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BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations
Support for established performing arts organizations
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Funding available
$ 20,000
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Who can apply
Established non-profit arts and culture organizations working in professional dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary, circus arts or comedy
See full eligibility
Overview
Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations provides funding to assist the general operations of established non-profit arts and culture organizations in British Columbia working in professional dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary, circus arts, or comedy. It supports annual artistic programs that include creation, development, production, and public presentation.
Receipt of requests is now closed
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Enhance an existing program
- Improve governance or administrative structure
Eligible Funding
- Minimum amount : 20,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- British Columbia
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 1 employees minimum
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
Target groups
- General public
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 3
Activities funded
- General operations of established non-profit arts and culture organizations working in professional dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary, circus arts or comedy
- Annual artistic programs encompassing creation, development, production, and public presentation
Documents Needed
- Signed financial statements for the two most recent completed fiscal years
- Certified constitution for non-profit societies or statement of the primary purpose for all other applicants
- Current board member list and staff member list
- Up to 5 current planning and policy documents
- Up to 5 links to electronic materials, facility description/floor plan of current location(s), and up to 5 images illustrating your programming or presentations, if applicable
Sources and recorded changes
- Source change captured
- Change recorded
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Operating Assistance guidance updated
The supporting Operating Assistance materials now show expanded 2026/27 guidance, including new application timing, eligibility details, funding guidance, and contact information.
The updated FAQ and 2026/27 program guidelines now show the intake window as July 22 to October 8, 2026, with results expected in late February 2027, and they add new guidance for applicants, including readiness expectations and first-applicant eligibility criteria. The guidelines also now identify a minimum grant amount of $20,000, describe typical request ranges and increase limits, and confirm that current Operating Assistance recipients are not eligible for Accelerate funding while unsuccessful applicants may be considered for it. Contact details for specific program advisors and general program support are now visible in the guidelines, along with updated application and support-material instructions.
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Established non-profit arts and culture organizations working in professional dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary, circus arts or comedy
- Community service co-operatives in B.C.
- Organizations operated by a local government in B.C.
- Organizations operated by a public post-secondary institution in B.C.
Who is not eligible
- Private or for-profit entities
- Member-funded societies
- Social service organizations
- Industrial sites, archaeological sites, heritage sites or historic places, and organizations dedicated to archives
- Arts Activators, non arts focused, Indigenous Community Organizations, Indigenous governments, arts or curatorial collectives, and organizations that solely operate venues or facilities without the primary purpose of artistic production or presentation
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Budget deficits
- Capital expenses, including construction, renovation, or purchases of property or equipment over $2,500
- Start-up costs or seed money
- Feasibility studies
Eligible geographic areas
- B.C.
Selection criteria
- Organizational strength and readiness (30%)
- Community relevance and inclusion (30%)
- Artistic and cultural impact (40%)
- Funding priority may be given to applicants considered part of a designated priority group
How to apply
- Talk with a Program Advisor to confirm eligibility and the correct discipline-specific stream
- New applicants must get set up in CADAC by the end of the day on September 24, 2026
- Update the Organization Profile in the online grant system before starting the application
- Upload all required financial and statistical information to CADAC by the application deadline
- Submit the complete application through the online grant system by 11:59 p.m. PT on Thursday, October 8, 2026
Processing and Agreement
- The BC Arts Council staff reviews each application for eligibility
- Eligible applications are forwarded to an independent peer assessment panel
- Assessors read and score the applications using the assessment criteria below
- The assessment panel discusses, then ranks the applications
- The BC Arts Council informs each applicant of the peer assessment results approximately 16 weeks after the application closing date, applicants may check the status of their application at any time through the online system, and all results are final
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations Program
What is the BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations?
Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations provides funding to assist the general operations of established non-profit arts and culture organizations in British Columbia working in professional dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary, circus arts, or comedy. It supports annual artistic programs that include creation, development, production, and public presentation.
Who is eligible for the BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations program?
To be eligible for the BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations program, you must:
Have received at least three BC Arts Council grants since April 1, 2022, including one Operating Assistance or Project Assistance: Professional Performing Arts Organizations grant
Provide arts and culture programming in B.C. as a primary activity for at least one year before the application closing date
Be registered and in good standing as a non-profit society or community service co-op for at least one fiscal year prior to application
Who can I contact for more information about the BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations?
You can contact British Columbia Arts Council (BCAC) by email at BCArtsCouncil@gov.bc.ca or by phone at 250-356-1718.
Where is the BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations available?
The BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations program is available the province of British Columbia.
Is the BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations a grant, loan, or tax credit?
BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations?
BCAC — Operating Assistance: Performing Arts Organizations is funded by British Columbia Arts Council (BCAC)