How much funding can be received?

The Arts Circulation and Touring grant program by the BC Arts Council aims to support arts and culture organizations, collectives, and individual practitioners in circulating and touring artistic works within British Columbia, nationally, and internationally. Eligible activities include outbound tours, inbound hosting and presentation of artistic works from various regions, and digitization or translation of works to increase accessibility and reach. The grants offer financial assistance primarily to enhance professional opportunities and exposure for B.C. artists and organizations.

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This grant is available to companies and organizations operating within specific areas as outlined by the BC Arts Council, primarily focusing on those situated within British Columbia. The eligible geographical locations align with strategic investment priorities for the region.

Organizations and collectives based in British Columbia.
Projects involving entities located at least 80 km away within or outside of British Columbia, depending on the activity category.
Areas outside greater Vancouver or the capital region for designated priority groups.

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Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's organizational status, commitment to arts and culture, and operational practices.

The applicant must be an arts and culture organization registered and in good standing as a non-profit society or community service co-op in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application.
The organization must have the majority of key staff (paid or volunteer) and board members based in B.C.
Creative control and decision-making for programming and engagement must be primarily maintained within the organization and by leadership based in B.C.
The applicant must have a purpose or mandate dedicated to arts and culture programming and activities or services to the arts and culture sector in B.C.
Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) community organizations and governments in B.C. that offer regular arts and culture activities are eligible.
Professional arts and culture organizations operated by a local government or a public post-secondary institution in B.C., fulfilling certain operational criteria, can apply.
Book publishers must meet eligibility requirements for specific BC Arts Council programs.
An eligible organization must provide public arts and cultural programming or service to the arts and culture sector in B.C. as a primary activity.
Applicants are required to engage skilled artistic, curatorial, and administrative leadership and compensate artists and cultural practitioners fairly.
Applicants must follow international intellectual property rights standards and cultural ownership protocols.
Applicants must adhere to the Criminal Records Review Act for team members.
All previous BC Arts Council grant final reports must be submitted on time for eligibility.

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The grant application is open to arts and culture organizations, collectives, and individuals focusing on circulation and touring activities both within British Columbia and outside of the province. Eligibility is determined based on specific guidelines related to the type of applicant (organizations or collectives) and the nature of the project.

Organizations must be arts and culture entities registered as non-profits or Indigenous community organizations.
Organizations must have a purpose dedicated to arts and culture programming and have been operational for at least one fiscal year prior to application.
Collectives must be established as a group of independent artists or cultural practitioners with a minimum of three individuals.
Organizations run by local or Indigenous governments, or post-secondary institutions, with professional arts programming are eligible.
Designated priority groups, including Indigenous, Deaf, Disabled, Black, and people of color, as well as those located outside major urban centers, receive funding prioritization.

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This grant excludes certain companies and industries due to their profit-driven nature and non-artistic focus. The restrictions are set to prioritize non-profit organizations and those primarily engaged in arts and cultural activities.

Private or for-profit entities (except in the case of for-profit book publishing companies).
Member-funded societies.
Industrial, archaeological, or heritage sites, historic places or organizations dedicated to archives.
Virtual museums.
Museums with only temporary exhibitions.
Social service organizations.
Organizations primarily engaged in creative industries or commercial sectors, such as architecture, commercial fashion design, commercial film and television, culinary arts, games, sports, recreation, mass media, journalism, podcasts, graphic design.
Projects with a primary focus on art therapy, health, or therapeutic outcomes.
Entities already funded through other BC Arts Council grant programs or third-party delivery partners, such as ArtStarts, First Peoples’ Cultural Council, BC Touring Council, or Creative BC.

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This grant supports the circulation and touring of artistic works, both inbound and outbound, as well as digitization and translation initiatives. Eligible projects include touring performances, hosting engagements, and expanding access to artistic content.

Outbound circulation and touring of artistic and cultural works to venues inside or outside of British Columbia.
Participation in events for promoting, planning, or developing networks for future touring opportunities.
Hosting artistic and cultural performances, exhibitions, or works from artists outside the applicant's local proximity.
Digitization of artistic works to enhance their dissemination and accessibility to broader audiences.
Translation of literary or dramatic works to engage new communities or audiences through publication or presentation.

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The grant covers specific expenses directly related to the execution and promotion of circulation and touring activities and the digitization and translation of artistic works.

Artist fees and compensation for eligible activities.
Travel costs for outbound circulation and touring outside the applicant’s home base.
Accommodation expenses related to the project.
Participation fees in promotional or networking events.
Costs for hosting, presenting, and circulating inbound activities.
Professional fees for digitization and translation of artistic works.
Editing costs related to digitization and translation projects.
In-kind contributions related to travel, accommodations, or other project benefits.

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The evaluation and selection of projects for the Arts Circulation and Touring grant are based on specific criteria with allocated point scores to ensure alignment with the program’s objectives.

Artistic and Cultural Contribution and Engagement (50%): This includes the relevance of the project to the communities served, its contribution to the art form’s development, level of artistry and risk, strategies for engaging new audiences, and effective representation and cultural practices.
Impact on the Community and the Arts Sector (30%): This considers the potential short and long-term impacts, ethical approaches, contribution to under-represented communities, and accessibility measures.
Feasibility (20%): This evaluates the achievability based on sound budgets, experience in successfully realizing similar projects, leadership roles, and resource planning including fair compensation practices.

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Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:

Step 1: Eligibility Check and Registration
- Review the program guidelines and ensure your organization or collective meets the eligibility criteria.
- Contact a Program Advisor to discuss eligibility if needed.
- New applicants: Register and create a profile in the BC Arts Council online system.
- Existing applicants: Update your online Organization Profile, including contact details and board/staff information.
Step 2: Prepare Your Application
- Draft your project description, including rationale, objectives, outcomes, and a timeline or work plan.
- Complete the Project Team Table with biographies and roles.
- Prepare a balanced and detailed Project Budget Table, including notes and indicating confirmed or pending revenues.
- Compile required support materials specific to your project category, such as letters of confirmation/engagement and examples of work.
Step 3: Complete Application Forms
- Access the online application through the BC Arts Council portal.
- Enter all project details and upload required documents and supporting materials.
- Complete the Designated Priority Groups and Equity Data Tool sections if applicable for funding prioritization.
Step 4: Review and Submit Application
- Proofread the entire application and ensure all fields and uploads are complete.
- Submit your application by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date.
- Plan to submit at least two days early to account for any technical issues.
Step 5: Post-Submission Actions
- Ensure your email includes NoReply@BCArtsCouncil.ca as a safe sender to receive notification results.
- Update mailing address in your profile to receive grant payment if awarded.
- Contact a Program Advisor for feedback on the assessment after receiving results.

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The Arts Circulation and Touring grant program focuses on enhancing the professional and artistic opportunities for B.C. artists and arts organizations through regional, national, and international exposure. Eligible activities must start after application submission, and applicants should engage with Program Advisors to ensure the proposed project aligns with the program's objectives and requirements.

Applications are accepted until 11:59 p.m. on the closing date.
Applicants can receive only one Art Circulation and Touring grant per BC Arts Council fiscal year.
Eligible projects must include fair payment to artists and cultural practitioners, aligned with industry standards.
Outcome notifications will be sent roughly 16 weeks after the submission deadline.
Communication results are sent through the online system, and applicants should add NoReply@BCArtsCouncil.ca to their safe senders list.
Support is available only for projects that exceed 80 km from the applicant's home base.

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(250) 356-1718

Apply to this program

Supporting Artistic Exchange and Exposure with the Arts Circulation and Touring Grant

This program provides funding to arts organizations to support the circulation and touring of arts and cultural works both within and beyond British Columbia. It seeks to enhance the professional and artistic opportunities for B.C. artists, contributing to greater regional, national, and international exposure.

Detailed Overview of the Arts Circulation and Touring Grant Program

The Arts Circulation and Touring Grant, managed by the BC Arts Council, is a crucial initiative supporting the proliferation and exchange of arts and culture across multiple stages and venues. It specifically focuses on promoting works from British Columbia's diverse artistic communities to broader audiences within and beyond Canada's borders. The program is finely attuned to addressing the needs of arts organizations and collectives, ensuring that B.C.'s vibrant cultural output reaches a wide spectrum of audiences, enriching the cultural landscape both regionally and internationally.

This grant is structured into three distinct categories: Outbound Activity, Inbound Activity, and Digitization and Translations - PILOT. Each category is strategically designed to address different aspects of art circulation. Outbound activity focuses on supporting artists and organizations in touring their works, giving them a platform to showcase their artistry at venues both within Canada and internationally. This not only provides artists with significant exposure but also nurtures professional growth by facilitating engagement with different artistic communities and audiences around the globe.

Inbound Activity, on the other hand, centers on the presentation and hosting of works created externally to the applicant’s locale, allowing local audiences to benefit from diverse artistic inputs and interactions. This category enhances cultural exchanges and provides fresh and diverse artistic experiences to local communities, fostering a dynamic cultural dialogue within the B.C. arts scene. It also plays a pivotal role in enriching local artistic practices through exposure to varied artistic perspectives and methodologies.

The third category, Digitization and Translations - PILOT, is an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing accessibility and dissemination of artistic works. By supporting the digitization and translation of works, it ensures that artistic content can reach broader audiences digitally, breaking down geographical and linguistic barriers. This effort is particularly significant in today’s digitally-driven world, ensuring that art and culture remain accessible and widely available to diverse communities. It further facilitates artists in reaching out to new international markets, thereby amplifying their impact and outreach.

The maximum grant request amount is $25,000, with funding available to cover a substantial portion of a project’s eligible budget—up to 50%, or 65% for organizations designated as priority groups. This structured financial support is a critical resource for B.C. artists and organizations, enabling them to undertake ambitious projects that might otherwise be financially untenable. The emphasis on providing fair compensation to artists and project participants underscores the program's commitment to supporting a sustainable arts ecology.

Furthermore, the BC Arts Council administers this program with a strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation. Designated priority groups, which include Indigenous peoples, those who are Black or people of color, individuals living with disabilities, and organizations located outside the Greater Vancouver or capital region, are recognized and supported through prioritization measures in funding allocation. This alignment with equitable practices ensures that historically underrepresented groups receive the attention and resources necessary to thrive within the arts sector.

Eligible applicants are encouraged to submit detailed proposals that demonstrate not only the artistic merit and feasibility of their projects but also their potential impact on both local and broader artistic communities. The program's rigorous application and assessment process aims to identify projects with strong potential to contribute meaningally to artistic dialogues and community engagement within the provinces’ rich arts landscape.

Overall, the Arts Circulation and Touring Grant is more than just a funding opportunity—it's a catalyst for cultural growth, exchange, and development that acknowledges the importance of fostering artistic collaboration across geographical and cultural boundaries. This grant enables B.C.’s artists and cultural practitioners to push boundaries, engage with international audiences, and bring diverse artistic expressions to light, reinforcing the cultural vibrancy and artistic integrity of the region.