Deadline: 1-Dec-21
The City of Vancouver has announced 2022 Cultural Operating Funding – Annual (COFA) for Vancouver-based, professional non-profit arts, cultural and creative organizations that have a mission to develop, create, produce, present and disseminate artistic work or provide professional services* or space** for the benefit of the local arts and culture sector, in any artistic discipline.
For Example: Indigenous arts and culture, community arts, dance, interdisciplinary, literary, media, multidisciplinary, museums/heritage, music, theatre, visual arts.
Goals
This program aims to leverage the collective community efforts of Vancouver’s arts and culture sector to:
- Provide opportunities where artists and cultural workers have the freedom, agency and space to create and share their stories.
- Ensure meaningful and broad public participation and access to a range of programs and services for the greater understanding of Vancouver’s dynamic cultural landscape.
- Provide consistent support for the impactful delivery of professional programming, space, services and activities that advance creative disciplines and services, and contribute to the visibility of the cultural diversity of Vancouver.
- Support the livelihood of local artists and cultural workers.
- Support healthy leadership practices and ensure leadership pathways in service to the sector.
- Create a more equitable, vibrant, collaborative and sustainable arts and culture sector.
Notes
- *Professional Services – the delivery of services or resources in support of artists and arts organizations in the areas of research, information, professional development, networking, administration, audience development, legal advice, or marketing and communications.
- **Professional Space – the provision and operation of facilities for professional artists and arts organizations adequately zoned and equipped (box office, technical support) for public assembly, performance, rehearsal, meetings, etc.
Funding Information
- Grants will not exceed 50% of an applicant’s current revenues. Grants generally range from $15,000 – $150,000.
Eligibility Criteria
In an effort to achieve more equity in operating grants funding, groups with explicit commitments to equity in their mission, programs, practices, and people, will be prioritized for invitation to this program. To be considered for this program, organizations will:
- Have an existing funding relationship with City of Vancouver and have received strong community endorsement through prior community peer assessments
- Have participated in a pre-review process to confirm alignment (generally between May – October) Requests are considered on a case by case basis and groups are asked to provide more information on:
- Alignment with and advancing goals of the City’s Culture Plan: Culture|Shift
- Commitments to equity in mission, programs, practice, and people
- Contribution to the diversity of creative stories of Vancouver through ongoing body of work or services and public demand
- Operational structure and financial management and need for core support
- Have a clear mission and history of consistent annual delivery of arts and cultural programs, or services in support of the mission for at least three years
- Be physically located, have an active presence, and deliver programs and services within Vancouver, or if led by Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh Nation members, held in their unceded traditional homelands
- Have paid professional and experienced leadership (either full-time or part-time staff members) in artistic or administrative roles
- Provide a healthy workplace for staff and volunteers through policies and practices meeting minimum industry standards (examples: WorkSafe BC, BC Human Rights Code)
- Provide equitable access to a diverse public in practice and policy with accessibility plans
- Have growing and diverse financial resources and practices and independently-prepared financial statements (ideally a review engagement)
- Compensate professional artists at minimum standard industry rates
For more information, visit https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/cultural-grants-program.aspx#cofa