Operating Grants support non-profit arts organizations of regional significance with a mandate in public programming. This grant recognizes the contribution these arts organizations make to quality of life in the capital region, as well as the provincial and national visibility they provide to the region.
We have two Operating Grant streams, Annual and Multi-Year. An Annual Grant supports operations for one year, while a Multi-Year Grant is approved for a three-year cycle, with equal grant payments each year.
Intake Closed
Reopening fall 2025 (TBA)
Application Information
For Multi-Year Operating Grants:
Applications are by invitation only. Eligible organizations will be contacted by staff.
For Annual Operating Grants:
Review the program guidelines and sample application form.
Contact us to confirm your eligibility and request an application form. New applicants must contact us at least two weeks before the deadline to arrange an eligibility review discussion.
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.
Multi-year Operating Grant applications are by invitation only. Eligible organizations will be contacted by staff.
Annual Operating Grant applicants must:
Be a non-profit organization registered in BC (for minimum of two years)
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 actively presented public arts programming in the CRD for the last two consecutive years
Have an active Board of Directors (whose members do not receive renumeration)
Have received at least one CRD Project Grant or Equity Grant
Have operating budgets that average at least $90,000 (for current and last two years)
Be able to provide the documents listed in the "Financial Statement Requirements" section of the guidelines
Annual Operating Grant applicants must not be:
Individual artists
Programs of civic departments or branches (such as libraries or community centres)
Clubs or organizations whose main mandate involves social service, sports, or religion
Training and educational organizations
Organizations that are in arrears with any local authority, bankrupt, seeking creditor protection, insolvent, or under court supervision of any kind
Equipment purchases or other capital expenditures
Contests or competitions
Scholarships, bursaries, or subsidies for tuition
Expenses for activities that have already taken place (activities cannot be funded retroactively)
There is no specified maximum grant amount through the Operating Grant program. The amount awarded is determined by:
The evidence of demonstrated need in the application
The needs of other applications received at the same deadline
limits to available resources
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
Operating Grant recipients are not required to submit a final report, but Multi-Year stream recipients are required to submit an interim report each year.
To request an interim report form, please contact us.
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