Arts and culture organizations in British Columbia can now apply for grants up to $50,000 for small capital projects as part of the province’s Collaborative Spaces Program. The program aims to grow the creative economy, promote artistic creation, increase shared resources and facilitate collaboration and enhance accessibility for artists and audiences in B.C.
This program follows a successful pilot from 2015-2016 and is part of the province’s Creative Economy Strategy’s commitment to provide $1.5 million toward collaborative creative spaces over three years. As part of the 2015-16 Collaborative Spaces pilot project, the B.C. government invested $436,300 in 11 arts organizations.
The grants will support renovations to expand or repurpose existing creative spaces, renovations to expand or repurpose an existing community facility for increased creative purposes and the purchase of specialized equipment.
“Improved cultural facilities have far-reaching benefits, enhancing artistic creation and helping create healthy, vibrant communities,” said Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, in a press release. “By investing $1.5 million over three years in collaborative creative spaces, our government is helping to grow our province’s creative economy.”
A limited number of grants will be available each year and may be used for up to 80 per cent of the project costs, with the remaining amount matched through cash or in-kind contributions from other sources.
Arts and culture groups, band councils, Aboriginal friendship centres and non-profit organizations with an arts and culture mandate may apply. The deadline for applications is Sept. 1, 2016.
