Festival Investment Grant Program (Canada)

Deadline: 30-Dec-22

The City of Victoria is currently seeking applications for its Festivals & Festival Investment Grant Program to provide support to festivals and celebrations in the City of Victoria.

Streams

The program is comprised of five funding streams.
- Community Celebration Grants
  - The purpose of this funding stream is to assist community celebrations with the production of one-day celebratory events within the City of Victoria. These events are often run and organized by volunteer non-profit boards and involve a broad base of support from the local community.
- New Festival Grants
  - The purpose of the New Festival Grant stream is to provide support to new multi-day events in their first year of production and stability through the developmental years (2 – 5 years). Applicants are required to provide evidence of diversified revenue streams, , audience identification, a marketing plan and a detailed budget and articulate the expected impacts of the new festival.
- Established Festival Grants
  - The purpose is to provide financial assistance to established festivals to produce a multi-day event in the City of Victoria. Applicants must have a demonstrated consistent track record of achievement for a five year period. Organizations must have a solid organizational structure, long-term financial stability and an artistically produced program.
- Signature Festival Grants
  - The purpose of the Signature Festival Grant stream is to showcase the City as a great place to live, work, play, and do business. The term “Signature Festival” is used to describe a note-worthy event that is free and open to the public, and which generates 15,000 + visitors each day. Festivals and events that create jobs, attract tourists, stimulate local economies and provide entertaining activities for citizens across the Capital Region would be suitable applicants to this funding stream.
- Canada Day Celebrations Grants
  - The pilot Canada Day grant stream will provide opportunities for a wide range of community-led programming on Canada Day in Victoria’s neighborhoods and cultural communities. Not-for-profit organizations can apply for up to $50,000 for a large-scale community-wide celebration. $25,000 will be available to fund several smaller scale community celebrations.

Funding Information

Festival Investment Grant Stream: The Festival Investment Grant stream, including Community Celebration Grants, New and Established Festival Grants and Signature Festival grants have a proposed budget of more than $320,000 for 2023.
Canada Day Grant Stream: The pilot Canada Day stream will have a dedicated funding pot of $75,000. Not-for-profit organizations can apply for up to $50,000 for a large-scale community-wide celebration, and $25,000 will be available for smaller scale community celebrations.

Eligibility Criteria

The City of Victoria receives many requests for funding therefore allocation of funding is competitive.
To be eligible:
- FESTIVALS must meet the definition of a festival:
  - A series of theme related events, predominately arts and cultural in nature, held annually for two or more consecutive days, possessing city-wide and regional appeal and produced by a registered nonprofit society.
- CELEBRATIONS must fit the definition of a celebration:
  - An arts and cultural event organized for the purpose of building and celebrating a sense of community in response to a desire that is best addressed through celebration. These events are sponsored and organized by a registered non-profit society and possess city wide appeal.
Festivals and Celebrations must also:
- Occur primarily outside in a public space within the boundaries of the City of Victoria. Indoor events that occur between November 1 – March 31 will be considered.
- The applicant organization must be a not-for-profit society in good standing with the Registrar of Companies.
- Offer a unique experience not duplicated by other organizations and their activities.
- Be supported by budgets which are distinct from regular operating budgets of lead organizations.
- Prominently feature art, cultural and/or heritage content.
- Be free admission events or events with a free component open to the public.
- Have followed the application process guidelines and met the required timelines.
- The applicants must demonstrate need for financial assistance.
- The proposed budget must demonstrate significant support from other sources other than the City of Victoria.
- Canada Day Celebration Grants must take place on Canada Day.