The Grow Forward pilot program is new in 2025, replacing the former Incubator Grant program. Grow Forward Grants provide funding to not-for-profit arts organizations for capacity-building, planning, mentorships, sectoral initiatives, and strategic adaptations to operations.
Grant recipients can engage expertise and develop strategies to navigate challenges and opportunities. This may include projects such as:
Developing mentorships for arts leaders internally or between organizations
Making shifts to business models and organizational structures
Forming strategic partnerships with other organizations, including resource sharing
Sectoral initiatives that benefit several arts organization in the Capital Region
Cross-sectoral initiatives that create collaborations with other sectors or industries
Planning for leadership succession from founding and longstanding leaders
Addressing organizational life cycle questions, including potential mergers or closures
A key feature of this new program is the ability to receive a Grow Forward Grant and a Project or Equity Grant. This supports organizations to both create great programing and address organizational development.
The maximum grant available through the Grow Forward Grant pilot program is $5,000.
Review the Grow Forward Grant guidelines and sample application form.
Contact us to confirm your eligibility and request an application form.
Register for an information session to get tips on creating a strong application.
Complete the application and compile documentation.
Email your complete application to the address on the application form by 4:30 pm on the published deadline.
Process support funding is available for applicants who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a disability and need support to complete their grant applications. Please contact us at least three weeks before the application deadline to request process support.
Applicants must:
Be a non-profit organization registered in BC
Have an arts mandate and purpose
Be based in, and conduct their proposed activities in a participating jurisdiction (Esquimalt, Highlands, Metchosin, Oak Bay, Saanich, Sooke, Southern Gulf Islands, Victoria, View Royal)
Have an active Board of Directors
Offer a potential arts impact within the capital region
Applicants must not be:
Individual artists
Programs of civic departments or branches (such as libraries or community centres)
Organizations that have received a CRD Operating Grant within the past year
Organizations that are in arrears with any local authority, bankrupt, seeking creditor protection, insolvent, or under court supervision of any kind
Development, delivery, or touring of artistic programming
Fundraising activities, contests and competitions
Scholarships
Mentorships for individual artists
Capital expenditures
Elimination or reduction of accumulated deficits
Expenses for events or activities that have already taken place
Want to learn how to make your application as strong as possible? Join CRD Arts & Culture staff for an online information session!
We regularly hold information sessions about two weeks before an application deadline. Sessions are generally about 1 hour long, starting with a short but thorough presentation, followed by a question-and-answer period.
We ask all CRD grant recipients to acknowledge our support in their communications. This helps to raise awareness about our grants, and the value of public funding. It also allows us to help promote your organization's work.
In all promotion of your funded activities and on your website, please include:
The CRD wordmark
A written or verbal acknowledgment such as: "we acknowledge the support of the CRD Arts & Culture Support Service"
Tag us in your social media posts about funded activities so we can help promote them.
Tag @crdartsculture on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Threads
Use hashtags #crdarts and #yyjarts
If you receive a Grow Forward Grant, you must submit a final report within two months of completing your project. Review our sample final report form to get an idea of what to expect. Contact us to request final report forms.
Applicants who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a disability may request to give their final report verbally or in Sign language. Please contact us to make this request at least three weeks before your final report deadline.
The CRD conducts its business within the Territories of many First Nations, all of whom have a long-standing relationship with the land and waters from time immemorial that continues to this day. Statement of Reconciliation
