Closed
Source verified June 18, 2026
BCAC — Access Support
Accessibility funding for BC Arts Council projects
Funding available
$ 7,500
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Who can apply
Individual artists or arts and culture practitioners who are Deaf or experiencing disability
See full eligibility
Overview
BC Arts Council Access Support provides additional funding for accessibility needs linked to an associated BC Arts Council project. It is available to Deaf applicants, applicants with disabilities, collectives, and organizations supporting disability-focused practitioners in British Columbia.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Enhance an existing program
- Strengthen organizational capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 7,500 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- British Columbia
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Accessibility support for carrying out a BC Arts Council-funded project
- Project-related access services and supports for Deaf applicants or applicants with disabilities
Documents Needed
- Description of the barriers encountered
- Description of the supports and solutions needed
- Budget for the requested access support
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Individual artists or arts and culture practitioners who are Deaf or experiencing disability
- Collectives led by artists or arts and culture practitioners who are Deaf or experiencing disability
- Organizations that primarily support practitioners who are Deaf or have a disability
Who is not eligible
- Applicants for Operating Assistance
- Applicants for the Accelerate Pilot Program
- Applicants for scholarship applications
Eligible expenses
- Sign language interpretation and captioning/CART services
- Support workers, assistants, transcribers, and visual describers
- Rental of specialized equipment
- Accessible transportation and travel for service providers
- Accessibility software or app subscriptions
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Artist fees or production costs
- Accessibility for audiences, staff, or volunteers
- Travel costs or per diems not tied to service providers
- Capital costs or equipment purchases
- Day-to-day living supports outside the project scope
Eligible geographic areas
- British Columbia
Selection criteria
- Appropriate budget
- Direct connection to the activities in the associated grant
How to apply
- Step 1: Contact the Accessibility Coordinator
- Discuss the request and the access supports required.
- Step 2: Prepare the request
- Describe the barriers encountered.
- Describe the supports and solutions needed.
- Prepare an appropriate budget.
- Step 3: Submit in GMS
- Include the request in the associated grant application in the online Grant Management System.
- You may also submit the request after receiving approval for the associated grant, within the allowed timeframe.
Processing and Agreement
- Requests are reviewed by an internal BC Arts Council committee led by the Accessibility Coordinator.
- Applications are assessed based on the appropriateness of the budget.
- Applications are assessed based on how directly the support is tied to project activities.
- Applicants are notified either with the associated grant results or within six weeks after a retroactive request is submitted.
- Recipients must submit a brief summary in the final report of the associated grant.
Additional information
- The program is not a stand-alone funding stream and must be requested with an associated BC Arts Council grant or after approval of one.
- Access Support requests are reviewed internally by BC Arts Council staff led by the Accessibility Coordinator.
- Recipients must include a brief summary of Access Support in the final report for the associated grant.
- Access Support payments are issued after approval and are subject to government authorization.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the BCAC — Access Support Program
What is the BCAC — Access Support?
BC Arts Council Access Support provides additional funding for accessibility needs linked to an associated BC Arts Council project. It is available to Deaf applicants, applicants with disabilities, collectives, and organizations supporting disability-focused practitioners in British Columbia.
How much funding can be received?
BCAC — Access Support Funds up to $7,500 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the BCAC — Access Support program?
To be eligible for the BCAC — Access Support program, you must:
Must link to a BC Arts Council grant.
Must use GMS registration.
Must support project accessibility needs.
What expenses are eligible under BCAC — Access Support?
Accessibility support for carrying out a BC Arts Council-funded project
Project-related access services and supports for Deaf applicants or applicants with disabilities
Who can I contact for more information about the BCAC — Access Support?
You can contact British Columbia Arts Council (BCAC) by email at Clayton.Baraniuk@gov.bc.ca or by phone at 250-978-9839.
Where is the BCAC — Access Support available?
The BCAC — Access Support program is available the province of British Columbia.
Is the BCAC — Access Support a grant, loan, or tax credit?
BCAC — Access Support is a Other Support