COVID-19: Summary of Changes to BC Arts Council’s Programming

Categories: Uncategorized

To help address the immense and unprecedented impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having, and will likely continue to have, on the B.C. arts and culture sector, we’ve developed significant updates to our policies and programs.

In making these changes, we have been guided by four key objectives, to:

  • support the sustainability of arts and culture organizations;
  • provide access to funding as quickly as possible;
  • ensure that projects funded to date and to be funded are not penalized by the unprecedented situation; and
  • support the continuation of projects and activities.

Operating Assistance Programs

All existing Operating Assistance clients will receive the equivalent of 50% of their previous year grant amount as an advance against their 2020/21 operating grant. This payment will be issued within the coming weeks.

In addition to the above, the April 15th deadline of Operating Assistance has been suspended until further notice and will not receive any new applications at this time.

Enhanced Capacity

Both Spring and Fall intakes for Enhanced Capacity funding in 2020/21 have been cancelled.

NEW Arts and Culture Resilience Supplement
Operating Assistance clients and eligible project clients will receive a one-time supplement in early April.

Organizations will have flexibility in how they use the funds guided by the principles of organizational sustainability and supporting artists and arts and cultural workers. We’ll be announcing further details on the supplement shortly.

Blackout Period
In light of current government restrictions, we are placing a temporary blackout period on new applications for activities that involve travel and/or in-person gatherings taking place between now and June 30. This date could be adjusted if the current provincial and federal orders and directives in place are extended.

 Touring Initiatives & Professional Development
Also because of the current government restrictions, the April 1 intakes of Touring Initiatives and Professional Development are both cancelled. Applicants are encouraged to apply to the next intake of these programs, which has a deadline of August 1, 2020. The August intake page for Touring Initiatives is here. The August intake for Professional development is here.

Spring Project Assistance Deadline Extended
The spring intake for Professional Project Assistance has been delayed. The following programs will now launch in early April with a deadline of May 30:

  • Professional Arts Training
  • Dance Projects
  • Music Projects
  • Theatre Projects
  • Literary Organizations
  • Arts Periodicals

Arts-Based Community Development & Leon and Thea Koerner Award

The deadlines for these programs have been extended to May 15.

Scholarship Awards Program

The deadline Scholarship Awards program has been extended to May 15.

BC Arts Council & COVID-19

We are committed to keeping you informed. The most up-to-date information will always be posted on our dedicated COVID 19 FAQ page and individual program pages. Updates will also be announced on our Facebook, and Twitter accounts.