Operating Assistance: Community Arts Organizations

  • Program Type
    Operating Assistance
  • Application Deadline
    September 15, 2022
  • Application Type
    Organizations
  • Fields of Practice
    Community Arts

Description

Operating Assistance: Community Arts Organizations provides funding to assist the general operations of established community-based non-profit arts organizations working in community engaged arts through a range of artistic and cultural programming. The program is intended for organizations that sustain an annual community-based artistic program encompassing creation activities, organizational / artistic / cultural development, production, dissemination, exhibition and public presentation.

Program Update: Operating Assistance extension 

Updated August 2025

The Operating Assistance program is not open to new applicants in 2025/26.

For existing operating client’s information is detailed below. Updates for all existing operating clients are due October 1, 2025. Interim Applications, required only for clients on Concerned Status, are due October 1, 2025.

The BC Arts Council extended the Operating Assistance program for 2024 and 2025. The extension of the program covers the 2024/25 and 2025/26 government fiscal years. The intention of this extension is to provide stability for Operating Assistance recipients, allowing organizations to focus capacity and resources where they are needed most.

Key information:

  • Community Arts Operating Assistance grants in 2025/26 for current recipients will be based on three components:
    • Basic Assistance: Organizations will receive the same amount of Basic Assistance funding as was received last year.
    • Local Matching Funds: The Local Matching Funds form will be reviewed to confirm eligibility. The amount will not be updated this year. Organizations will receive Local Matching Funds in the same amount as last .
      • The Local Matching Fund Form must be completed and submitted by all current Community Arts Operating Assistance recipients. Find the form with more details below.
  • Capacity and Program Development: Organizations will receive Capacity and program Development funds in the same amount as last year.
      • The Capacity and Program Development component is normally a competitive grant separate from base operating funding levels. Neither the funding level nor future grants are guaranteed from one year to the next. During the extension of Operating Assistance, the Capacity and Program Development funds have been disbursed among all community organizations based on a formula.
  • There is no opportunity to request increased base funding during the extension of the Operating Assistance program.
  • Current Operating Assistance recipients must provide key updates to access funding.
  • Details about 2025/26 processes and requirements are in the Operating Assistance Community Arts Overview 2025/26 document below.

Operating Assistance Community Arts Overview 2025/26:
The Operating Assistance Community Arts Overview 2025/26 provides detailed information and instructions for current recipients in the community arts program on the processes and submission requirements for 2025/26.

August 2025 Operating Assistance Community Arts Overview 2025/26 (PDF)

Local Matching Funds Form 2025/26:
In 2025/26 current Community Arts recipients of Operating Assistance must complete a form detailing support received from local or regional government sources.

  • To maintain a record of the ongoing relationships with organizations and local or regional governments, the Local Matching Funds Form will be required for 2025 (in the 2025/26 government fiscal year) during the extension of the Operating Assistance program.
  • The amount of financial support from eligible local sources reported on the form must reflect the amount reported on financial statements.

August 2025 Local Matching Funds Form 2025/26 (PDF) 

Past program guidelines:
NOTE: Past program guidelines are for reference only. Please refer to the Operating Assistance Community Arts Overview 2025/26 document for the most up-to-date information for 2025/26 processes and requirements. 

September 2022 Assistance: Community Arts Organizations Program Guidelines  (PDF) 

This information is only for current Operating Assistance organizations.

How to Apply

The Operating Assistance program supports organizations’ operations over multiple years. The next opportunity to apply for Operating Assistance is anticipated for fall 2026.

Current Operating Assistance recipients must provide key updates and all submissions detailed in the Overview document through the Grant Management System.

Local Matching Funds Form: current Operating Assistance recipients must submit this form. Details for the submission process are provided within the form and the Overview document.