Cultural space grants

Steps to apply for cultural space grants

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• Step 1: Review grant types and funding

  Capital grants

  Review the 2026 Capital Grants Information Guide PDF file (480 KB)

  A. Small Grants for Cultural Spaces

  Grants up to $25,000 to provide capital building-based funding for:

  • Space planning and research
  • Building improvements and accessibility upgrades
  • Mentorships between organizations or between organizations and professionals to support planning, knowledge sharing, and capacity building related to cultural space

  B. Cultural Infrastructure Grants (CIG)

  Matching grants up to $250,000 for capital building-based projects, including:

  • Space planning and research
  • Acquisition (purchase), construction, renovation, or expansion of an arts and cultural facility

  C. Critical Assistance Capital Grants

  Review Appendix C of Council Report 17703 PDF file (351 KB)

  Grants up to $25,000 to support urgent building life-safety upgrades and other critical time-sensitive support for cultural spaces, including:

  • Unforeseen and urgent replacement, repairs, or life-safety capital infrastructure projects
  • Building code consultation for time-sensitive projects
  • Assistance with permit fee costs

  Permit fee assistance for Critical Assistance Capital Grants

  Permit fee assistance may be available for renovation, construction, or change-of-use permits for secured (owned or leased) cultural spaces, with landlord approval.

  Permit fee costs must not already be supported by an approved Cultural Infrastructure Grant or Small Grant for Cultural Spaces project.

  Find more information about when you need a permit and documentation checklists for submitting permit applications.

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  Cultural Operating Funding – Spaces (COF-S) grants

  Information icon Formerly Affordable Spaces Grants.

  Review the 2027 Cultural Operating Funding - Spaces Information Guide PDF file (320 KB) 

  Grants up to $40,000 to support facility operating costs for organizations that operate spaces primarily to support independent artists, arts organizations, or both.

• Step 2: Check your eligibility

  Who can apply for cultural space grants

  Cultural space grant programs may be available to organizations that:

  • Are based in Vancouver (within city limits)
  • Are provincially registered non-profit societies or cooperatives in good standing External website, opens in new tab, or federally registered charitable organizations
  • Have a publicly stated culture-first vision, mission, or mandate
  • Have an independent, active governing body composed of volunteers

  We strongly encourage applications from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səlilwətaɬ, and urban Indigenous non-profit organizations.

  Organizations we don't fund

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

  • Child care
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Health care
  • Recreation
  • Religion
  • Social services
  • Sports

  Non-profit organizations providing these other services may be eligible for community grants.  

  Projects and expenses we don't fund

  We generally do not provide cultural space grants for:

  • Organizations that do not have arts and cultural mandates, whose activities do not meet the Cultural Spaces Program priorities and eligibility criteria, or whose activities do not align with the Making Space for Arts and Culture directions of Reconciliation and decolonization, cultural equity and accessibility, and securing affordable, accessible, and safe cultural spaces.
  • Projects or items that would normally be covered by the landlord under current lease terms.
  • Any work that is already underway or completed before the application deadline. For Critical Assistance applications, we may consider funding support for work already underway to address life-safety issues.
  • Legal costs for Critical Assistance Grant projects.
  • Equipment purchase, repair, or replacement, including display, presentation, or exhibition equipment, portable or temporary lighting, audio, visual, or power systems, heaters, tents, pottery wheels, computer or communication systems, furniture, or appliances.
  • Projects considered regular or routine repair and maintenance or part of ongoing day-to-day operations.
  • Residential housing or home-based businesses.
  • Strategic planning, capital campaigns, fundraising, or marketing activities. Review Cultural Grants Program
  • Programming, including artistic research or creation. Review arts and culture grants
  • Operations or administrative items such as day-to-day staffing costs, moving expenses, storage costs, tools, non-space-related training, computer software, food and beverages (unless part of community engagement for a space planning project).
  • Organizations with 3 or more open capital grants for incomplete projects.

• Step 3: Review upcoming application dates

  Cultural Operating Funding – Spaces (COF-S) grants

  Description	Date
  Planners available for meetings to determine eligibility	November 2026
  Applications open in VanApply	November 2, 2026
  Application deadline	December 10, 2026
  Application assessment period	January to February 2027
  Council approval of recommendations	April 2027

  Cultural Infrastructure Grants and Cultural Spaces Small Grants

  Description	Date
  Statement of Intent opens in VanApply (required pre-application project eligibility check)	January 6, 2027
  Applications open in VanApply	January 13, 2027
  Statement of Intent deadline	February 11, 2027
  Application deadline	March 4, 2027
  Council approval of recommendations	Late May or early June 2027

  Critical Assistance Capital Grants

  Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funding is fully allocated.

  A new intake for 2027 will begin in January 2027.

• Step 4: Apply for a cultural space grant

  Cultural Operating Funding – Spaces (COF-S) grants

  Review the 2027 Cultural Operating Funding – Spaces Information Guide PDF file (320 KB)

  To apply:

  1. Contact the cultural planner to confirm eligibility.
  2. Prepare your facility operating budget, financial statements, lease agreement, and other required documents listed in the guide.
  3. Complete your application through VanApply.
  4. Upload your supporting documents and submit your application by the deadline.

  Application deadline: December 10, 2026

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  Capital grants

  Review the 2026 Capital Grants Information Guide PDF file (480 KB)

  To apply for a Cultural Infrastructure Grant or Small Grant for Cultural Spaces:

  1. Contact the cultural planner to discuss your project and confirm eligibility.
  2. Submit an Expression of Interest through VanApply by February 11, 2027.
  3. If your project is eligible, prepare your project budget, timeline, contractor quotes and other required documents listed in the guide. Cultural Infrastructure Grants also require an organizational operating budget.
  4. Complete and submit your full application through VanApply by March 4, 2027.

  • Expression of Interest deadline: February 11, 2027
  • Application deadline: March 4, 2027

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  Critical Assistance Capital Grants

  Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funding is fully allocated. A new intake begins in January 2027.

  Review Appendix C of Council Report 17703 PDF file (351 KB) for grant eligibility and funding requirements.

  To apply:

  1. Contact the cultural planner to discuss your urgent project needs and confirm eligibility.
  2. Prepare information about the urgent work, project costs, and supporting documents.
  3. Complete your application after consulting with the cultural planner.

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• Cultural space resources

  • 2026 Capital Grants Information Guide PDF file (509 KB), including glossary of terms
  • 2027 Cultural Operating Funding - Spaces Information Guide PDF file (320 KB), including glossary of terms
  • Culture|Shift
  • Making Space for Arts and Culture, Vancouver’s 10-year Cultural Infrastructure Plan
  • Capital Projects Planning Cycle PDF file (172 KB)
  • When you need a permit
  • Arts and culture event licence
  • Zoning and Development By-law 3575 
  • Available Capital Funding Programs PDF file (228 KB)
  • Sample Financial Statements PDF file (53 KB)
  • Final Report Template Excel file (37 KB) for projects funded before 2022, otherwise, find this in your VanApply account

• Grant recipients

  Review previous recipients of Vancouver's cultural spaces grants: who received grants, how much the grant was, and what the grant will be used for.

  • 2026 Council Report PDF file (404 KB)
  • 2025 Council Report PDF file (384 KB)
  • 2024 Council Report PDF file (385 KB)
  • 2023 Spring Grant Recipient Intake PDF file (460 KB)
  • 2022 Fall Grant Recipient Intake PDF file (241 KB)