Burlington Arts and Culture Fund in Canada

The program recognizes and supports diverse identities, perspectives, languages, cultures and artistic practices. The BACF is facilitated to nurture the quality and capacity of the arts and culture sector in Burlington. City funding provided under the program must be used to further an applicant’s notfor-profit activities. Project grants are intended to support a specific activity or event taking place between April 2024 and March 2025 and must take place in Burlington.

Objective

• The Burlington Arts and Culture Fund (BACF) provides grants to local artists, multicultural groups and arts and cultural organizations to:
  • Encourage social cohesion, enhance quality of life and stimulate cultural and economic development through direct investment
  • Enrich how Burlington residents experience and engage with arts and culture
  • Foster creativity
  • Nurture the quality and capacity of the arts and culture sector in Burlington

Funding Information

• The maximum amount awarded for each project grant is $7,000. The City has discretion with regard to the amount awarded and funding decisions are final.
• Depending on an application’s score, partial project funding may be awarded.
• Project grants are intended to support a specific event or activity taking place between April 2024 and March 2025 and must take place in Burlington. − Awarded applicants are required to sign a letter of agreement recognizing their obligations regarding the use of the funds and reporting requirements.
• Once the agreement has been signed by City staff and the awarded applicant, the City will issue a cheque for 80% of the grant funding.
• The remaining 20% will be issued upon receipt of the final project report, invoices and other documents as outlined in the letter of agreement.
• Applicants will not be eligible to receive further BACF funding until all required reports have been submitted to and accepted by the City of Burlington.
• A grant recipient in default of their grant agreement may be required to return funds to the City of Burlington and may be judged as ineligible for future grant programs.

Ineligible Funding

• BACF project funding may not be used for major capital expenses including:
  • Equipment and fixtures,
  • For-profit ventures or for-profit partners,
  • Land,
  • Operating costs,
  • Facilities and,
  • Public art projects through the public art program.
• The program will not support:
  • Any cost or reimbursement associated with ongoing or annual operating or administration costs
  • Any expenses or financial commitments made prior to receiving official written grant approval
  • Alcohol, tobacco or cannabis related products or gambling expenses
  • Contingency or unexplained miscellaneous costs
  • Infrastructure, construction, renovation, major purchases and equipment such as capital, property, etc.
  • Retroactive funding for projects or events that have already occurred
  • Any other expenditure that does not directly relate to the project

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to apply for BACF funding, applicants must be located in the City of Burlington and be one of the following:
  • An individual artist or arts and cultural collective (defined as three or more individuals that exhibit high achievement in arts and culture programming);
  • An incorporated not-for-profit arts and culture organization or a charitable arts and culture organization;
  • A multicultural group that fulfills a significant role in the Burlington community through the arts and culture.
• Exclusions from Eligibility
  • Academic units of educational institutions,
  • Applicants that have received any form of City funding within the same calendar year,
  • Churches and other religious institutions,
  • City of Burlington employees,
  • Schools, conservatories and other organizations, the primary mission of which is training or education.

For more information, visit City of Burlington.