Cultural Grants Program

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.

Grant amounts range from $2,500 to $20,000.

Review the CASC Information Guide PDF file (374 KB) for details on eligibility, assessment criteria, and how to apply.

Key dates

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 create 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
• 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

1. Read the CASC Information Guide PDF file (374 KB)
2. New applicants: Contact a cultural planner to discuss the eligibility of your project and obtain access to the application form.

• Organizations with names starting with A-M:

Aliyah Amarshi, Cultural Planner
aliyah.amarshi@vancouver.ca

• Organizations with names starting with N-Z:

Joyce Rosario, Cultural Planner
joyce.rosario@vancouver.ca

See a preview of the application form PDF file (438 KB)

The COFA grant program provides core funding 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 (examples: Indigenous arts and culture, community arts, dance, interdisciplinary, literary, media, multidisciplinary, museums/heritage, music, theatre, visual arts). 

Key dates

Eligible applicants

In an effort to achieve more equity in operating grants funding, groups with explicit commitments to equity in their mission, programs, practices, and people, will be prioritized for invitation to this program. To be considered for this program, organizations will:

• Have an existing funding relationship with City of Vancouver and have received strong community endorsement through prior community peer assessments
• Have participated in a pre-review process to confirm alignment (generally between April and August). Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and groups are asked to provide more information on:
  • Alignment with and advancing goals of the City’s Culture Plan: Culture|Shift
  • Commitments to equity in mission, programs, practice, and people
  • Contribution to the diversity of creative stories of Vancouver through ongoing body of work or services and public demand
  • Operational structure and financial management and need for core support 
• 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 three years
• Be physically located, have an active presence, and deliver programs and services within Vancouver, or if led by Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh Nation members, held in their unceded traditional homelands
• Have paid professional and experienced leadership (either full-time or part-time staff members) in artistic or administrative roles
• Provide a healthy workplace for staff and volunteers through policies and practices meeting minimum industry standards (examples: WorkSafe BC, BC Human Rights Code)
• Provide equitable access to a diverse public in practice and policy with accessibility plans
• Have growing and diverse financial resources and practices and independently-prepared financial statements (ideally a review engagement)
• Compensate professional artists at minimum standard industry rates

Complete eligibility requirements can be found on page 5 of the COFA Information Guide PDF file (873 KB).

How to apply

1. Review the COFA Information Guide PDF file (873 KB).
2. Previous COFA applicants may apply online.
3. New applicants are required to contact staff to discuss their interest and may participate in a pre-review process to confirm eligibility and alignment. Important note We are no longer considering requests from new applicants for the 2023 intake.

Contacts

Miko Hoffman, Cultural Planner
miko.hoffman@vancouver.ca
604-673-8411

Cherryl Masters, Cultural Planner
cherryl.masters@vancouver.ca 
604-871-6498

See a preview of the application form Word file (60 KB)