Cultural Learning and Sharing (CLS) Grant Program

• Financial support of up to $20,000 per project for eligible non-profit arts and cultural organizations.
• Applicants who are Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or living with a disability can access up to $500 to cover application assistance costs from service providers.

• The applicant must be a non-profit society, a community service co-op registered and in good standing with BC Registries and Services, a First Nations Band Council on whose unceded traditional homelands Vancouver sits, or a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA); or apply via a sponsor that meets these criteria if the applicant is not incorporated.
• The applicant must have an active presence in and deliver programs and services within Vancouver.
• The applicant must work with artists and creative collaborators who have relevant lived experience, skills, and expertise for the project.
• The applicant must compensate artists, cultural practitioners, and project contributors at standard industry rates and provide respectful and safe working conditions.
• The applicant must have accessibility and inclusion policies and practices in place.

Who is eligible?

• Non-profit arts and cultural organizations
• Community service co-operatives with an arts or cultural mandate
• Registered charities focused on arts and culture
• First Nations Band Councils located on the unceded traditional homelands of Vancouver

Who is not eligible

• Organizations that do not have an arts and/or cultural mandate.
• Businesses or groups that do not operate within Vancouver or do not deliver programs/services in Vancouver.
• Organizations that do not involve artists, cultural practitioners, or cultural administrators in their projects.
• Companies seeking funding for core artistic training, workshops or classes geared to non-artists or the general public.
• Other City of Vancouver departments and municipal branches.

Eligible expenses

• Fees for paid mentorships or residencies (including compensation for mentors and mentees).
• Costs for organizing gatherings, convenings, or conferences focused on professional learning for artists, cultural workers, and leaders.
• Registration, facilitation, and instructional fees for workshops or courses aimed at skill development in the arts and cultural sector.
• Expenses for organizational planning activities that support equity, accessibility, or healthy workplace practices.
• Honoraria and standard industry rate compensation for artists, cultural practitioners, and project contributors.
• Costs related to developing and delivering learning content or resources.
• Expenses for accessibility supports required to enable participation (for example: interpretation, translation, or other accommodations).

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations with an active presence in and delivering programs and services within Vancouver.
• First Nations Band Councils on whose unceded traditional homelands Vancouver sits: xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).

• The learning opportunity is led by individuals with relevant lived experience, permission, skills, knowledge, and expertise.
• The learning opportunity addresses a timely and demonstrated need.
• The project clearly benefits the individual, organization, or broader cultural sector.
• Strong alignment with Culture|Shift actions and guiding principles.
• Provision of meaningful opportunities to underrepresented artists and cultural leaders in a healthy, accessible environment, and feasibility of the proposed budget and project plan.

• New recipients are required to register as a supplier with the City to receive payment and must complete online banking setup as instructed after approval.
• Final reports must be submitted within one month of the project's completion via the VanApply portal; interim reports may be required for overlapping projects.
• Applicants who are Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or living with a disability can request up to $500 in assistance funds to help complete applications.
• All grant records are subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (British Columbia).