Creative BC: Career Development Program

Deadline: September 9, 2026

Program Summary:

The Career Development program is one of the Amplify BC programs funded by the Province of British Columbia to support the growth, competitiveness, and sustainability of B.C.’s music and sound recording industry.

This funding program supports the economic growth and career development of emerging and established B.C. artists in the areas of sound recording, marketing, and music videos.

Amplify BC funding programs support artists, music companies, live music presenters, and industry development to stimulate the growth, competitiveness, and sustainability of B.C.’s music industry. Visit the Creative BC website to learn more.

Aims + Objectives

• Increase and sustain earning potential and economic activity for B.C. artists, studios, recording professionals, producers, and music companies.
• Develop audiences for B.C. artists locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Invest in the creation and marketing of intellectual property and expand digital presence for B.C. artists.
• Support a broad range of artists, including artists from systemically excluded groups who experience barriers to participation.

Project Eligibility

Eligible activities must take place within B.C. or engage out-of-province professionals remotely. Artists cannot travel outside of B.C. to complete activities. Project budgets must maintain a minimum of 50% B.C.-based expenses paid to B.C. vendors. National or multi-national companies that employ people in B.C. can contribute towards B.C.-based expenses.

Applicants can apply for a single activity, or a combination of any of the following activities:

1. Sound recording activities, including singles, EPs, and LPs in the form of original music, covers, remixes, and interpretations of existing music. Recordings can be in any genre or language, including instrumental works. This program does not support songwriting, commissions, or the creation of new works prior to recording. Recordings supported through this program must be intended for commercial release.
2. Music video production, including visualizers, short-form video, official music videos, prerecorded and live-streamed performance videos, and other promotional video content that supports a B.C. artist. Live-streamed videos must continue to be available after the live-stream as a permanent promotional asset.
3. Marketing activities, including photography, digital media, websites, bio writing, publicity, social media marketing, tour promotion, or radio promotion. Vendors may be Canadian or international, although hiring B.C. vendors is strongly encouraged. This program may support the manufacturing of a limited amount of merchandise for promotional purposes, but not for sale.

Lists of previous recipients and artist profiles can be found on the Creative BC website.

Grant Amount:

Grant Amounts: $1,000 – $30,000, funding up to 75% of eligible expenses. A minimum of 50% of each project budget must be B.C.-based expenses.

Eligible Applicants:

Applicants can apply for activities that support the career development of emerging and established B.C. artists. This may include musicians, composers, bands, and musical ensembles. The artist is the individual or group that has creative control of the music being created or recorded, and who performs and/or releases music under their brand.

Creative BC encourages applications from systemically excluded groups, including Indigenous Peoples (First Nations [Status/Non-Status], Métis, and Inuit), Black, People of Colour, People living with one or more Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and other groups who experience systemic barriers to participation.

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible:

• Artists must have resided in B.C. for at least 200 of the 365 days before the deadline of September 9, 2026. In the case of a band or group, 50% or more of the permanent members must meet these B.C. residency requirements.
• Artists must demonstrate experience recording, releasing music and/or performing, earning money from music, and promoting their music online. At least two songs must be available from the artist on a public platform.
• Artists may apply as an individual or as a music company. If applying as an individual, the artist must have a valid social insurance number (SIN).
• Music companies such as record labels may apply on behalf of artists on their roster. If applying as a company:
  • The primary business activities of the company must include music.
  • The business must be a legal entity in the form of a sole proprietorship, registered partnership, incorporated company, or not-for-profit society. The business must have a valid statement of business registration, certificate of incorporation, business number, or GST number. To learn more about registering your business, visit the BC Business Registry, or OrgBook BC.
  • The company must provide a signed contract between the artist and the company that outlines their business relationship.

Other eligibility information:

• If an artist has previously received Career Development funding from Creative BC, all prior Career Development final reports must be submitted prior to the application deadline.
• Eligible applicants must have filed income tax returns in B.C. in the taxation year prior to the date of application (2025), if legally required to do so. It is an expectation in this program that all grant recipients are up to date, as applicable, on their income tax payments in B.C.
• The owners, principals, directors, officers, and shareholders of the applicant company must be in good standing (i.e., not in default) with Creative BC.
• If the artist is a minor (under 19 years of age), the artist’s legal guardian must be included on the application.
• Recording studios, record producers, production companies, video production companies, or managers are not eligible to apply directly. Individuals affiliated with a project may assist with the preparation of an application, and be listed as a secondary contact or grant writer, but cannot apply or sign on behalf of the artist or the label.

Financial Participation

This program covers 75% of expenses for all applicants up to the grant amount. Total public funding from combined sources cannot exceed 75% of the budget for applicants, except for Indigenous artists, who can use multiple grants to cover the entire project budget. Artists may submit one application per deadline, and must self-identify as either an Emerging or Established artist based on the career milestones outlined below.

Emerging Artists: $1,000 – $10,000

This category supports emerging artists with a commitment to music creation, and clear, achievable goals to grow their music business. Emerging artists must exhibit all of the following career milestones:

• Previous revenue generation as an artist from music-related activities such as paid gigs, royalties, and/or merchandise sales. It is strongly recommended that artists are earning a minimum of $2,000 per year from all activities specific to their music business, not including grants.
• A history of recording and releasing music with a minimum of two songs available on a public website or platform. Musicians in performance-based genres, such as classical music, opera, or traditional or ceremonial music may provide their performance history in lieu of release history if recorded music is not a focus in their genre.
• A history of performance, presentation, or distribution of works within their geographical area.
• Maintain an active web presence and create content relevant to the project on a public platform, such as a website, social media, blog, live performance videos, or music videos.
• Able to provide and interpret basic audience and sales metrics as indicated by their digital platforms or performance history.

Emerging artists who wish to apply for a new project or solo project must meet all the Emerging criteria and the release or performance requirements for their new project, independent from their experience in other groups.

Established Artists: $1,000 – $30,000

This category will support established artists that demonstrate financial viability and create economic impact in B.C. in the form of job creation and business relationships within the music industry.

Established artists must meet all of the Emerging milestones, and exhibit many or all of the following additional criteria:

• Substantial earnings from music activities including touring, licensing, publishing, streaming, and album sales. It is strongly recommended that artists are generating a minimum of $30,000 per year from all activities specific to their music business, not including grants, to be competitive as an Established artist.
• Are supported by one or more industry professionals such as a label, management company, publicist, publisher, etc.
• Have produced an extensive body of recorded work that has been commercially released with a strong, recognizable style and sound.
• Track record of media exposure in the form of awards, radio play, or other press.
• Tour history with national and/or international tour dates, with affiliated press.
• Demonstrates a substantial audience on social media, streaming services, or at live performances.

Established artists who wish to apply in this category for a new project or solo project must contact Creative BC prior to applying to discuss eligibility. Applicants must demonstrate how the new project builds on their existing audiences and previous successes in their application.