Culture, Arts and Heritage Grants
Culture, Arts & Heritage grants support performances, exhibitions, activities, and public art that showcase the best of Vancouver’s creative community. Community members and organizations are invited to apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to support projects occurring between July 2024 and December 2025.
Are you an individual artist with a great idea? Email parksrecculture@cityofvancouver.us to request a match to a sponsoring organization.
Important Dates
- Application Open: Feb. 15, 2024
- Applications Due: April 7, 2024
- Award Decisions: June 2024
- Projects Begin: July 2024
- Projects Complete: Nov. 2025
Grant funds are paid by reimbursement. Applications should demonstrate high artistic quality, innovation and creativity. Past projects include plays, cultural events, museum displays, murals and concerts.
Resources
Applicants
Application Workshops
The Culture, Arts and Heritage Commission is hosted a series of application workshops in February and March to support those interested in applying for a grant. A recording of the first workshop is available for those who were not able to attend in-person.
For questions or help completing an application, email parksrecculture@cityofvancouver.us.
Project Planning
Applications should describe a project, event or program that meets a community need and can realistically occur between the project start and completion dates identified above. The application will ask you to describe the project’s impact, artistic merit, and target audience in addition to providing a project description, budget, and promotion plan.
Grant funds can be used towards artist fees, contractor fees, exhibition costs, equipment under $5,000, marketing and promotion, production costs and educational programs. Grant funds cannot be used towards prizes, membership dues, lobbying or fundraising, events that are not open to the public, or alcohol. The City cannot award grant funds to events or programs that have already happened.
The applications will be evaluated by Vancouver’s Culture, Arts & Heritage Commission on the following criteria:
- Proposals should elevate Vancouver’s livability by demonstrating social & economic impact
- Proposals should celebrate a vibrant and diverse community
- Proposals should exemplify the best of Vancouver’s creative community by demonstrating strong feasibility and creative merit
- Proposals should support innovation and collaboration
Applicants are required to match 10% of the proposed grant award in cash, plus an additional 10% either cash or in-kind for a total of 20% match towards the project costs. A total of $100,000 is available. Grant funds are paid by reimbursement.
Resources
Preview the application questions (PDF)
Current Recipients
Grant Portal
For questions or issues accessing the grant portal, email Kirsten Hull at Kirsten.Hull@cityofvancouver.us.
Advertising Acknowledgement
Any publications or advertising for your project should feature the following credit: “Made possible in part by assistance from the City of Vancouver, Washington Culture, Arts and Heritage Grant Program.” A copy of all printed materials crediting the Culture, Arts and Heritage Grant should be provided with the final project report.
Receipts and Reimbursement
Grant recipients must submit copies of their receipts or invoices to request reimbursement of project funds. The reimbursement form will ask for an itemized list in each expense category and a link to upload an attachment. Please combine all receipts and invoices into a single attachment per form. Some applicants find it helpful to track their expenses in a spreadsheet and include that in their documentation.
Resources
Reporting
Grant recipients must complete an impact and outcome report within 90 days of their project’s conclusion. The report may include photographs of project or event, attendance figures and participant demographics if collected, final cost, and a written description of the project’s outcome, successes, and challenges. Recipients who fail to submit an impact and outcome report may be ineligible to apply for future grants through the City of Vancouver.
Resources
Past Projects
2023 Projects
Nam U gas Mural
Sponsoring Organization: Vancouver Housing Authority
Art: Coordinated by Sarah Folden Art, LLC
Murals depicting cultural identifiers of the Cowlitz tribe painted by local tribal youth. The murals are spread throughout a 30-unit apartment building in Hazel Dell for youth exiting foster care and unhoused youth. “The name for the project is derived from the Cowlitz word for “hope”. We’ve been able to successfully qualify ten youth families into the building and exit homelessness; the building has provided a beacon of hope to these residents, the murals help provide a sense of hope and inspiration.”
Day of the Dead
Sponsoring Organization and Artists: Vancouver Ballet Folklórico
People from various backgrounds may find common ground in honoring and remembering their loved ones. Doing this in a positive and vibrant manner can positively impact participants’ emotional wellbeing, providing a healthy approach to dealing with loss, navigating grief and finding comfort in communal support. “The event showed a substantial growth in attendance, fostering a dynamic community ambiance characterized by engaged and enthusiastic participant interaction. The project effectively showcased the intricacies of Mexican culture, cultivating a communal atmosphere where our attendees experienced a genuine sense of belonging.”
75th Anniversary Christmas Concert
Sponsoring Organization and Artists: Vancouver Master Chorale
Vancouver Master Chorale celebrating their 75th Anniversary with a special Christmas concert featuring 109 singers, 25 orchestra members, 15 volunteers and 1200 attendees. Funding concerts is a big challenge. In addition to the orchestra, there are music expenses for the 107-voice choir, which can be $5,000 or more for music, building rental expenses for concerts and rehearsals, riser and music storage rental costs, program printing and more. “The orchestra and choir were so beautiful; I was in tears several times. Thank you for wonderful Christmas concert.”
2019 Projects
Art at the Marketplace
Sponsoring Organization and Artists: Public Art Coalition of 8 students led by VSAA teacher Jeri Swatosh with artwork from Cobalt Design Works
The art installation serves as seating, which creates an outdoor living room where people can sit and enjoy their snacks and beverages from the Marketplace businesses. Beyond simply enjoying the art, people can learn more about the history of the building and the influences of the businesses that used to operate there, including an early Ford dealership and the Kaiser Shipyard administrative offices. “This grant process was very educational for the students, as they were learning to gather and summarize important information for the proposal. We all learned more about the importance of articulating the value of public art, the vision of the artwork, who it serves and how to measure its success.”
Clark County Open Studios
Sponsoring Organization and Artists: Artstra
Clark County Open Studios Tour is a free self-guided tour as local artists open their studios to the public and share how, why, and where their art is created. This is a unique opportunity to visit artists and artisans, view diverse works and buy works from local artists. “Keeping application fees low for our artists is important and directly influences the diversity of artists participating and the diversity of art shared.”
