Cultural Spaces Grant Program - Cultural Infrastructure Grants (CIG)

• Small Grants for Cultural Spaces: Grants up to $25,000 for space planning, research, building improvements, accessibility upgrades, and related mentorships.
• Cultural Infrastructure Grants (CIG): Matching grants up to $250,000 for capital building-based projects such as space planning, research, acquisition, renovation, or expansion of arts and cultural facilities.
• Critical Assistance Capital Grants: Grants up to $25,000 for urgent building life-safety upgrades, critical repairs, building code consultations, and assistance with permit fee costs.
• Affordable Spaces Grants: Grants up to $40,000 for facility operating costs to support organizations providing subsidized space for Vancouver-based artists and cultural organizations.

• The applicant must be a Vancouver-based non-profit society, cooperative, or federally registered charity in good standing, with a publicly stated culture-first vision, mission, or mandate.
• The organization must operate within Vancouver city limits.
• Eligible applicants include xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), or urban Indigenous non-profit organizations.
• The project must relate to arts and culture facilities, such as space planning, acquisition, renovation, or expansion of a cultural space.

Who is eligible?

• Vancouver-based non-profit cultural societies
• Vancouver-based cultural co-operatives
• Federally-registered charitable organizations with a culture-first mandate
• xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) non-profit organizations
• Urban Indigenous non-profit organizations in Vancouver

Who is not eligible

• Organizations whose primary purpose involves childcare, education, employment, health care, recreation, religion, social services, or sports.
• Companies or organizations not based within the Vancouver city limits.
• Organizations without an arts and cultural mandate or that do not align with program goals and priorities, including reconciliation, cultural equity, and accessibility.
• Organizations with three or more open capital grants for incomplete projects.
• Residential housing providers and home-based businesses.

Eligible expenses

• Space planning and research costs for cultural facilities.
• Acquisition (purchase) expenses for arts and cultural facilities.
• Renovation or expansion costs of cultural spaces.
• Building improvements and accessibility upgrades.
• Mentorship costs related to planning, knowledge sharing, and capacity building for cultural spaces.
• Urgent building life-safety upgrades and critical repairs.
• Permit fee costs for renovation, construction, or change of use permits (with landlord approval).
• Building code consultation fees for time-sensitive projects.
• Facility operating costs for organizations providing affordable space to artists and cultural organizations.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations based within the city limits of Vancouver.

• Step 1: Review Application Guides
  • Consult the relevant information guides for capital grants or Affordable Spaces operating grants to understand program details and requirements.
  • Gather information about the specific grant stream applicable to your project (Small Grants, Cultural Infrastructure Grants, Critical Assistance Capital Grants, or Affordable Spaces grants).
• Step 2: Prepare Required Documentation
  • Compile necessary documentation, such as project descriptions, financial statements, evidence of space ownership or lease, and other supporting documents as indicated in the program guides.
  • Prepare project budgets, timelines, and detailed plans that respond to the funding objectives.
• Step 3: Access VanApply Portal
  • Sign in to the City of Vancouver’s VanApply online portal.
  • Select the relevant Cultural Spaces Grant Program stream within the portal.
• Step 4: Complete and Submit Application
  • Fill out the online application form with accurate organization and project information.
  • Upload all required documentation as prompted within the VanApply portal.
  • Review your application to ensure all sections are complete and supporting materials are attached.
  • Submit the application before the deadline specified for your chosen funding stream.
• Step 5: Confirmation and Next Steps
  • Receive a confirmation from VanApply acknowledging receipt of your application.
  • Monitor your email and VanApply account for updates or requests for additional information from the City of Vancouver’s Arts and Culture staff.

• Intake dates for upcoming years are yet to be determined; check the official program page for updates.
• Previous years’ grant recipients and details about allocated amounts are available for review through accessible PDF records.
• Supporting documents such as sample financial statements and a final report template are provided for applicants.
• There are information guides available for both capital and operating grants, including glossaries of key terms.