Cultural Spaces Grant Program - Small Grants for Cultural Spaces

• Grants of up to $25,000 are available for capital building-based projects, including space planning, research, building improvements, accessibility upgrades, and mentorships related to cultural spaces.

• The applicant must be a provincially registered, Vancouver-based (within Vancouver city limits) non-profit society or cooperative in good standing, or a federally registered charitable organization with a culture-first mandate and an independent, volunteer-based governing body.
• Applications are encouraged from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), and urban Indigenous non-profit organizations.
• The project must support building-based capital improvements, including space planning, research, accessibility upgrades, or mentorships to build cultural space capacity.

Who is eligible?

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

Who is not eligible

• Organizations whose primary purpose is child care, education, employment, health care, recreation, religion, social services, or sports.
• Organizations not based within Vancouver city limits.
• Organizations without an arts and culture mandate aligned with program goals.
• Residential housing providers or home-based businesses.
• Organizations with three or more open, incomplete capital grants.

Eligible expenses

• Space planning and research costs related to cultural spaces.
• Building improvements and accessibility upgrade expenses.
• Fees for mentorships between organizations or between organizations and professionals focused on planning, knowledge sharing, and capacity building for cultural spaces.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations based within Vancouver city limits.

• Step 1: Review Program Guidelines
  • Read the 2025 Capital Grants Information Guide to understand program objectives, eligibility, and funding limits for Small Grants for Cultural Spaces.
• Step 2: Prepare Application Materials
  • Gather all required documentation, including detailed project descriptions, cost estimates, and organizational details.
  • Prepare supporting materials related to space planning, research, building improvements, accessibility upgrades, or mentorship activities.
• Step 3: Access the Online Application Portal
  • Log in or create an account on VanApply, the City of Vancouver's grant application portal.
• Step 4: Complete the Application Form
  • Fill out the online application form, providing comprehensive information about your organization and project.
  • Attach all required supporting documents and materials as specified in the guidelines.
• Step 5: Submit the Application
  • Review the entire application for completeness and accuracy.
  • Submit your application via the VanApply portal before the deadline.
• Step 6: Receive Confirmation
  • Receive confirmation of receipt from the funding body through the VanApply platform.
  • Keep a record of the confirmation for your files.

• Appendices and information guides for the program are available in PDF format, offering additional details such as glossaries and planning cycles.
• Lists of past grant recipients and allocations by intake year are published and accessible as reference documents.
• Sample financial statements and final report templates are provided to assist applicants and recipients.
• Updates on intake dates and grant status are posted periodically; applicants are encouraged to check for the latest information.