Applicants must either be:

a society registered in BC from a self-identified community
or
an individual or group from a self-identified community who is not a society but who is leading a project and has found a society willing to act as a Sponsor Society. 

Self-identified communities include but are not limited to:

• Indigenous
• Racialized persons or people of colour
• Deaf
• LGBTQ2
• Those living with challenges related to a physical disability
• Those living with challenges related to a mental illness
• Other (tell us using the self-identification form)

Sponsor Societies may include:

• Non-arts mandated societies
• Arts-mandated societies, including those meeting the eligibility for Operating Grants *NEW* and Project Grants; such organizations may apply concurrently as a Sponsor Society to both programs

Sponsor Societies may not include:

• Organizations in arrears with any local authority, are bankrupt, seeking creditor protection, are insolvent, or under court supervision of any kind

Eligible expenses include but are not limited to:

• Support for artistic growth
• Development of an art project
• Production of an arts event
• Presentation of arts activities

Ineligible expenses include:

• Equipment purchases or other major capital expenditures
• Fundraising activities, contests or competitions
• Scholarships

Examples of eligible activities:

• A not-for-profit organization in Saanich requests $2000 for an art participation program for the deaf community.
• A not-for-profit organization in Esquimalt requests $2500 for a trans-inclusion film festival.
• An Indigenous arts collective partners with a not-for-profit society in Metchosin to request $5000 to develop a series of site-specific performance pieces.
• Browse recent grant recipient projects.

1. Review Grant Guidelines, sample application and FAQs.
2. Contact us to confirm eligibility and request an application form.
3. Complete application and self-identification forms. Be sure to show how the project will benefit residents in the capital region in your proposal.
4. Have your Sponsor Society provide back-up documentation, including an MOU of the payment schedule. *NEW*
5. Sign and scan page one of Part A of the application and include this with your digital application and compile supporting documents.
6. Email a digital copy by 4:30pm on the deadline to the address found on the application form. 

If you have difficulty completing the application or submitting it digitally, please contact us at 250.360.3215.

• Guidelines: Equity Grant  (PDF)
• Sample Application Form: Equity (PDF) - for information only
• Sample Self Identification Form (PDF) - for information only

When you are ready to apply request an application form. 

Grant amounts are up to a maximum of $5000.

• Browse recent recipients.

Equity Grant recipients are required to file a final report within two months of the completion of the project. Recipient also have the option to submit their final report verbally through an interview process. 

To request final report forms or to request to arrange for a verbal final report, contact us at 250.360.3215 or by email. 

• Sample Final Report Form: Equity Grants (PDF) - for information only