BCAC: Media Arts Organizations (Project Assistance)

Deadline: October 14, 2026 (11:59 p.m. PT)

Program Summary:

Project Assistance: Media Arts Organizations supports eligible organizations and arts or curatorial collectives in the development, expansion, enhancement, or creation of new or unique independent media arts works, programming and community engagement initiatives. Projects and works must be independent of commercial industries for film, video, and gaming.

BC Arts Council grant programs support independent digital and media arts practices in the following areas:

• Moving images (film and video practices, including narrative, experimental, expanded cinema, and installation-based works)
• Audio or sound art (including sound sculptures and installations, sound walks, or other use of sound and listening as the foundation of artistic expression, generally for presentation in gallery spaces)
• New media and digital arts (including interactive installation, immersive and interactive environments, web-based art, or other information and communications technologies used for artistic expression)

This grant program does not support film production activities of works primarily intended for commercial distribution, or film and creation projects outside of programming and engagement initiatives. Applicants who are unsure if their film project is eligible for this program are encouraged to contact the Program Advisor.

What you can apply for

BC Arts Council project assistance grant programs provide one-time grants for specific projects. Project grants are not meant to cover operating or ongoing expenses.

Grants are available in this program to support specific projects for the development, enrichment, and creation of new or unique independent media arts works, programming, and community engagement initiatives.

This program does not support film production activities of works primarily intended for commercial distribution, or film and creation projects outside of programming and engagement initiatives.

Examples of Eligible Projects

Examples of eligible activities include but are not limited to:

• Screenings and exhibitions of independent media arts works, including development and presentation or installation. 
• Documentation, publications, and dissemination of digital and media arts works and exhibitions. 
• Professional skills development, including workshops, artists’ residencies, and activities that develop the arts sector. 
• Exploration of new artistic or independent media arts-based works or curatorial practices, including practice-based research, experimentation, and creative development. 
• Audience development, collaborations, exchanges, and activities that creatively engage communities. 

Grant Amount:

Maximum request amount is $25,000

Applicants may request:  

• a grant up to 50% of the total eligible project budget; OR
• a grant up to 65% of the total eligible project budget from applicants that are considered part of the BC Arts Council’s designated priority groups.

Applicant contributions to the project budget can include both cash and in-kind contributions.  

Submit a realistic and balanced budget that shows how much money you need to complete the project. BC Arts Council intends to support successful applications at 100% of their request. However, in some cases grants may be awarded for less than requested.

BC Arts Council grant programs are competitive. We are not able to support all eligible applications. We generally fund between 20% to 30% of eligible applications in a program intake. To see a list of previous grant recipients and the range of grants awarded, visit the BC Arts Council Grant Recipients webpage.

Eligible Applicants:

Before you begin your application, make sure make sure you are eligible and your proposed project is eligible. Ineligible applications will not be forwarded for assessment. If you have questions about eligibility, contact the Program Advisor.

Media Arts Organization Eligibility

To be eligible, an organization must be: 

• A professional media arts organization registered and in good standing as a non-profit society or community service co-op in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application with:
  • The majority of key staff and board members based in B.C. 
  • Creative control and decision making for programming and engagement primarily maintained within the organization and by leadership based in B.C.  
  • A purpose or mandate dedicated to arts and culture programming and activities. or    
  • A purpose or mandate to provide services to the arts and culture sector in B.C.
  • Operations and activities that reflect this dedicated purpose or mandate. 

OR 

• An Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) community organization registered and in good standing as a non-profit society or community service co-op in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application with:
  • The majority of key staff and board members based in B.C. 
  • A commitment to offering regular arts and culture activities. 

OR 

• An Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) government in B.C. that offers regular arts and culture activities. 

OR 

• A professional media arts organization operated by a local government in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application, that:
  • Maintains an ongoing arm’s length, community-based board of management or advisory structure that sets policy for the organization’s programs and services. 
  • Holds a dedicated programming space and has at least one dedicated staff person in an artistic, curatorial, or administrative leadership position who is responsible for programming and engagement. 
  • Offers ongoing public programming by arts and cultural practitioners. 
  • Primarily operates with autonomy, holding creative control and decision making for programming and engagement within the organization, with separate financial records for operations. See Financial Statement Requirements section below for more detail. 

OR 

• A professional media arts organization operated by a public post-secondary institution  in B.C. for at least one fiscal year prior to application, that:
  • Holds a dedicated programming space and has at least one dedicated staff person in an artistic, curatorial, or administrative leadership position who is responsible for programming and engagement. 
  • Offers ongoing public programming by arts and cultural practitioners,  the majority of which is not programming of faculty or student works. 
  • Primarily operates with autonomy, outside of curriculum, holding creative control and decision making for programming and engagement within the organization, with separate financial records for operations. See Financial Statement Requirements section below for more detail. 

OR

• A registered Arts Activator Organization. Arts Activators are strongly advised to contact a Program Advisor to confirm the eligibility of their proposed project.