culture (CASC), Cultural Indigenous, or Cultural Equity grants
- Operations and mandate:
- Be a non-profit society or a community service co-op legally registered and in good standing with BC Registries Services, or a registered charity with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA)
- Be physically located in and deliver programs and services within Vancouver
- Have a clear mission and history of consistent annual delivery of arts and cultural programs or services in support of the mission for at least 3 years
- Have paid professional and experienced leadership (either full-time or part-time staff members) in artistic or administrative roles
- Have an equity policy or plan, accessibility plan, and respectful workplace policies, procedures and practices in place
- Compensate artists and cultural workers at minimum standard industry rates
- Ensure that in interactions or communications with and about City officials and staff, their staff and volunteers do not make statements or engage in conduct which could be characterized as threatening, intimidating, harassing, or discriminatory
- Financial:
- Have a minimum operating expense budget of $150,000, as shown in last actual Financial Statements. To be competitive in the program, organizations will show an average operating budget of $200,000 or more.
- Have independently-prepared financial statements signed by two Board members (in the form of a compilation engagement, review engagement, or audited statements)
- In good standing with the City of Vancouver (for example, does not have outstanding invoices with any City departments).
How to apply
- Review the COF information guide PDF file (401 KB).
- Previous COFA applicants may apply online and will be emailed the access code.
- New applicants:
- An expression of interest form opened June 25 and closed July 20, 2025, for new organizations to indicate interest in applying for core support. A limited number of organizations were invited to submit a full grant application, based on program priorities and anticipated available funding.
- Organizations who were selected through the EOI process to submit a COF application may apply online and will be emailed the access code. Organizations who submitted an EOI but were not selected are encouraged to apply to CASC.
- New organizations interested in being considered for the next intake of COF (for 2027) will be able to submit an expression of interest form, which will open in July 2026. Organizations who already submitted an EOI will remain on the list for consideration for the 2027 COF intake.
Application support
Applicants who are Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or live with a disability and need support to complete their grant applications can access up to $500 towards the costs of assistance from service providers. Contact program staff for more information.
Contacts
Miko Hoffman, cultural planner
Email: [email protected]Brenda Grunau, cultural planner
Email: [email protected] - Have an existing funding relationship with the City of Vancouver:
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Cultural Equity and Accessibility Funding (CEAF)
The Cultural Equity and Accessibility Funding (CEAF) program provides core support for equity and/or accessibility mandated and led organizations in Vancouver. Recipients are cultural organizations that develop, create, produce, present, and disseminate artistic work, or provide services or space in any artistic discipline.
The CEAF program supports organizations to build capacity, to deliver artistic and cultural programming, and for other needs that the equity and/or accessibility-driven cultural organization identifies. Common characteristics of groups supported by this program include:
- Supporting equity and/or accessibility denied artists and communities in ways that are embedded in their mission, leadership, operations, finances, programs, and services
- Being recognized by their peers as having high impact and trust within their cultural community
- Challenging dominant operational models to build organizations in ways that reflect the community they serve
- Operating with an annual budget generally between $50,000 and $250,000
Key dates (subject to change)
Description Date Expression of interest form opens for new applicants June 25, 2025 Expression of interest due July 30, 2025 Applications open August 27, 2025 Applications due October 1, 2025, 11:59pm Council approval of grant recommendation December 2025 Grant payment January 2026 Grant amounts
CEAF grants will not exceed 50% of an applicant’s last actual expense budget. New recipients generally start with a base level grant of $15,000 and may be recommended for a higher amount based on available funding.
CEAF grants currently range from $15,000 to $40,000.
Review information on previous grant awards and recipients PDF file (219 KB)
Eligible applicants
To be eligible for this program, organizations need to meet the following:
- Organization status:
- Be a non-profit society or a community service co-op legally registered and in good standing with BC Registries and Services, or a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- Be physically located or have an active presence and deliver most of its programs or services within Vancouver
- Mission and mandate:
- Have a clear mission with explicit commitments to support equity and/or accessibility denied artists and communities in ways that are embedded in their mission, leadership, operations, programs, and services
- Funding history:
- For new applicants: Have received 2 grants through the Communities and Artists Shifting Culture (CASC) program
- Financials:
- Have sustained a minimum annual expense budget of $50,000 for the past 3years
There are additional considerations to be a priority to receive funding:
- Programs:
- Have a history of consistent annual delivery of impactful arts and cultural programs or services
- Compensate (or is building towards compensating) artists and staff at minimum standard industry rates
- Organizational capacity:
- Have a governance model that is supportive of the mission, a healthy and inclusive workplace, and the staff and people served
- Have professional and experienced leadership in artistic and/or administrative roles
- Have workplace policies or practices which support a healthy and respectful workplace for staff and volunteers
How to apply
- Review the CEAF information guide PDF file (264 KB)
- Previous Cultural Equity Grant (CEG) recipients may apply online and will be emailed the access code.
- New organizations interested in being considered for cultural core support were invited to submit an expression of interest (EOI) form in July.
- EOIs will be reviewed by staff based on program eligibility and grant history in August. A limited number of organizations who submitted an EOI will be invited to submit a full grant application to CEAF, based on anticipated available funding.
- Organizations who submitted an EOI will be contacted in mid-August. Submitting an EOI does not guarantee an invitation to apply or receiving a grant. Funding may allow for 4-6 new groups to receive support.
Application support
Applicants who are Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or live with a disability and need support to complete their grant applications can access up to $500 towards the costs of assistance from service providers. Contact program staff for more information.
Contact
Mary Shin, cultural planner
Email: [email protected] -
Cultural Indigenous Funding (CIF)
The Cultural Indigenous Funding (CIF) program provides core support for Indigenous mandated and led organizations in Vancouver. Recipients are cultural organizations that develop, create, produce, present, and disseminate artistic work, or provide services or space in any artistic discipline.
CIF supports and sustains the core operations of organizations that are led by Indigenous communities, to uphold, recognize, and support xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh, and Urban Indigenous artists and cultural practitioners, grounded in inherent and constitutionally protected Indigenous Rights.
The CIF program supports organizations to build capacity, to deliver artistic and cultural programming, and for other needs that the equity and/or accessibility-driven cultural organization identifies. Common characteristics of groups supported by this program include:
- Supporting Indigenous artists and communities in ways that are embedded in their mission, leadership, operations, finances, programs, and services
- Being recognized by their peers as having high impact and trust within their cultural community
- Challenging dominant operational models to build organizations in ways that reflect the community they serve
- Operating with an annual budget generally between $50,000 and $250,000
Key dates (subject to change)
Description Date Expression of interest form opens for new applicants June 25, 2025 Expression of interest due July 30, 2025 Applications open August 27, 2025 Applications due October 1, 2025, 11:59 pm Council approval of grant recommendation December 2025 Grant payment January 2026 Grant amounts
CIF grants will not exceed 50% of an applicant’s last actual expense budget. New recipients generally start with a base level grant of $15,000 and may be recommended for a higher amount based on available funding.
CIF grants currently range from $15,000 to $40,000.
Review information on previous grant awards and recipients PDF file (219 KB)
Eligible applicants
To be eligible for this program, organizations need to meet the following:
- Organization status:
- Be a registered non-profit society, co-op, charity, or First Nations Band council
- Have an active presence in and deliver programs and services within Vancouver, or if led by either the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, held in their traditional homelands
- Mission and mandate:
- Have a clear mission with explicit commitments to support Indigenous artists and communities in ways that are embedded in their mission, leadership, operations, programs, and services
- Funding history:
- For new applicants: Have received 2 grants through the Communities and Artists Shifting Culture (CASC) program
- Financials:
- Have sustained a minimum annual expense budget of $50,000 for the past 3 years
There are additional considerations to be a priority to receive funding:
- Programs:
- Have a history of consistent annual delivery of impactful arts and cultural programs or services
- Compensate (or is building towards compensating) artists and staff at minimum standard industry rates
- Organizational capacity:
- Have a governance model that is supportive of the mission, a healthy and inclusive workplace, and the staff and people served
- Have professional and experienced leadership in artistic and/or administrative roles
- Have workplace policies or practices which support a healthy and respectful workplace for staff and volunteers
How to apply
- Review the CIF information guide PDF file (263 KB)
- Previous Cultural Indigenous Grant (CIG) recipients may apply online and will be emailed the access code
Important note New applicants:
- New organizations interested in being considered for cultural core support were invited to submit an expression of interest (EOI) form in July.
- EOIs will be reviewed by staff based on program eligibility and grant history in August. A limited number of organizations who submitted an EOI will be invited to submit a full grant application to CIF, based on anticipated available funding.
- Organizations who submitted an EOI will be contacted in mid-August. Submitting an EOI does not guarantee an invitation to apply or receiving a grant. Funding may allow for 4-6 new groups to receive support.
Application support
Applicants who are Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or live with a disability and need support to complete their grant applications can access up to $500 towards the costs of assistance from service providers. Contact program staff for more information.
Contact
Mary Shin, cultural planner
Email: [email protected]
Cultural grants resources
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Culture|Shift (Vancouver Culture Plan) documents
- Vancouver Culture Plan 2020-2029: Culture|Shift: Blanketing the City in Arts and Culture PDF file (12 MB)
- Culture|Shift glossary of terms and resources PDF file (189 KB)
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Grant recipients
2025 grant recipients:
- January 21, 2025 Council report PDF file (351 KB)
- April 15, 2025 Council report PDF file (258 KB)
- June 4, 2025 Council report PDF file (384 KB)
2024 grant recipients:
- January 23, 2024 Council report PDF file (344 KB)
- April 9, 2024 Council report PDF file (194 KB)
- May 29, 2024 Council report PDF file (385 KB)
- November 13, 2024 Council report PDF file (219 KB)
2023 grant recipients:
- January 17, 2023 Council report PDF file (291 KB)
- April 12, 2023 Council report PDF file (630 KB)
- May 30, 2023 Council report PDF file (460 KB)
2022 grant recipients:
- January 25, 2022 Council report PDF file (315 KB)
- April 12, 2022 Council report PDF file (173 KB)
- May 17, 2022 Council report PDF file (250 KB)
2021 grant recipients:
2020 grant recipients: