Deadline: 02-Oct-2025
The British Columbia Arts Council is pleased to announce its Individual Arts Grants for Creative Writers to support B.C.-based writers and literary artists in the creation of new literary projects for book-length publication or public performance.
Eligible genres include non-fiction, fiction, graphic novels, comic arts, fiction and non-fiction for children, poetry, spoken word, dub and sound poetry, and storytelling.
Applicants must be Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada, reside in British Columbia for at least 12 continuous months prior to applying, and be recognized as independent creative writers working at a professional level. Both Level One and Level Two eligibility streams are available, with Level One requiring at least one eligible book or equivalent published work, and Level Two requiring at least three eligible books or a significant body of recognized work. Self-published authors can also qualify if they meet specific sales thresholds or hold voting membership in recognized professional writers’ associations. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis applicants who do not meet the standard criteria may be eligible if they have received prior support from the First Peoples’ Cultural Council’s Arts Programs.
Grants may cover subsistence costs, materials, equipment purchases up to $2,500, space or equipment rental, professional fees such as editing or sensitivity reading, and travel expenses directly connected to the project. However, the program will not fund publication expenses, marketing, promotion, fundraising activities, commercial projects, or works falling under excluded categories such as textbooks, self-help manuals, or screenplays.
Applicants may request up to $7,500 under Level One and up to $15,000 under Level Two. Successful projects are expected to include fair compensation for artists and collaborators, with payments aligned to industry standards. A complete application must include a project description, timeline, responses on equitable and ethical approaches, detailed expense forms, sample material, a CV, publication history, and letters from collaborators if relevant. Applications are assessed by independent peer panels based on artistic contribution and significance, impact on the applicant and community, and applicant readiness.
For more information, visit BC Arts Council.
