City of Vancouver: Cultural Operating Funding (COF) Program

Expression of Interest Deadline: July 8, 2026

NEW APPLICANTS 2026:  New applicants can now submit an expression of interest (EOI) for Cultural Operating Funding (COF) by Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

If you submitted an EOI in 2025, you do not need to re-submit this year unless your contact or eligibility information has changed.

Vancouver-based cultural organizations that meet these criteria, among others:

• Have received 3 grants through:
  • Communities and Artists Shifting Culture (CASC)
  • Cultural Equity and Accessibility Funding (CEAF)
  • Cultural Indigenous Funding (CIF)
• Have an annual operating budget of at least $150,000

Learn more about the COF grant and how to submit an EOI

Program Summary:

This program provides core funding to Vancouver-based, professional non-profit arts, cultural and creative organizations that have a mission to develop, create, produce, present and disseminate artistic work or provide professional services* or space** for the benefit of the local arts and culture sector, in any artistic discipline (i.e. Indigenous arts and culture, community arts, dance, interdisciplinary, literary, media, multidisciplinary, museums/heritage, music, theatre, visual arts). COF includes both Annual and Multi-year streams.

This program aims to leverage the collective community efforts of Vancouver’s arts and culture sector to:

• Provide opportunities where artists and cultural workers have the freedom, agency and space to create and share their stories.
• Ensure meaningful and broad public participation and access to a range of programs and services for the greater understanding of Vancouver’s dynamic cultural landscape.
• Provide consistent support for the impactful delivery of one or more of the following that contribute to the visibility of the cultural diversity of Vancouver: professional programming, services*, and/or space**.
• Support healthy leadership practices and ensure leadership pathways in service to the sector.
• Create a more equitable, vibrant, collaborative and sustainable arts and culture sector.

*Professional Services – the delivery of services or resources in support of artists and arts organizations in the areas of research, information, professional development, networking, administration, audience development, legal advice, or marketing and communications.

**Professional Space – the provision and operation of facilities for professional artists and arts organizations adequately zoned and equipped (box office, technical support) for public assembly, performance, rehearsal, meetings, etc.

Grant Amount:

Grants will not exceed 50% of an applicant’s last actual expense budget. New recipients generally start with a base level grant of $15,000-20,000 and may be recommended for a higher amount based on available funding.

Eligible Applicants:

To be considered for this program the organization will meet the following criteria:

1) Have an existing funding relationship with the City of Vancouver:

• Currently receive Cultural Operating Funding or have received three Communities and Artists Shifting Culture (CASC), Cultural Indigenous, or Cultural Equity grants.

2) Operations and Mandate:

• Be a non-profit society or a community service co-op legally registered and in good standing with BC Registries Services, or a registered charity with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA). (Please confirm standing through BC Online prior to submitting application.)
• Be physically located in and deliver programs and services within Vancouver.
• Have a clear mission and history of consistent annual delivery of arts and cultural programs or services in support of the mission for at least two years.
• Have paid professional and experienced leadership (either full-time or part-time staff members) in artistic or administrative roles.
• Board members meet the minimum articles of applicable governing acts (e.g. BC Societies Act).
• Have an equity policy or plan, accessibility plan, and respectful workplace policies, procedures and practices in place.
• Compensate artists and cultural workers at minimum standard industry rates.*1
• Ensure that in interactions or communications with and about City officials and staff, their staff and volunteers do not make statements or engage in conduct which could be characterized as threatening, intimidating, harassing, or discriminatory.*2

3) Financial:

• Have a minimum operating expense budget of $150,000, as shown in last actual Financial Statements. Generally, to be competitive in the program, organizations will show an average operating budget of $200,000 or more.
• Have independently-prepared financial statements signed by two Board members (in the form of audited statements, a review engagement or compilation engagement)
• In good standing with the City of Vancouver (ie, does not have outstanding invoices with any City departments).