Live Music

• Applicants must be B.C.-based festivals, venues, event producers, or presenters.
• The applicant must be a B.C.-owned and controlled corporation, registered business, or sole proprietorship with a valid GST number, filing B.C. tax returns. Not-for-profit or charitable organizations with headquarters in B.C. are also eligible.
• New companies and individuals acting as sole proprietors can apply, but need to register their business upon successfully receiving a grant.
• Core business activities must include presenting live music in B.C., or filling a gap in their regional community outside of Metro Vancouver or Victoria’s Capital Regional District.
• Applicants must demonstrate an ongoing and sustained commitment to presenting live music and engagement within the local music community.
• Applicants must assume risk in programming, producing, and promoting live music performances in B.C.
• Previous funding recipients must have submitted all prior Live Music final reports prior to December 31, 2024, to be eligible for future funding through this intake.
• Applicants must be in good standing with Creative BC, with no defaults on prior grants or outstanding amounts owed.
• Ineligible applicants include artists promoting or presenting their own tours or concerts and municipalities, spaces, or events owned or operated by any level of government.

Who is eligible?

• B.C.-based music festivals.
• Venues.
• Concert presenters and promoters.
• B.C.-owned and controlled businesses involved in presenting live music.
• Not-for-profit or charitable organizations with headquarters in B.C.
• New companies and individuals acting as sole proprietors (must register upon receiving a grant).

Who is not eligible

• Artists promoting or presenting their own tours or concerts.
• Municipalities, spaces, or events owned or operated by any level of government.

Eligible expenses

• Programming costs such as artist fees, artist travel, meals, accommodations.
• Production costs such as rental or construction of staging, venue, sound, lighting.
• Labour costs such as hiring event staff, contract workers, skilled technicians.
• Event-related costs such as rental or purchase of fencing, toilets, permits, insurance.
• Sustainable event costs such as eco-friendly power sources, reusable plates and cups, composting toilets, cashless POS systems, water refilling stations.
• Marketing costs such as online advertising, ad placements, banners, signs.
• Health and safety costs such as health and safety plans and protocols, equipment, training.

Eligible geographic areas

• Companies based in British Columbia, Canada.
• Venues or presenters from outside Metro Vancouver or Victoria's Capital Regional District.
• Underrepresented regions of B.C. include Cariboo, Kootenay, Nechako, North Coast, Northeast, Thompson / Okanagan, Vancouver Island and Coast (excluding the Capital Regional District / City of Victoria).

• Idea, Strategy & Approach.
• Company Capacity.
• Performance Opportunities for Artists.
• Economic Impact.
• Justice, Equity, Decolonization, Diversity, and Inclusion.

• The Live Music program supports two funding streams: Presentation and Business Development, each with specific guidelines and application forms available on the Creative BC website.
• Creative BC emphasizes the importance of justice, equity, decolonization, diversity, and inclusion in program delivery.
• Successful applicants will receive an advance payment of 75% upon execution of a funding agreement, with up to the remaining 25% released after the final report is reviewed.
• The review period for complete applications is approximately 14 weeks after the program deadline; applicants will be notified via email.
• Creative BC's Code of Conduct must be adhered to by all applicants and recipients, ensuring a respectful and harassment-free workplace.
• Adoption of environmentally sustainable practices is encouraged, and applicants are asked to minimize waste and pollution.
• The final report deadline for 2023/24 Live Music projects is December 31, 2024.