Deadline: 22-Aug-25
The City of Kelowna is delighted to invite applications for its Community Art Grant Program to support projects that engage practicing artists with residents in a collaborative, collective, creative process which results in a temporary work of art.
It is as much about process as it is about the artistic product or outcome. It is a way for the community to engage in with arts in a meaningful and interactive way.
Some of the identifying characteristics of Community Art are:
- It provides a participatory creative experience which is accessible to a broad range of people;
- Fosters community pride, identity and cohesion through a collaborative artistic endeavor;
- It is a way for artists to apply their skills in community development and building cultural and social sustainability; and
- It has a goal to connect people.
Objectives
- The objectives of the Community Art Program are:
- Animate publicly accessible community spaces where arts are not traditionally offered;
- Encourage the creation of publicly accessible, temporary artworks that have artistic merit and community benefit;
- Address community concerns and/or reflects community identity;
- Incorporate the community in some aspect of the program. Simply creating a piece to be viewed by the public or allowing the public to view the creation of the piece is not sufficient community engagement for this program.
Funding Information
- Grants are available for up to 100% of the total project cost, to a maximum of $5,000.
- Duration: Projects must be completed within 12 months of the grant award unless alternate arrangements are made with City staff.
Eligible Activities
- Artist fees (may include fee/hour plus expenses);
- Services (various trades);
- Materials and supplies (consumables such as paint, canvas, glue etc.);
- Costs of setting up a safe venue for art production (insurance, tents, rental fees, permits).
Ineligible Activities
- Activities or products with a political, religious, fundraising or commercial purpose;
- Capital improvements;
- Purchase of property, capital equipment or collections;
- Projects which do not have:
- broad-based community participation;
- the involvement of a local artist.
- Projects which already receive financial or in-kind support from the City of Kelowna (land, money or other support).
Eligibility Criteria
- To participate in this program, applicants must:
- Be a professional or emerging artist or a group or collective of professional practicing or emerging artists, who are eligible to work in Canada;
- Reside in the Central Okanagan (however the project activities being proposed must occur in the City of Kelowna);
- Either solely, or in partnership with others, propose an initiative which is consistent with the guidelines of this program;
- Be committed to carrying out the initiative for the benefit of Kelowna residents without exclusion of anyone by reason of religion, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, language, disability or income;
- Have fulfilled all reporting requirements for any previous grants from the City of Kelowna;
- Have the legal authority to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Kelowna and obtain general liability insurance;
- Have financial management systems in place (e.g. a bank account, proper financial records); and
- Submit a realistic project budget.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Non-profit or charitable organizations who are eligible for the cultural grants program;
- Public or private educational institutions (schools, universities, colleges, training organizations);
- Students or teachers who propose a project leading to academic credit; or
- Organizations, groups or individuals which have outstanding indebtedness to the City of Kelowna or which have not fulfilled reporting requirements for any previous grants from the City of Kelowna.
For more information, visit City of Kelowna.