Arts Funding

• 2024 Arts & Culture Grant Recipients 
• 2024 Operating Grant Recipients 

• 2023 Grant recipients with amounts [PDF/86KB]
• Operating Grant recipient descriptions: 2023 

• All 2021 Grant Recipients with amounts 
• Project Grant descriptions: January 2021 [PDF/2.7MB]
• Project Grant descriptions: April 2021 [PDF/2.2MB]
• Equity, Incubator and IDEA Grant description: 2021 [PDF/1.2MB]

• All 2021 Grant Recipients with amounts [PDF/103KB] (PDF)
• Project Grant descriptions: January 2021 [PDF/2.2MB] (PDF)
• Project Grant descriptions: April 2021 [PDF/1.2MB](PDF)
• Equity, Incubator and IDEA Grant description: 2021 [PDF/3MB] (PDF)

• All 2020 Grant Recipients with amounts [PDF/102KB] (PDF)
• Operating Grant recipient descriptions: 2020 [PDF/266KB] (PDF)
• Project Grant descriptions: January 2020 [PDF/760KB] (PDF)

Our Impact Reports highlight the impact of our grant recipients' programming each year. They also provide updates on other Arts Service initiatives. These used to be called "Progress Reports."

• 2023 Impact Report [PDF/24.4MB]
• 2022 Impact Report [PDF/4.5MB]
• 2021 Progress Report [PDF/7.4MB]
  • 2021 Progress Report Presentation
  • 2021 Progress Report Highlights
• 2020 Progress Report [PDF/4.8MB]
  • 2020 Progress Report Presentation
• 2019 Progress Report [PDF/20.8MB]
  • 2019 Progress Report Sources List [PDF/112KB]
  • 2019 Progress Report Presentation
• 2018 Progress Report [PDF/8.7MB]
  • 2018 Progress Report Sources List [PDF/584KB]
  • 2018 Progress Report Presentation

In January 2022, the Arts Commission approved an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Framework. The framework describes a process to examine and adjust our policies and procedures. The goal was to better serve equity-seeking communities.

A volunteer EDI Subcommittee led the framework's development process. We gathered community feedback at an Arts Champions Summit in 2021. The 2021 Arts Champions Summit What We Heard Report  summarizes this feedback. We also looked to EDI actions other funders across the country had taken to inform our own.

The result of this process was top to bottom adjustments to our operations and granting. We implemented many of these changes in 2022. 

• Changes made through the 2022 EDI Implementation Framework [PDF/173KB]

The next phase of the process was to embed EDI initiatives and considerations into our next strategic plan. The Arts Commission approved that strategic plan in late 2023.

• CRD Arts & Culture 2024-2027 Strategic Plan [PDF/3.3MB]

Every two years, we convene champions of the region's arts at an event we call the Arts Champions Summit. The summit brings the arts sector together to connect, celebrate accomplishments, and plan for the future. The next Arts Champions Summit will be in 2025.  

2023 Arts Champions Summit: Growing Together

The 2023 Arts Champions Summit focused on growth from shared learnings and knowledge. This theme celebrated lessons learned and progress made in recent years. It also provoked discussion about challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The summit featured presentations from community members and workshops exploring the sector's needs. The 2023  What We Heard Report includes input collected during the summit's activities. That report's findings informed the development of our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.

• Read the What We Heard Report - 2023 [PDF/5.9MB]
• Read the Arts & Culture 2024-2027 Strategic Plan
• Visit the GetInvolved webpage for event details, photos, presentation slides and more.

2021 Arts Champions Summit: Reframing Our Arts Future

The virtual 2021 Arts Champions Summit centered on building a more equitable arts region. It celebrated the work of those in our sector embedded in equity-seeking communities. This summit included presentations, a panel, and an interview with the Chair of Canada Council for the Arts.

• Read the What We Heard Report: 2021 Arts Champions Summit [PDF/1.2MB]
• Recording Part One: Welcome and PechaKucha Presentations
• Recording Part Two: Interview with Canada Council Chair
• Recording Part Three: Panel and Intro to EDI Subcommittee

2018 Arts Champions Summit: the Collaboration Effect

This summit reflected on the cultural moment we create and work in. Artists, cultural workers, municipal staff and elected officials shared experiences and connected. Input from the summit went on to inform our Strategic Implementation Plan.

• Pecha Kucha presentations
• CRD Arts Update with Q&A
• Graphic recording [PDF/10.8MB]
• What We Heard: 2018 Summit Report [PDF/5.2MB]

Leading up to grant deadlines, we offer information sessions to help applicants prepare. We also organize skill-building workshops that address challenges currently facing the arts community.

• Check the events calendar for upcoming information sessions or workshops
• Contact us to request an information session or workshop for your community

The CRD Arts & Culture Support Service (Arts Service) is a sub-regional service supported by the following jurisdictions:

• Saanich
• Victoria
• Oak Bay
• Esquimalt
• View Royal
• Highlands
• Metchosin
• Sooke
• Southern Gulf Islands

The CRD's annual Financial Planning process determines the Arts Service's budget. It is then approved by the Arts Commission and the CRD Board of Directors. 

• Check out the Greater Victoria Community Funders’ Network Grant Writing Handbook - adapted with permission from the First Peoples’ Cultural Council.
• Attend an information session to get advice, tips, and tricks for writing a strong application. Check the events calendar for upcoming info sessions - we generally offer them about 2 weeks prior to application deadlines. 
• Process support funding is available for applicants who are Deaf, hard of hearing or who have a disability and need support to complete their grant applications. Please contact us at least three weeks before the deadline to make a request.

We will notify you of your application's results once adjudication is complete. This may take up to 10 weeks following the grant deadline. The adjudication process is as follows:

1. CRD staff work with the Arts Advisory Council (AAC) to judge applications. The AAC is an arms-length group of appointed volunteers.
2. The AAC recommends award amounts to the Arts Commission. The Arts Commission is a group of elected officials from the jurisdictions that support the service.
3. The Arts Commission approves the AAC's recommendations. 

Adjudicators judge each application on its own merit, and in relation to other applications. They will consider:

• The demonstrated ability of the applicant to carry out the project
• If the applicant has the capacity to achieve the artistic goals of the project
• How appropriate the project budget is
• The impact of the project on the development of arts in participating jurisdictions
• The benefit of the project to the community, including benefits to equity-seeking groups
• The project's contribution to the development of artists, the art form, and to the applicant organization

We would love to support your project! Tag us on Facebook and Instagram and use hashtags #crdarts and #yyjarts, so we can share your posts. You can also contact us to share promotional information.

The CRD also has a public bulletin board in the lobby of its Fisgard office. You can mail or deliver print posters promoting initiatives funded by CRD for the board. Check our location and office hours.

• BC Arts Council
• BC Cultural Services Branch
• BC Gaming
• Canada Council for the Arts
• City of Vancouver, Office of Cultural Affairs
• City of Victoria, Arts & Culture
• Department of Canadian Heritage
• First Peoples' Cultural Council
• Indigenous Curatorial Collective
• Koerner Foundation
• Hamber Foundation
• McLean Foundation
• Vancouver Foundation
• Victoria Foundation

CRD Arts and Culture does not tolerate any form of physical, verbal, or non-verbal abuse, harassment or intimidation of its staff, the Arts Advisory Council, or anyone working or volunteering with its department in any capacity. This includes all communication verbal and non-verbal by phone, by written word (including in grant applications), in person or online, of an abusive nature, including:

• Using language or a tone that is aggressive, antagonistic, and/or vulgar;
• Making direct or indirect threats;
• Making comments of a defamatory or derogatory nature; and
• Communicating with unreasonable or excessive frequency and/or at inappropriate times.

While rare, abusive, aggressive, threatening or vexatious conduct is unacceptable. In those instances, CRD staff may end or alter communication with any applicant.

Inappropriate behaviour could compromise the relationship of the applicant with CRD Arts & Culture and the chances of obtaining its support in the future.