Arts Circulation and Touring Grant for Organizations (Canada)

Grants received in this program are intended to enhance professional and artistic opportunities and exposure of B.C. artists, collectives, and arts organizations regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Categories 

• Category 1 Outbound Activity 
  • The circulation and touring of artistic and cultural works originating from the applicant to specific venues or events inside or outside of British Columbia.
• Category 2: Inbound Activity 
  • The hosting, presentation, and circulation of artistic and cultural performances, exhibitions, and works originating inside or outside of the province to specific venues or events held in British Columbia by applicants.
• Category 3: Digitization and Translations – PILOT 
  • The digitization of artistic and cultural works for the purposes of dissemination to and access by the identified communities the applicant serves.
  • The translation of literary, dramatic, other written artistic works, critical arts writing, or public programming materials originally created by B.C. artists, arts practitioners, and arts and culture organizations, for the purposes of publication, presentation, or greater access by the identified communities the applicant serves.
• Venues can include: a theatre, gallery, library, museum, festival site or space, community centre, or any other space or site where the activity is taking place.

Funding Information

• Maximum request amount is $25,000.
• Applicants may request:
  • A grant amount up to 50% of the total eligible project budget; or
  • A grant amount up to 65% of the total eligible project budget from applicants that are considered part of the BC Arts Council’s designated priority groups.

Eligible Activities

• Category 1: Outbound Activity
  • Outbound circulation and touring of artistic and cultural works both inside and outside of the province.
  • Single Artistic touring or travel opportunities.
  • Participation in events focused on the promotion, planning or networking development of work for the purposes of future circulation and touring opportunities.
• Category 2: Inbound Activity
  • Hosting, presentation, and circulation of artistic and cultural performances, exhibitions, and works from all disciplines within British Columbia.
  • Bringing in Artists or Artistic Leadership for the purpose of planning for the presentation or hosting of work, including research into and development of possible tours/circulation engagements.
  • Bringing in Artists or Artistic Leadership for the purpose of Networking development opportunities related to the presentation/hosting of work.
• Category 3: Digitization and Translations – PILOT 
  • Digitization of artistic works for the purposes of dissemination to and access by the identified communities the applicant serves or by the general public.
  • Translation of literary, dramatic, or other written artistic works for the purposes of publication or presentation.

Designated Priority Groups 

• The BC Arts Council has committed to targeted investment in underserved and equity-deserving organizations and the development of equity support initiatives, including a policy to support designated priority groups. These identified groups will be the focus of BC Arts Council strategic measures, through dedicated programs, funding prioritization processes, partnerships, and outreach. The BC Arts Council’s designated priority groups include applicants and arts and cultural practitioners who are:
  • Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) Peoples
  • Deaf or experience disability
  • Black or people of colour
  • Located in areas outside greater Vancouver or the capital region

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible, an organization must be:
  • An arts and culture organization registered and in good standing as a non-profit society or community service co-op in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application with:
    • The majority of key staff (paid or volunteer) and board members based in B.C.
    • Creative control and decision making for programming and engagement primarily maintained within the organization and by leadership based in B.C.
    • A purpose or mandate dedicated to arts and culture programming and activities.
    • A purpose or mandate to provide services to the arts and culture sector in B.C.
    • Operations and activities that reflect this dedicated purpose or mandate.
• An Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) community organization registered and in good standing as a non-profit society or community service co-op in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application with:
  • The majority of key staff (paid or volunteer) and board members based in B.C.
  • A commitment to offering regular arts and culture activities.
• An Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) government in B.C. that offers regular arts and culture activities.
• A professional arts and culture organization operated by a local government in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application, that:
  • Maintains an ongoing arm’s length, community-based board of management or advisory structure that sets policy for the organization’s programs and services.
  • Holds a dedicated programming space and has at least one dedicated staff person in an artistic, curatorial, or administrative leadership position who is responsible for programming and engagement.
  • Offers ongoing public programming by professional arts and cultural practitioners.
  • Primarily operates with autonomy, holding creative control and decision making for programming and engagement within the organization, with separate financial records for operations.
• A professional arts and culture organization operated by a public post-secondary institution in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application, that:
  • Holds a dedicated programming space and has at least one dedicated staff person in an artistic, curatorial, or administrative leadership position who is responsible for programming and engagement.
  • Offers ongoing public programming by professional arts and cultural practitioners, the majority of which is not programming of faculty or student works.
  • Primarily operates with autonomy, outside of curriculum, holding creative control and decision making for programming and engagement within the organization, with separate financial records for operations.
• A book publisher that meets the eligibility requirements for either the BC Arts Council Project Assistance: Literary Arts or Operating Assistance: Book Publishers programs.
• An eligible organization must also:
  • Provide public arts and cultural programming (or service to the arts and culture sector) in B.C. as a primary activity and have done so for a minimum of one year prior to the intake closing date.
  • Provide programs that benefit the community at-large and not solely the interests of its nonprofit society members.
  • Engage skilled artistic, curatorial, and administrative leadership (volunteer or paid) for project or service delivery.
  • Fairly compensate artists, arts and cultural practitioners, technicians, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers. Compensation must align with project and community contexts and industry standards within the field of practice.
  • Follow international intellectual property rights standards and cultural ownership protocols.
  • Follow the Criminal Records Review Act which requires that people who work with or may have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults must undergo a criminal record check by the Criminal Records Review Program.
  • Have completed and submitted any overdue final reports on previous BC Arts Council grants by the intake closing date for this grant program.

For more information, visit British Columbia Arts Council.