City of Vancouver: Cultural Learning and Sharing Grant Program

Check out this revamped & flexible funding program from the City...

This one slipped by my radar in January, but glad to see it resurrected (after a Covid-related hiatus) & now available in an ongoing (rolling deadline) format (until the funds have been fully allocated).

Designed for a wide variety of possible applicants (see eligibility list below), the Cultural Learning and Sharing Grant Program offers grants up to $20,000 to “access or deliver learning opportunities that will build and strengthen skills, knowledge, relationships and experience in order to enhance organizational, sectoral or individual arts and leadership practices.” 

CLS supports equity-deserving arts and cultural leaders and artists and non-equity led or mandated arts and culture organizations’ leaders, artists and staff in their pathways to becoming more equitable. Individual artists and cultural leaders may apply via a sponsor non-profit arts and cultural organization.

This program supports the following key actions of Culture|Shift: Blanketing the City in Arts and Culture:

• Increase knowledge, and share knowledge and resources across the cultural sector

• Increase leadership opportunities for Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Urban Indigenous artists, and cultural leaders and artists from priority equity-deserving* communities

• Support the development and facilitation of organizational learning opportunities to advance equity and accessibility

• Support Indigenous-led development of cultural protocols, resources and training to support non-Indigenous cultural organizations to build collaboration with Indigenous artists and organizations

*Priority equity-deserving artists and cultural leaders are those who identify as: Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Urban Indigenous; Black or of African descent; People of Colour; Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing; Living with a disability/disabled people; LGBTQ2+ and gender diverse.

Key Things To Know:

Eligible Activity includes:

• Paid mentorships or residencies that provide pathways to permanent leadership positions within the applicant organization or other organizations in the arts and culture sector;

• Gatherings, convenings, or conferences for the purpose of sharing critical knowledge and resources for artists, cultural workers and leaders in the arts and culture sector;

• Workshops or courses that further the artistic practice of an individual artist or group of artists, or develop skills for cultural workers;

• Organizational planning that strengthens the health of an equity-mandated or led organization or if non-equity mandated or led, strengthens equity, accessibility, or healthy workplace practices;

• Other self-determined learning opportunities in line with program purpose.

Who Can Apply:

• Artists and cultural leaders who identify as:

  • xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Urban Indigenous

  • Black or of African descent

  • People of Colour

  • Deaf/deaf, Hard of Hearing

  • Living with a disability/disabled people

  • LGBTQ2+ and gender diverse

• Arts and culture organizations’ leaders, artists and staff that wish to build their pathways to becoming more equitable

• Individual artists and cultural leaders may apply via a sponsor non-profit arts and cultural organization

Interested?…the City recommends you contact a cultural planner to discuss your eligibility and project plan, as well as access the online application form (see website for staff contact info).

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