The Adjudication Process
Fair and equitable treatment – that’s the promise the Council makes to every artist or organization applying for support. To ensure the decision-making process continues to maintain the highest standards, the BC Arts Council uses a peer adjudication system.
It’s a simple system, but one that has proven effective by arts organizations around the world. An advisory committee or jury of up to five members is selected to review all applications in a funding competition. Each competition gets its own, unique review.
Members come from the discipline being reviewed. For example: a jury for dance funding could include professional dancers, dance organization representatives or respected experts in the field. Jury and committee members are nominated by the general public, other artists or arts organizations, and BC Arts Council board members and staff.
A jury or committee meets and carefully reviews every application. In the event of a conflict (for example, if a jury member has a professional working relationship with an applicant), that member is required to leave the room and does not participate in the final funding decision for that applicant.
It’s a careful, detailed and documented process that ensures BC Arts Council funds are distributed fairly and effectively across the province, and that B.C. artists and arts organizations are treated with the respect and attention they deserve.