Communities and Artists Shifting Culture (CASC) - Cultural Project Grants Program

• Grant awards range from $2,500 to $15,000 per project.
• The total combined cash contributions from all City sources (including this grant and other City programs) can be up to 75% of the project’s total cash budget, to a maximum of $15,000 (excluding in-kind goods and services).

• The applicant must be a non-profit society, community service co-operative, registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency, or a First Nations Band Council operating in Vancouver or on traditional homelands of Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh peoples.
• Non-incorporated collectives and individual artists from equity-deserving communities may apply through a sponsor organization that is a registered non-profit society, co-op, charity, or First Nations Band Council serving the same community.
• The organization must have an active presence in Vancouver and deliver programs or services in the city or, for projects led by local First Nations, be held in their traditional homelands.
• The project must have an arts or culture focus and be led by individuals with relevant lived experience, knowledge, and expertise.
• The applicant must demonstrate respectful and safe working conditions and have inclusion and accessibility policies in place.

Who is eligible?

• Registered non-profit organizations
• Registered societies
• Charities
• Registered co-operatives
• Local First Nation Band Councils

Who is not eligible

• Organizations currently receiving City of Vancouver Cultural Operating funding (such as COFA, COFI, COFM, Cultural Equity, and Cultural Indigenous Grants) or Social Policy Operating Funding, unless acting as a sponsor for an eligible individual or collective.
• Projects primarily focused on non-artistic or non-cultural themes.
• Companies or entities without legal registration as a non-profit, charity, co-op, or First Nations Band Council.
• Social service organizations without an arts and culture mandate may be considered lower priority.
• Organizations seeking funding for ongoing operations, capital projects, or commercially oriented activities.

Eligible expenses

• Honoraria for local First Nation welcomes, land acknowledgements, and consultation with Elders and knowledge-keepers.
• Accessibility fees and related costs to facilitate access and inclusion for artists, project contributors, participants, and audiences.
• Artist fees.
• Technician fees.
• Programming and production expenses, including venue and equipment rental, materials, supplies, ceremony requirements, childcare, hospitality costs (excluding alcohol), and permits.
• Technical equipment and space rental.
• Communications, outreach, and promotion costs and fees.
• Cultural worker, administrative, and professional fees.
• For sponsor organizations: a $500 administration fee on top of the artists’ project budget, when supporting an individual artist, collective, or other non-registered group.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
• Projects led by or held on the traditional homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), or səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.

• Creative Vision (25%): Clear focus on arts and culture with meaningful opportunities for artists and cultural workers. The project should demonstrate a compelling, timely artistic exploration aligned with the organization’s mandate.
• Community Participation & Impact (20%): Evidence of thoughtful community engagement practices, understanding of the audience, relevant outreach and promotion, and effective evaluation methods for measuring impact.
• Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion (35%): Leadership and project team demonstrate relevant skills, lived experience, and actions supporting inclusion of underrepresented artists and audiences. Thoughtful accommodation and accessibility plans are required, along with respect for local First Nations and cultural protocols.
• Project Plan & Budget (20%): Well-structured and feasible project plan and a balanced, realistic budget that includes other funding sources, clear need for City support, and detailed compensation for contributors and accessibility measures.

• There are two application intakes per year; each intake has specific application and project start dates.
• Grant recipients are required to submit final reports within one month of project completion, or interim reports if applying for a new project before finishing the previous one.
• The assessment process includes peer committee review, and applicants may request feedback or reconsideration if eligibility or financial status was misunderstood.
• Organizations seeking application support can access guides, videos, and one-on-one staff assistance prior to the application deadline.