BC Spirit Festivals
The Province is providing $3 million this year to support arts and cultural festivals in more than 150 communities across British Columbia through the 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy. The BC Spirit Festivals program will support festivals in communities during February, the anniversary of the 2010 Games. Spirit festivals will be delivered across B.C. through local arts councils and community partners with the assistance of BC Spirit Committees.
The Spirit of BC Festivals is a province-wide program designed to celebrate B.C.’s arts and cultural communities and rekindle the pride and excitement experienced during the 2010 Games. It’s a chance to bring B.C. artists, cultural organizations, creative industries, communities and the public together in celebration of the unique and vibrant culture that reflects the Spirit of British Columbia.
The program includes community-based celebrations delivered in partnership with the Assembly of BC Arts Councils. The grants are available to assist community, regional and Aboriginal arts organizations with programs that support the vision of the Legacy and the BC Spirit Festivals. Members of the Assembly of BC Arts Councils along with Aboriginal cultural organizations, friendship centres and band councils are all eligible to apply and are encouraged to build local partnerships with community arts organizations and work with professional artists.
Festival programs may include a range of activities such as:
- Visual arts exhibitions and public museum programs including programming off-site.
- Dance, music and theatre productions and presentations.
- Publication projects (print or electronic).
- Media arts projects, including presentations outside public art galleries.
- Other projects that support the Legacy vision.
Grant awards may equal up to 75% of total project budget, however, proposals that demonstrate diversified revenue sources will receive priority. Organizations in communities of fewer than 7,000 people are eligible for up to $10,000. In communities of between 7,000 and 80,000, organizations can receive up to $20,000. Organizations in larger communities, with a population greater than 80,000, are eligible for up to $50,000.
Vancouver and Victoria will be home to Signature Celebrations, coordinated by central organizations to be determined.
Applications for the BC Spirit Festivals program will be accepted August 1 - October 6, 2010. After this initial intake, support may be available for festivals that embody the vision of the BC Spirit Festivals program, and take place throughout 2011.
BC Spirit Festivals media release
BC Spirit Festivals application guidelines
BC Spirit Festivals application form (MS Word / PDF)
Click here to apply online