Funding
BCAC Funding
The BCAC provides grants to B.C. based individual artists, arts professionals, collectives, and organizations.
There are three main types of grant programs:
Individual arts awards – project-based grants for artists, including young and pre-professional artists in all disciplines.
Project assistance grants – project-based grants for specific initiatives by individuals, collectives and organizations.
Operating assistance grants – ongoing support for B.C.-based, not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations and for-profit book publishers.
These grants support a wide range of arts activities, including creation, production, presentation, training, and professional development. The funding programs can be viewed as a list or searched using a number of criteria to help you discover quickly which grants you may be eligible for.
Partnerships
The BCAC also provides a number of funding programs that are administered through partnerships.
Indigenous Arts and Culture Programs
The BC Arts Council supports the artistic development of Indigenous artists and organizations across British Columbia. Over the years, the BC Arts Council has developed a partnership with First Peoples’ Cultural Council. Indigenous applicants are welcome to apply to programs delivered directly by the BC Arts Council; they also have access to dedicated programs funded by the BC Arts Council and delivered by First Peoples’ Cultural Council, including:
Arts Administrator Internships and Mentorships (Indigenous Arts Program)
Arts Micro-Grants (Indigenous Arts Program)
Community Land-Based Arts (Indigenous Arts Program)
Individual Artists (Indigenous Arts Program)
Sharing Traditional Arts Across Generations (Indigenous Arts Program)
Organizations and Collectives (Indigenous Arts Program)
Arts in Education Programs
The arts enhance creative thinking, accelerate cognitive development, and activate learning potential. The BC Arts Council supports professional artists to work with students in grades K-12 through its partnership with ArtStarts in Schools. The following programs are funded by the BC Arts Council and administered by ArtStarts in Schools:
Touring & Presenting Programs
Opportunities for touring, presenting and training benefit both artists and communities. The BC Arts Council provides funding to pay professional fees for touring artists and supports audience and community development for community and professional presenters province wide. Funding is also provided by BCAC to build creative skills and capacity to emerging artists and performing arts associates through its partnership with the BC Touring Council. The following programs are funded by the BC Arts Council in partnership with the BC Touring Council:
Community Presenters Assistance Program
Aspiring Emerging Associates Program
Digital Media Program
Digital disruption and transformation continues to reshape the way we access and consume media. The BC Arts Council supports digital media through its partnership with creativeBC. The following program is funded by the BC Arts Council and delivered by creativeBC.
Other Funding
There are a number of other programs offered by the government of British Columbia that support arts and culture in the province. The BC Alliance for Arts and Culture also offers a useful list and search tool for arts and culture funding from a variety of sources.