Funding

NEW: Build Communities Strong Fund Direct Delivery stream (federal). This fund will invest in a wide range of infrastructure projects that support economic prosperity, housing, education, health, transit, and climate adaptation. It will provide $51 billion over 10 years, starting in 2026-27, and $3 billion per year ongoing, to support new and renewed public infrastructure. Visit this link for more information on the other funding streams: https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/bcsf-fbcf/index-eng.html

First Peoples’ Cultural Council

• Cultural Practices Grant. Closes June 2, 2026. This grant supports B.C. First Nations in planning, carrying out and documenting community based cultural practices and events that affirm identities, foster a sense of belonging, and celebrate the roles, relationships and responsibilities within a community. Activities and practices supported through this grant may include celebrations honouring children and youth, seasonal or celestial activities and events, knowledge gathering and transfer, reawakening of cultural places and the traditions associated with them, projects that involve repatriation, and other culturally important practices that are held by communities. These may be cultural practices that have been continuously carried out over generations, as well as “sleeping” practices that a community wants to reawaken. Grants of $10,00 – $25,000 available. Attend the information session on April 28, 2026.

BC Arts Council

• Arts Impact Grant. Closes June 3, 2026. This grant has been changed to focus specifically on projects that support eligible organizations to address capacity, governance, and other organizational challenges while developing new opportunities for transformation and collaboration. Grant amounts up to $30,000.
• Individual Arts Grants: Media Artists. Closes June 24, 2026. This grant assists independent media artists with the creation of specific projects. BC Arts Council supports independent digital and media arts practices in moving images, audio/sound art, new media and digital arts. Projects and works must be independent of commercial industries for film, video, and gaming. Grant amounts up to $25,000.
• The BC Arts Council has MANY programs with intakes throughout the year. Please visit their website for information for all opportunities: https://www.bcartscouncil.ca/program.

Strengthening Education, Healing, and Cultural Learning Coast to Coast to Coast. Individual Funding. Closes June 5, 2026. The Future Generations Foundation supports First Nations individuals in pursuing education, healing, and cultural learning opportunities. Through our Individual Funding Program, we provide scholarships, training support, and cultural learning awards that nurture identity, strengthen skills, and foster connection to community and culture. Whether in classrooms, on the land, or within cultural spaces, this program helps individuals realize their aspirations while contributing to collective healing and resurgence. Grants of up to $20,000.

Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program- Events. Closes June 10, 2026. This program provides funding to community-based events that: promote intercultural or interfaith understanding; promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination; celebrate a community’s history and culture such as heritage months recognized by Parliament. The maximum amount per event, per fiscal year is $100,000, while the maximum amount per recipient for a recurring event over two fiscal years is $200,000 per application in the case of multi-year funding.

National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada Grant Program. Full Grant Application due June 10, 2026. This program seeks to fund programs and projects that make direct investments in the health, healing, and wellness of Sixties Scoop Survivors, their families, and descendants. There is no prescribed funding limit. Funding decisions will be based on the merit of each application and funding availability.

Creative BC.

• Interactive Fund. Closes June 15, 2026. This fund supports the creation of high quality, original interactive digital media projects that support diversity in artistic expression, demonstrate clear connections between art and technology, and provide opportunities for access, dissemination, and engagement with audiences and within the B.C. arts and culture sector.  Maximum request per project up to $50,000.
• Music Industry Program. Closes October 30, 2026, or until all funds are allocated. This program supports initiatives that grow and develop British Columbia’s music ecosystem. Successful projects will build the capacity of B.C.’s music industry through training, collaboration, and creating new industry and business opportunities.  Grant Amounts: $2,000 to $20,000 for individuals, collectives, and companies or organizations without externally prepared financial statements. $2,000 to $60,000 for companies or organizations with externally prepared financial statements in the form of a compilation engagement, review engagement, or audited statements from the previous or most recent fiscal year.
• Project Development Fund. Evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis until the budget for the fiscal year has been fully committed (ending March 31, 2027). This fund enables B.C.-owned and controlled production companies to build on development commitments secured from broadcasters, distributors and funding agencies. The fund encourages support for existing and emerging domestic companies and provides financing in the form of non-recoupable advances for feature film script development, dramatic or animated TV projects, or documentaries.

Transforming Systems Grants. Opens June 8, 2026. These grants will fund organizations advancing systemic change by addressing the root causes of inequality and supporting those most affected to shape their own futures. TSG is intended to support organizations that prioritize intersectionality, allyship and mutual liberation in their efforts to challenge oppressive systems. These grants of up to $100,000 a year offer funding for three years to qualified donees, registered non-profit societies and community co-operatives operating in BC.

Community Gaming Grants

• Parent Advisory Councils. Closes June 30, 2026. These grants are intended to benefit K-12 students in B.C., by enhancing extracurricular opportunities and promoting parent and community involvement. This page includes information about PAC/DPAC Grants including eligibility criteria, grant amounts, how and when to apply and more.

Heritage Legacy Fund. Closes July 15, 2026. There are four streams of funding. Heritage Conservation: Provides grants of up to $50,000, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs for the preservation, rehabilitation, or restoration of the physical fabric of a heritage place, including archaeological sites, that embodies its heritage value. Heritage Awareness: Provides grants of up to $10,000, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs for initiatives that research, document, interpret, present, or share community heritage. These projects enhance public understanding of heritage resources, cultural landscapes, and intangible heritage such as oral histories, language, and cultural practices. Heritage Planning: Provides grants of up to $5,000, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs for projects that develop plans and documents to support heritage conservation and awareness initiatives. Indigenous Partnership: Provides grants of up to $7,500, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs for collaborative initiatives that contribute to reconciliation by supporting the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives, histories, languages, heritage values, and ways of knowing.

Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding program. This program provides funding to First Nations and local governments in B.C. to enhance their capacity to withstand and adapt to natural and climate-driven hazards. First Nations and local governments who have the authority and ownership to develop, implement, maintain, and operate the proposed project can submit an Expression of Interest.

Indigenous Screen Office. Travel Program. Until program funds are depleted or March 1, 2027.

Canada Council for the Arts Funding. Creating, Knowing, Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. See Grants and Deadlines: https://canadacouncil.ca/funding/grants/deadlines

Community Economic Development and Diversification in British Columbia. Accepting applications on an on-going basis. This program supports projects that: attract investment and talent, increase productivity and economic growth, grow new, existing and transitioning sectors, increase the economic participation of British Columbians and respond to changing economic circumstances. Funding varies by project. Typically up to 50% of eligible project costs; in exceptional circumstances, PacifiCan may fund a higher proportion of a project’s costs.

The Day Scholars Revitalization Fund. The Residential School Day Scholars Class Action Settlement is for Day Scholars who attended an Indian Residential School but did not sleep there at night between the years of 1920-1974 (depending on the school). The fund will grant up to $10,000 to Indigenous Individuals who aim to revitalize their languages and cultures; to promote their heritage and commemoration; to promote their healing and wellness journeys and education and training goals. There are [up to] three granting announcements each year.

RBC Community Investments. Applications accepted year-round.  Funding aims to support impactful initiatives across Canada, and value community investment partnerships built on trust and shared commitments. Recognizing that communities and/or projects need support for different purposes at different times, the approach to funding considers ideas and actions at four distinct stages: Seed, Scale, Sustain, Build. Up to $500,000 available per year.

Legacy Fund- Building Communities through Arts and Heritage. (Federal Government). Applications accepted on continuous basis. This Department of Canadian Heritage Program provides funding for community-initiated capital projects, intended for community use. Recipients may receive up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenses up to a maximum of $500,000. Funding supports community-initiated capital projects that: commemorate a significant local historical event or pay tribute to a significant local historical personality; mark a 100th anniversary or greater, in increments of 25 years (e.g., 125th, 150th); involve the restoration, renovation, or transformation of existing buildings or exterior spaces with local community significance that are intended for community use; encourage arts and heritage activities in the local community that are intended for and accessible to the general public.

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund.(Federal Government). No deadline- on-going. (Please note changes to this funding program- construction projects will no longer be accepted. However, exceptional circumstances may apply). This program supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. The program supports renovation projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment, and planning, design and feasibility studies related to arts and heritage cultural spaces.

Community Development Programs. Northern Development offers a range of funding programs suited to a diverse set of economic development priorities in central and northern British Columbia, including the Cultural Infrastructure program which supports creation of, or the improvement of, arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation spaces. There are three annual intakes with deadlines of January 31, April 30 and July 31.

National Creation Fund. No Deadline. The National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund invests up to $3 million a year in the development of 15 to 20 compelling and ambitious new Canadian works in theatre, dance, music and inter-disciplinary performing arts. Fuelled entirely by donors, the Fund provides Canadian artists with the additional time, space and resources they need to create great work. The Fund invests in both new work, and in promising productions that need additional development after their initial run to produce stronger, more polished work that will be remounted and toured across Canada and around the world.

Movable Cultural Property Grants. (Federal Government). No Deadline. Movable Cultural Property Grants help designated organizations acquire cultural property of outstanding significance and national importance to Canada, as outlined in the Cultural Property Export and Import Act. Designated organizations are located in Canada and demonstrate the ability to ensure the long-term preservation of cultural property. Grants can be used to purchase cultural property: for which an export permit has been denied; or that is important to Canada’s national heritage and available for purchase outside the country.

The Going Home Fund. This fund facilitates the return or long-term loan of culturally significant materials to Indigenous cultural entities worldwide. The application form is for use by Indigenous communities seeking support. Eligible expenses include insurance, packaging, shipping, and other costs associated with the return. You may request funding for the return of multiple items from the same institution. The Going Home Fund Advisory Council meets on or around the 15th day of each month to review requests and make awards.

Innovation Projects that Support Indigenous Languages. Each fiscal year, the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages will invest in a limited number of innovation projects, subject to available budget. These projects will create something new in the Indigenous languages space, and/or significantly improve upon initiatives that already exist, in order to effect real change. As stated in the Commission’s mandate, these innovative projects must be specific to Indigenous languages education and revitalization. There are no deadlines for submission, and the Commission invites project submissions on an ongoing basis. Please note that, as outlined in the Indigenous Languages Act, the Commission is not a funding agency, and is not able to fund Indigenous language programming nor the infrastructure, or capital/operational costs of running an Indigenous language program.

Local Festivals — Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage. Provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, local artisans, local heritage performers or specialists, and local First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultural carriers. This includes the celebration of 2SLGBTQI+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations. Applicants may request up to 100% of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $200,000 for festivals that meet all funding requirements. Application deadlines: January 31 — for festivals starting between September 1 and December 31 of the same calendar year. April 30 — for festivals starting between January 1 and June 30 of the next calendar year. October 15 — for festivals starting between July 1 and August 31 of the next calendar year.