Funding

• 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. 

• Local Festivals — Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage. (federal gov’t) Closes April 30, 2025. 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 of the requirements. This round of funding is for festivals starting between January 1 and June 30 of the next calendar year (2026). 
• 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.
• 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.
• Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Events. Closes May 5, 2025. The program aims to enhance B.C.’s reputation as an events destination, foster economic growth and increase visitation across the province. The Destination Events Program (DEP) provides funding up to 10% of your total event budget, with a maximum of $200,000 per event. You can use the funds to cover a range of operational expenses. Note: Your total event budget must be a minimum of $150,000 to be eligible to apply.
• Aknumustiǂis: Ecological Engagement Through the Seasons 2025. Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Closes May 7, 2025. The five-week hybrid residency will engage 12 visual artists whose artistic practice includes land-based themes, environmental sustainability, Indigenous narratives of the land, and/or use of natural materials. Artists can apply with a personal project to explore, experiment and research, or complete their final project work. The residency features workshops, on-the-land engagement, faculty guidance, knowledge exchange centered on integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into the artistic process and the opportunity to showcase works at Open Studios. This program is geared towards established Indigenous visual artists from regional, national, and global locations. Full scholarships are available. 

• See other programs the Banff Centre has open: https://www.banffcentre.ca/programs, including those for Indigenous Arts: https://www.banffcentre.ca/indigenous-arts

• The Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty. Closes May 20, 2025 (Opens May 13^th). This grant offers non-repayable funding to BC First Nations, Indigenous organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs to support the development, growth, and innovation of Indigenous food systems, agriculture, sustainability, and food sovereignty. The IFS Program addresses gaps in supporting Indigenous agriculture and food projects. It aims to revive traditional food systems, processing, and resource management practices to promote sustainable community health and long-term socio-economic impact. Applicants can access two funding streams to support both planning and implementation stages, ensuring support throughout the full project lifecycle. STREAM 1 – Funding caps: $150,000 for Community businesses including Indigenous Farms: $100,000 for Entrepreneurs:  provides funding for activities and costs associated with the business development, planning and design phase of a food security project. STREAM 2 – Funding caps: $250,000 for Community businesses including Indigenous Farms: $150,000 for Entrepreneurs: provides funding for activities and costs associated with the implementation of a food security project.

New Relationship Trust Grants (First Nations)- opening soon.

• Language Grant. Opens May 13, 2025. This grant supports BC First Nations communities by funding initiatives dedicated to revitalizing Indigenous languages. This grant builds community capacity, encourages language use, creates fluent speakers, and strengthens cultural identity for future generations. Up to $8,000 in funding. 
• Elders Grant. Opens May 13, 2025. This grant supports BC First Nations elder groups by funding activities that enhance cultural connections, emotional health, physical well-being, mobility, inclusion, and belonging. Our goal is to ensure elders have meaningful experiences that enrich their lives and communities. Up to $8,000 in funding. 
• Youth Grant. Opens May 13, 2025. This program empowers BC First Nations youth groups by providing funding for inclusive cultural, traditional, creative, and entrepreneurial activities. Our goal is to support youth in building confidence, resilience, identity, and overall well-being, offering the essential tools and experiences needed for a strong and vibrant future. Up to $8,000 in funding. 
• K-12 Education Grant. Opens May 13, 2025. The K-12 Education Grant program supports BC First Nations Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes by funding projects that enhance learning experiences, foster higher educational aspirations, and promote student growth. Projects should strengthen connections to First Nations culture, traditions, and identity, building confidence and capacity. Up to $8,000 in funding. 
• Nation Building Grant. Opens May 13, 2025. This program provides multi-year funding to BC First Nations and Tribal Councils, supporting self-determined priorities that enhance governance structures, institutional capacity, and community resilience, advancing self-determination and sovereignty. 1-year grant of up to $60,000, or 2-year grant of up to $120,000. One project per Nation or Tribal Council per year (including organizations under the Nation or Tribal Council authority)

BC Arts Council Grant Programs. 

• Scholarship Program. Closes April 30, 2025. This program supports education and training of B.C.’s future generation of artists, arts administrators, and arts and cultural practitioners. B.C. residents enrolled in full-time post-secondary art programs or high school half-day pre-professional dance programs are welcome to apply. Students should be committed to developing their independent artistic and creative practice towards a career in the arts and culture sector. Successful Scholarship applicants will receive payments of $3,000 for each term of full-time study, up to a maximum of $6,000 for 2 terms. 
• Arts-Based Community Development & Leon and Thea Koerner Award. Closes May 14, 2025. The Arts Based program supports eligible projects that embody arts-based community development (A-BCD) principles, through two categories: Projects where a professional artist (or artists) facilitates and supports the collective creation of new artwork in any discipline by community participants or Training of professional artists or community workers in Arts-Based Community Development processes. Maximum request amount is $25,000. The LTK Award is given to up to 5 organizations that are recognized for achieving social benefit through excellence and innovation, creating projects that lead to social change or transformation. This aligns with the principles of arts-based community development. Request amount must be a minimum of $25,000.
• Project Assistance: Professional Arts Training Organizations. Closes May 22, 2025. This program supports arts and culture organizations in the development and delivery of training activities through a specific project or component within the organization’s overall activities. Grant amounts up to $25,000. 
• Project Assistance: Professional Performing Arts Organizations. Closes May 22, 2025. This program supports the development, creation, production, realization, dissemination, or live performance of classical, experimental, original, traditional, and contemporary performing art forms from all world cultures. Performing Arts includes dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary, or other performing arts practices such as circus arts and comedy. Grant amounts up to $25,000. 
• Project Assistance: Literary Arts. Closes May 22, 2025. This program supports eligible literary arts organizations or collectives to develop, enrich, and promote Canadian literature and writers through publishing, presentation, and dissemination of literary works and the development of new or unique public programming and community engagement initiatives. Grant amounts up to $25,000. 
• Individual Arts Grants: Professional Performing Artists. Closes May 28, 2025.  This program supports initiatives in the development, creation, production, realization, dissemination, or live performance of classical, experimental, original, traditional, and contemporary performing art forms from all world cultures. Performing arts includes dance, music, theatre, multidisciplinary, or other performing arts practices such as circus arts and comedy. 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.

Connections to Culture grants. Burke Museum. This program facilitates opportunities for artists, researchers, and students to engage in collections-based study with the Northwest Native Art and Plateau collections at the Burke Museum. Through this program, grantees can expand their artistic and cultural knowledge, inspire personal practice, and aid in the transmission of artistic and cultural knowledge throughout communities and across generations. Visiting researcher grants are awarded for a period of 1–3 days of research time, 2 travel days, and any additional days needed for demonstrations or workshops. Grant award includes funding to cover meals, transportation, lodging, and an honorarium. Up to $5,000. 

Creative BC

• Music Company. Closes May 14, 2025. This program supports the sustainability, growth, and capacity of B.C.’s music companies through investing in business development activities. Grant Amounts: $2,000 – $50,000 per applicant company, for up to 50% of eligible expenses. 
• Domestic Industry Initiatives. Applicants must submit their application at least 10 weeks prior to their event start date. This funding is intended to support business initiatives and events that engage and develop British Columbia’s Creative Sectors – the motion picture, interactive digital media, and magazine and book publishing sectors. Specifically, the program aims to support initiatives that foster and encourage industry development by investing in activities that develop and innovate B.C.’s creative ecosystem such as education and training initiatives, research that measures jobs and opportunity, and industry conferences.

imagineNATIVE Originals + Capilano University Commission Mentorship. Closes May 14, 2025. imagineNATIVE is partnering up with Capilano University to give the selected participant a minimum of $10,000 and in-kind services to create a short film to premiere at the 2026 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto! The selected participants will receive mentorship from an Indigenous producer and support from Capilano University staff and the imagineNATIVE Institute to create a 5 to 10 minute short film and grow their filmmaking experience. This call is open to Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) candidates.

Canada Arts Training Fund. Closes May 15, 2025. This program supports arts training in Canada and contributes to the development of future artists and cultural leaders. The CATF provides financial support for the ongoing operations of Canadian arts organizations that specialize in training artists for professional national or international artistic careers, at the highest levels.

Music BC Domestic and International Travel Grants. Close May 16, 2025. This deadline will be accepting applications to support initiatives that take place between April 1st, 2025, to September 30th, 2025. This grant provides assistance to B.C.-based, for-profit music companies and entrepreneurs undertaking travel activities in support of the growth and development of their business and/or their B.C.-based artist clients.

Thriving Indigenous Systems Fund. Closes May 21, 2025. provides multi-year grants of up to $100,000 per year for three years to land-based First Nations, including Hereditary Groups and Indigenous-led organizations serving land-based First Nations and/or Hereditary Groups in British Columbia. These grants were designed to support Indigenous-led initiatives focused on healing, land, rights & responsibilities, and culture. The TISF will support work that creates the conditions for systemic transformation by preserving, evolving, and transforming the social, political, economic and cultural systems of Indigenous communities in BC.

First Peoples’ Cultural Council

• Heritage Stewardship Program. Closes May 23, 2025. This program provides heritage funding to First Nations organizations in B.C. to address climate change, safeguard cultural sites, digitize cultural resources and record oral histories. HSP supports B.C. First Nations inherent right to act as stewards and experts of their cultures and heritage. This program provides funding for up to three out of four priority areas including Sense of Place, Climate Change, Oral Histories and Protocols, and Digitization and Archiving. Applicants can apply for up to three priority areas in one application, with a maximum of $25,000 for each priority area.
• Braided Infrastructure Program. Closes May 26 2025. This program funding supports B.C. First Nations efforts to develop infrastructure projects that braid together arts, culture, heritage and language activities. Up to $70,000 in funding is available for B.C. First Nations infrastructure projects that conserve, repair or develop B.C First Nations’ cultural heritage, arts and language infrastructure.  
• Arts Vitality Grant (FPCC). Closes May 28, 2025. The Arts Vitality Grant is a one-time opportunity to receive up to $10,000 to support creative projects that contribute to B.C First Nations arts. This grant supports B.C. First Nations storytellers, artists and arts organizations to share about the perseverance of storytelling, arts knowledge and practices in their communities. Stories may be told in a variety of ways using creative expressions such as weaving, carving, beading, dancing, songs, film and more. Projects that focus on the revitalization of community arts traditions whose vitality is threatened will be prioritized.

Oshki Wupoowane | The Blanket Fund. Capacity Building Grants. Closes May 30, 2025. This funding stream supports grassroots Indigenous charities, programs, communities, and initiatives (artists and makers) with the potential for significant impact. This grant stream commits to multi-year relationships which increase the capacity, networks, programs, and profile of the partners selected. Grants are awarded on a case-by-case ‘needs’ assessment. There is no minimum dollar amount, but a ceiling of $175,000 per organization annually, for a maximum of four (4) years.

The National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada’s 2025 Grant Program. Closes June 10, 2025. This Initiative continues to prioritize Indigenous led organizations with charitable status while fostering partnerships and collaboration with organizations serving Sixties Scoop Survivors. Projects funded under this program will  make direct investments in the health, healing and wellness of Sixties Scoop Survivors, their families, and descendants.

Northern Development Summer Intake. Closes July 31, 2025. Northern Development’s region covers approximately 70 per cent of the province of British Columbia, Canada.  The region encompasses 39 municipalities, nine regional districts, one regional municipality and 89 First Nations communities.

• Community Spaces Program. This program supports the creation, restoration or enhancement of community spaces that will improve amenities and enhance the overall quality of life. Eligible projects must be community oriented and accessible to all members of the community (not limited to a private membership). Up to $30,000 available to a maximum of 70% of the eligible project budget.
• Cultural Infrastructure. This program supports creation of, or the improvement of, arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation spaces. This program improves the access to, and quality of, professional arts and cultural facilities for residents and tourists alike. Up to $100,000 available to a maximum of 70 % for upgrades or repairs to an existing facility or amenity. Up to $300,000 available to a maximum of 50 % for new construction and/or substantial upgrades to existing facilities. 
• Recreation Infrastructure. This program supports community efforts to create and support recreational infrastructure, such as arenas, gymnasiums, golf courses, fields, boat launches and others, to encourage resident attraction and retention while also increasing opportunities for sport tourism. This program is set up to support new construction projects or upgrades and repairs to existing facilities. Up to $100,000 to a maximum of 70 % for upgrades or repairs to an existing facility. Up to $300,000 to a maximum of 50 % for new construction and/or substantial upgrades to existing facilities. 

Urban Communities Partnering for Reconciliation. Funding permitting, eligible applicants may submit one application between September 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025. This program was created as a multipartner, community-driven approach focused on improving the socio-economic outcomes for urban Indigenous communities in BC, including Inuit, First Nations and Métis populations. Funding is available to support eligible Indigenous organizations and local governments to work together to create opportunities for in-person dialogue and relationship building which can help advance collaborative reconciliation plans, protocols, agreements or future projects.

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

RBC Foundation Funding. RBC Emerging Artists. Applications accepted year-round. Support initiatives that help emerging artists by bridging the gap from academic to professional career. 

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. unding 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. The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. The Fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces. The CCSF annual grants and contributions budget is $54 million for the period 2018-2028.

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.