Operating Assistance: Community Arts Organizations

  • Program Type
    Operating Assistance
  • Application Deadline
    September 15, 2022
  • Application Type
    Organizations
  • Fields of Practice
    Community Arts

Description

Operating Assistance: Community Arts Organizations provides funding to assist the general operations of established community-based non-profit arts organizations working in community engaged arts through a range of artistic and cultural programming. The program is intended for organizations that sustain an annual community-based artistic program encompassing creation activities, organizational / artistic / cultural development, production, dissemination, exhibition and public presentation.

Program Update: Operating Assistance extension 

The Operating Assistance program is not open to new applicants in 2024/25 or 2025/26. 

The BC Arts Council is extending the Operating Assistance program for the next two years. The extension of the program covers the 2024 and 2025 intakes in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 government fiscal years. The intention of this extension is to provide stability for Operating Assistance recipients, allowing organizations to focus capacity and resources where they are needed most.  

Key information: 

  • Community Arts Operating Assistance grants in 2024/25 and 2025/26 for current recipients will be based on three components:
    • Basic Assistance: Organizations will receive the same amount of Basic Assistance funding as was received last year.
    • Local Matching Fund: The Local Matching Fund amount will be reviewed to match current levels of funding received by organizations from local governments (up to a maximum of $5,000 annually). This amount will not be updated in year 2. * 
    • Capacity and Program Development: The Capacity and Program Development component is a competitive grant separate from base operating funding levels. Receiving funds in one year does not guarantee funding in future years. During the two-year extension of Operating Assistance, the Capacity and Program Development funds will be disbursed among all community organizations based on a formula. Every community organization currently in this Operating Assistance program will receive this component, but it will be at lesser amounts than those that had previously received it through the competitive process. 
  • There is no opportunity to request increased base funding during the extension of the Operating Assistance program. 
  • Current Operating Assistance recipients must provide key updates to access funding. 
  • NEW: The Local Matching Fund Form must be completed and submitted by all current Community Arts Operating Assistance recipients. Find the form with more details below. 
  • Details about 2024/25 processes and submission requirements are in the Operating Assistance Community Arts Overview 2024/25 document below. 

*Please note this information has been updated from a previous posting on this page. 

As part of the Extending Foundations: Action Plan 2022-2024, the BC Arts Council continues to prioritize reducing barriers to funding programs and supporting equitable funding distribution. As this plan concludes, Council is developing a new strategic vision. This vision will be supported by an Action Plan that will guide the BC Arts Council’s approach to programs and funding. 

Operating Assistance Community Arts Overview 2024/25: 
The Operating Assistance Community Arts Overview 2024/25 provides detailed information and instructions for current recipients in the community arts program on the processes and submission requirements for the 2024/25 intake. 

July 2024 Operating Assistance Community Arts Overview 2024/25 (PDF) 

NEW: Local Matching Funds Form 2024/25: 
In 2024/25 and 2025/26 current Community Arts recipients of Operating Assistance must complete a form detailing support received from local or regional government sources.  

  • To maintain a record of the ongoing relationships with organizations and local or regional governments, the Local Matching Fund Form will be required in both the 2024 and 2025 intakes (in the 2024/25 or 2025/26 government fiscal years) during the extension of the Operating Assistance program. 
  • The amount of financial support from eligible local sources reported on the form must reflect the amount reported on financial statements. 

July 2024 Local Matching Fund Form 2024/25 (PDF) 

Past program guidelines: 
NOTE: Past program guidelines are for reference only. Please refer to the Operating Assistance Community Arts Overview 2024/25 document for the most up-to-date information for 2024/25 processes and requirements. 

September 2022 Assistance: Community Arts Organizations Program Guidelines (PDF) 

This information is only for current Operating Assistance organizations. 

How to Apply

The Operating Assistance program supports organizations’ operations over a funding cycle of two years. The BC Arts Council intends to relaunch Operating Assistance in 2026 and accept applications from new applicants at that time. 

Current Operating Assistance recipients must provide key updates and all submissions detailed in the Overview document through the Grant Management System. 

Local Matching Fund Form: current Operating Assistance recipients must submit this form via email. Details for the submission process are provided within the form and the Overview document.