Cultural Grants Program

Key dates

CASC will have two intakes in 2021. The next intake will be in fall 2021 for projects that start between January to June 2022. 

Grants received in 2020 under the Projects or Community Arts programs will not be affected by this new program. Final reporting on previous projects will be a part of the CASC application.

Eligible projects and activities

CASC grants support projects:

• With a central arts or culture focus or theme
• In any artistic discipline (example: Indigenous arts and culture, deaf, disability and mad arts, 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 
• Based in Vancouver or led by the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) or səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples held on their traditional lands
• That engage artists and creative collaborators with the relevant skills, lived experience, permission, knowledge, and expertise to lead and contribute to the work
• That aim to compensate artists and cultural practitioners at minimum creative sector standard rates

Examples of eligible project types and activities

• Community-engaged art and culture projects 
  • Led by or involving artists, cultural practitioners, Elders, and/or knowledge-keepers, that engage or collaborate with communities through: 
    • Collaborative creative initiatives that address local interests or concerns
    • Neighbourhood-based projects that offer opportunities to participate in cultural life or produce creative work
• Festivals, celebrations, and parades
  • Free public festivals including celebrations of cultural heritage 
  • 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 a series of related curated or produced arts and cultural events, exhibitions, performances, residencies, publications, or programs
• Small public art projects
  • One-time, non-permanent exterior works led by practicing artists, intended for installation in freely accessible public areas in a wide variety of mediums, artistic disciplines or materials, with appropriate permits. These may include:
    • Free-standing sculpture or other site interventions
    • Two-dimensional work (murals, mosaics)
    • Video and LED artworks (digital projections and lighting)

Ineligible activities

• Projects where the central focus or theme is not artistic or cultural 
• Ongoing operations, deficit reduction, or capital projects 
• Activity taking place before the application deadline
• Core artistic training and in-class activity 
• Fundraising activity
• Commercially oriented activity 
• Bursaries or scholarships 
• Contests or competitions 
• Demonstrations, marches, or rallies
• Monuments or permanent built structures 
• Activity taking place outside Vancouver city limits, unless led by either Musqueam, Squamish or Tsleil-Waututh peoples and in their traditional homelands

Individual artists are not eligible to apply unless in partnership with a registered non-profit organization, society, charity, registered co-operative, or Local First Nation Band Council.

How to apply

1. Read the CASC grant program information guide PDF file (630 KB)

   The guide explains:

   • Grant objectives
   • Eligibility
   • Assessment criteria and process
2. Contact a cultural planner to discuss the eligibility of your project and access the online application form: 
   • Organizations with names starting with A-M:
     Aliyah Amarshi, Cultural Planner
     604-829-9876
     aliyah.amarshi@vancouver.ca
   • Organizations with names starting with N-Z:
     Miko Hoffman, Cultural Planner
     604-673-8411
     miko.hoffman@vancouver.ca

Frequently asked questions PDF file (245 KB)

Eligible applicants

All requests will be considered on a case by case basis according to the existing funding relationship with the City and organizational readiness.

Read the characteristics of an Annual Assistance organization and Eligibility sections of the Program Guide before contacting the lead staff for more information.

1. Read the information guide PDF file (178 KB)

   The guide explains:

   • New directions and goals in Culture | Shift Culture Plan 2019 - 2029
   • Grants and awards guiding principles
   • Annual assistance grant program goals
   • Expectations of an annual assistance organization
   • Eligibility
   • Grant amounts
   • Equitable funding
   • Assessment process
   • Considerations for working with Indigenous artists
   • Recommendation process
   • Terms and conditions of assistance
   • Glossary and additional City resources
2. Contact Cultural Services for referral to a cultural planner to:
   • Discuss your organization eligibility
   • Receive valuable advice

Marnie Rice
604-871-6634
marnie.rice@vancouver.ca

Miko Hoffman
​​​​​​​miko.hoffman@vancouver.ca
604-871-6007

Eligible applicants

All requests will be considered on a case by case basis according to the existing funding relationship with the City and organizational readiness.

Read the characteristics of an Operating Assistance organization and Eligibility sections of the Program Guide before contacting the lead staff for more information.

1. Read the information guide PDF file (197 KB)

   The guide explains:

   • New directions and goals in Culture | Shift Culture Plan 2019 - 2029
   • Grants and awards guiding principles
   • Operating grant program goals
   • Expectations of an operating organization
   • Eligibility
   • Grant amounts
   • Equitable funding
   • Assessment process
   • Considerations for working with Indigenous artists
   • Recommendation process
   • Terms and conditions of assistance
   • Glossary and additional City resources
2. Contact Cultural Services for referral to a cultural planner by to:
   • Discuss your organization eligibility
   • Receive valuable advice

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