Cultural Learning and Sharing (CLS) Grant Program

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.

• Step 1: Contact a Cultural Planner
  • Discuss your proposal with a staff member (Cultural Planner) to assess its eligibility.
  • Contact Joyce Rosario (joyce.rosario@vancouver.ca) or Marnie Rice (marnie.rice@vancouver.ca) for guidance and to initiate the eligibility assessment process.
• Step 2: Obtain Access to the Application Portal
  • If your proposal is deemed eligible after discussion, you will receive an access code for the VanApply grant application portal.
• Step 3: Prepare Application Materials
  • Review the 2025 Information Guide for detailed application requirements.
  • Prepare project descriptions, bios of project leadership, alignment statements with program principles, accessibility/workplace policies, activity timelines, and budget documents.
  • Ensure you have board-signed financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year (Balance Sheet and Income/Expense Statement).
• Step 4: Complete and Submit Application
  • Log into the VanApply portal using the access code provided.
  • Fill out the online application form and upload all required supporting documents.
  • Submit your application by the deadline of March 19, 2025, 11:59pm.
• Step 5: Application Assistance (if required)
  • If you are Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing, or living with a disability and need support in the application process, apply for up to $500 toward assistance costs from service providers. Contact program staff for more information.
• Step 6: Confirmation and Follow-Up
  • Receive confirmation of your submission by email from VanApply once your application is received.
  • If awarded, new grant recipients must register as a supplier in the City’s online portal by entering banking details and uploading banking documents as instructed by staff.
• Step 7: Final Reporting
  • Submit a Final Report within one month of project completion using the form provided on VanApply.
  • If you apply for a new project before completion of a previous one, submit an interim report to enable fund release for the new project.

• 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).