Cultural Spaces Grant Program

Your organization must be a registered Vancouver-based non-profit society, charitable organization, or non-profit cooperative with a publicly stated culture-first vision, mission, and/or mandate having an independent, active governing body composed of volunteers.

Local First Nations Band Councils and Urban Indigenous non-profit organizations are also eligible to apply.

Organizations we don't fund

We don't fund organizations with a publicly stated primary purpose, vision, mission, or mandate to support:

• Health care
• Education
• Sports
• Recreation
• Religion

Your organization may apply for a Cultural Spaces Grant for:

• Affordable Spaces Grants (up to $50,000) – facility operating costs for organizations that operate space for the express purpose of supporting independent artists and/or arts organizations
• Capital Infrastructure Grants (up to $250,000) – complete capital projects; buy, build, renovate, or expand a cultural facility
• Small Grants (up to $25,000) – funding support for equity-seeking and/or under-represented groups for planning, research, accessibility upgrades, and/or peer-based mentorships that support space planning
• Critical Assistance Grants (up to $25,000) for urgent building life-safety upgrades and/or urgent replacement/repair
  • Applicants to the Critical Assistance Grant may complete an application at any time, regardless of deadline dates. Contact planners directly.

Funding we don't supply

Cultural Spaces funding cannot pay for:

• Equipment that is presentation or exhibition-related, including, but not limited to:
  • Non-integral portable lighting/audio/visual systems/equipment
  • Tents
  • Heaters
  • Potter wheels
  • Computer or communication systems
  • Furniture
  • Appliances
• Regular or routine repair and maintenance, or part of ongoing, day-to-day operations, except for Affordable Spaces funding. Review more details in the guidelines located in the resources section.
• Any work that is already underway or completed prior to the application deadline. However, in the context of Affordable Spaces grants, funding support may be considered for space operation deficits that exist prior to application deadlines.
• Strategic planning, capital campaigns, fundraising, or marketing activities
• Operations or administration items such as: moving expenses, tools, non-space related training, computer software, food, and beverages
• Projects not located in Vancouver

• Spring 2021 program guidelines PDF file (843 KB) (These will be revised and updated for the fall 2021 Small Grant intake.)
• Culture|Shift
• Making Space for Arts and Culture
• Available Funding Programs For Cultural Organizations PDF file (120 KB)
• Final report template Excel file (31 KB)