Arts-Based Community Development & Leon and Thea Koerner Award

Description

The Arts-Based Community Development (A-BCD) program supports eligible projects that embody arts-based community development (A-BCD) principles, through two categories:

  • Projects where a professional artist (or artists) facilitates and supports the collective creation of new artwork in any discipline by community participants.

or

  • Training of professional artists or community workers in Arts-Based Community Development processes.

The Leon and Thea Koerner Awards (LTK Award) are grants provided by the Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation through a partnership with the BC Arts Council. The LTK Award is given to up to 5 organizations that are recognized for achieving social benefit through excellence and innovation, creating projects that lead to social change or transformation. This aligns with the principles of arts-based community development.

Program Guidelines (PDF)

Application Preview (Word)

Application Checklist  (PDF)

Information Session (YouTube Video)

Review the Program Guidelines to learn about:

  • How to apply
  • Who can apply
  • Eligible projects and expenses
  • Exclusions
  • Grant amounts
  • What is needed for the application, including support material
  • How applications will be assessed

Please review the Program Guidelines before contacting the Program Advisor.

Registration will close at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. This is five business days before the grant deadline. 
If you try to register after this time, you will not be able to apply for this intake. 
Applications are open until 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. 

Professional Artist Information Form (fillable PDF)

Social Service Lead Form (fillable PDF)

Resources

Application Assistance

This program provides funding for support services required to create and submit grant applications, project updates, and final reports for BC Arts Council grants.

Access Support

This program provides additional funding to support access costs associated with a project funded by a BC Arts Council grant.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Grant Management System.

New applicants must register and create a profile in the online system by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 to access grant applications for the Arts-Based Community Development & Leon and Thea Koerner Award Program. Once registered in the system, grant applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. It may take up to 5 business days to process your registration request after we have received all required documents.