The CRD Arts & Culture Support Service recognizes how incredibly challenging the current situation is for the arts and culture sector. We are witnessing the enormous impact COVID-19 is having on an industry that relies on audience attendance, convening artists and traveling in order to fulfill their mandates and make an income. We are also seeing a rise in creative responses that make bold steps towards resiliency with through alternative presentation formats that follow the directives of the Provincial Health Officer.

Our Operations

We continue to administer grant programs, however, applications should be submitted by email only.

Convening events and in-person information sessions are on hold.

The Arts & Culture Support Service is currently open. We are available to answer questions by phone or email, Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm. If you have any further questions please contact us.

Event Planning

We recognize that the directive from the Provincial Health Officer to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic creates uncertainty for organizations planning arts initiatives, preparing funding applications and managing grants. We are requesting that:

• Organizations preparing applications program their events well in advance using presentation formats that follow directives from the Provincial Health Officer.
• Organizations with successful grant proposals that have significant changes or are planning to reschedule, are required to inform our office.

Operating Grants

We want to provide assurance that the Arts Commission and the Arts & Culture Support Service continue to support the sector and that Operating Grant funding will be released on the usual schedule.

The CRD Arts & Culture Support Service is very concerned about the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the arts and culture sector. We admire your proactive actions to implement physical distancing and protect the community. These are incredibly challenging times for artists and organizations relying on ticket sales

The CRD Arts & Culture Support Service has collected preliminary data on the effect of health directives due to COVID-19 on funded organizations in the areas of staffing, programming and finances. The survey shows a significant change in the arts sector since March in comparison to 2019 progress report data.

• View a summary of early COVID-19 impacts on CRD-funded organizations (PDF)

Key survey findings from arts organizations receiving CRD Project and Operating funding:

• 82% anticipate financial losses in the year ending 2020
• 28% of organizations report that they will lay off staff
• 46% of organizations have had to cancel programming in the year ending 2021
• 78% of organizations have developed alternative formats to replace cancelled events

Other Survey Findings

• Business / Arts, the National Arts Centre and Nanos Research Arts Response Tracking survey gauges Canadians’ attitudes on returning to indoor and outdoor arts and culture events across Canada. Download the report.

Take Other Arts & Culture Impact Surveys

• Creative BC – COVID Impacts Assessment Survey BC-based creative and cultural industries and workers. Take the survey
• Indigenous Arts & Culture Impacts Survey Indigenous artists and cultural practitioners. Take the survey.
• I Lost My Gig / CARFAC - COVID-19 Impact Survey Arts, culture, and tourism workers survey of economic impacts on arts, culture, tourism, heritage, and creative industries workers in Canada. Take the survey

• Aboriginal Curatorial Collective, Community Cares Emergency Response Fund for First Nations, Inuit and Métis Individuals working in the arts - a community-based and led funding program. Learn more >>
• BC Alliance for Arts + Culture has prepared a list of resources related to COVID-19 for artists and arts and culture workers. Find it here >>.
• Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) The Government of Canada has introduced the CERB. This taxable benefit would provide $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more >>
• Canada Council for the Arts Current information and FAQs on the Council’s approach to supporting artists and arts organizations by addressing the shortfalls that arts organizations are experiencing since the cancellation of public events and halting of arts programming. Learn more >>
• BC Arts Council: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the BC Arts Council list updates to policies and programs help address the impacts of COVID-19 that support sustainability of arts and culture organizations and to support the continuation of projects and activities. Learn more >>
• Other Sources of Funding A list of other arts funding opportunities is available. Learn more >>

Local Arts & Culture Initiatives Find ways to experience art from a distance offered by organizations funded by the CRD. Get the list (PDF).

LandMarks Public Art Take a tour of public art in the capital region with the LandMarks public art map. Discover over 170 public artworks online by searching for art by location, artist or discipline. Discover public art.

YYJ Arts United Find online and livestream content from greater Victoria’s diverse arts community with the general public. Created by UVic’s Faculty of Fine Arts. Posts include theatre, music, dance, film, opera, literary arts, visual arts, performance art, museum exhibitions and more. Find art.

Culture Online Visit museums, view live music, watch dance and explore science centres, from across British Columbia, all from the comfort of your home. Created by Arts BC and the BC Museums Association. Visit culture online.