Project Assistance: Media Arts Organizations (Canada)

Projects and works must be independent of commercial industries for film, video, and gaming. BC Arts Council grant programs support independent digital and media arts practices in the following areas:

• Moving images (film and video practices, including narrative, experimental, expanded cinema, and installation-based works)
• Audio or sound art (including sound sculptures and installations, sound walks, or other use of sound and listening as the foundation of artistic expression, generally for presentation in gallery spaces)
• New media and digital arts (including interactive installation, immersive and interactive environments, web-based art, or other information and communications technologies used for artistic expression)

This grant program does not support film production activities of works primarily intended for commercial distribution, or film and creation projects outside of programming and engagement initiatives.

Funding Information

• Maximum request amount is $25,000.

Eligible Activities

Examples of eligible activities include but are not limited to:

• Screenings and exhibitions of independent media arts works, including development and presentation or installation.
• Documentation, publications, and dissemination of digital and media arts works and exhibitions.
• Professional skills development, including workshops, artists’ residencies, and activities that develop the arts sector.
• Exploration of new artistic or independent media arts-based works or curatorial practices, including practice-based research, experimentation, and creative development.
• Audience development, collaborations, exchanges, and activities that creatively engage communities.

Who Can Apply?

• 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
  • Identifying as a designated priority group means the majority of your activities, programming, and financial and human resources are dedicated to one of the groups listed above. This may be demonstrated in one or more of the following areas: purpose statement, practices, practitioners, staffing, leadership, and engagement.
• Media Arts Organization Eligibility 
  • To be eligible, an organization must be:
    • A professional media arts 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 to provide professional-level training for artists and cultural workers.
      • A purpose or mandate to provide services to the arts and culture sector in B.C.
      • Operations and activities that reflect this purpose or mandate.
      • 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) 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 eligible organization must also:
      • Not currently receive Operating Assistance from the BC Arts Council.
      • 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.
• Arts or Curatorial Collective Applicants 
  • To be eligible, an Arts or Curatorial Collective must:
    • Be established and readily identified as a collective of a minimum of 3 independent artists, curators, or arts and cultural practitioners who are active in their field of practice and who meet the criteria below. NOTE: The collective may include additional members who do not meet the criteria below as long as at least 3 eligible core members have been identified and meet the following:
      • Have a minimum of two years of practice in their field following basic training, with roles that hold creative control of projects.
      • Have a demonstrated body of previous work as an individual practitioner, including at least one public presentation of work for which an artist fee or equivalent was received.
      • Have a demonstrated history of creating or presenting work as a collective and have a clear commitment to a current practice. At a minimum, the collective must have:
        • A demonstrated body of previous work by current members of the collective.
        • At least one public presentation of work by the current collective, for which artist fees or equivalent were received.
  • An eligible Arts or Curatorial Collective must also:
    • Engage skilled artistic, curatorial, and administrative leadership for project or service delivery.
    • Not be applying on behalf of the activities of a for-profit business.
    • 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.

For more information, visit British Council Arts Council.