Opening Soon
Source verified July 31, 2026
Live Music
Supports live music capacity building across BC
Funding available
$ 2,000 - $ 50,000
Deadline
October 7, 2026
Opened August 26, 2026
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Overview
The Live Music program supports B.C.-based live music presenters through two streams, offering $2,000 to $50,000 per applicant company and funding up to 50% of eligible expenses. It supports live music events and business development activities that strengthen capacity, sustainability, audience opportunities, and music tourism across B.C.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Minimum amount : 2,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- British Columbia
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Startups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- LGBTQ+ community
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Artists / creatives
- Nonprofits / charities
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Regional
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Music festivals.
- Concert series.
- Year-round programming.
- One-off live music events.
Documents Needed
- Online application form.
- Budget (template provided), including all other sources of financing and whether they are confirmed.
- Certificate of Incorporation, Business Statement of Registration, Society Certificate, or GST number.
- Completed Creative BC Self-Identification Form for each key personnel including the General Manager / Executive Director, and the Head Booker / Artistic Director.
- Artist list from the previous years or this year’s prospective programming. For requests over $20,000, externally-prepared company/organization financial statements are required, and for new positions, job descriptions or postings are required.
Official resources
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- B.C.-based music festivals.
- Venues.
- Concert presenters and promoters.
- Not-for-profit or charitable organizations with headquarters in B.C.
- New companies and sole proprietors registering after approval.
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, except First Nations in regional communities.
- Events, businesses or organizations in the Metro Vancouver or Victoria’s Capital Regional District that present live music as a secondary activity, including culinary festivals, sporting events, parades, local markets, business improvement associations, breweries, or restaurants.
Eligible expenses
- Artist fees, travel, meals, and accommodations.
- Venue, staging, sound, and lighting costs.
- Event staff, contractors, and technicians.
- Permits, insurance, fencing, toilets, and other event-related costs.
- Marketing, sustainability, and health and safety costs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Operating costs not specific to the project.
- Alcohol and events benefiting only one artist.
- Tours, album release shows, award shows, fundraisers, galas, mixers, and private events.
- Cash payments, in-kind expenses, and donated services.
- Grant writing, legal, management, business registration, and financial statement fees.
Eligible geographic areas
- British Columbia.
- Regional presenters outside Metro Vancouver and Victoria’s Capital Regional District.
Selection criteria
- Idea, Strategy & Approach.
- Company Capacity.
- Performance Opportunities for Artists.
- Economic Impact.
- Justice, Equity, Decolonization, Diversity, and Inclusion.
How to apply
- Submit an online application on the Creative BC website.
- You may submit one or more applications for each funding stream.
- Upon submission of the online application, key personnel will receive an automated Self-ID form to complete, and this form must be completed by October 15, 2025.
- Applicants with a disability or accessibility need may contact Creative BC for support in preparing an application and should allow an additional two weeks to prepare.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications will be evaluated by Creative BC staff and a panel of industry professionals.
- Complete applications are reviewed in approximately 14 weeks after the program deadline date, and all applicants will be notified by email.
- Recipients are required to complete a final report detailing the impact of the funding by December 31, 2026, and provide invoices and proof of payment for expenses upon request.
- After receiving the final report, Creative BC staff may contact recipients for invoices and proof of payment as they begin to spot-check expenses.
- Once the spot-check has been successfully completed, Creative BC staff will submit a request to the finance department for the remaining balance of the grant, and final payments may take up to 20 days from when the request was submitted.
Additional information
- The program is delivered across two streams: Presentation and Business Development.
- Creative BC is committed to justice, equity, decolonization, diversity and inclusion in program delivery.
- All companies that work with, or seek funding from, Creative BC are expected to adhere to Creative BC’s Code of Conduct for Clients, Partners, and Stakeholders, implement policies and procedures for a harassment-free workplace, and comply with relevant laws.
- Applicants are asked to use clean energy sources, minimize waste and pollution, travel responsibly, and choose vendors and collaborators with a track record of operating sustainably.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Live Music Program
What is the Live Music?
The Live Music program supports B.C.-based live music presenters through two streams, offering $2,000 to $50,000 per applicant company and funding up to 50% of eligible expenses. It supports live music events and business development activities that strengthen capacity, sustainability, audience opportunities, and music tourism across B.C.
How much funding can be received?
Live Music Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $50,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
Applications will open on August 26, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Live Music program?
To be eligible for the Live Music program, you must:
B.C.-based festivals, venues, event producers, or presenters.
B.C.-owned and controlled corporations, registered businesses, or sole proprietorships with a valid GST number that file B.C. tax returns, or not-for-profit or charitable organizations with headquarters in B.C.
New companies and individuals acting as sole proprietors can apply, and core business activities must include presenting live music in B.C. or filling a gap in their regional community outside Metro Vancouver or Victoria’s Capital Regional District.
What expenses are eligible under Live Music?
Music festivals.
Concert series.
Year-round programming.
One-off live music events.
Who can I contact for more information about the Live Music?
You can contact Creative BC by email at shunt@creativebc.com or by phone at 236-471-0138.
Where is the Live Music available?
The Live Music program is available the province of British Columbia.