Applications are now open!
Before you apply for a grant, please read our Eligibility section. You can then apply online or with a paper application. Find full instructions below.
Eligibility
Do you live or work in the downtown eastside?
The Small Arts Grants are for individuals or groups of artists living and/or creating art in the DTES which includes areas of Gastown, Victory Square, Chinatown, Strathcona, the industrial area, and the Oppenheimer and Thornton Parks as shown on the map. Preference will be given to residents of the DTES.
The boundaries are the rail yards and port lands to the north, Malkin Street to the south, Richards Street to the west and Clark Drive to the east.
What Types of Projects are Eligible?
The Community Advisory Committee is looking for a wide variety of artistic media including music, theatre, writing, photography, pottery, textiles, jewelry making, carving, painting, animation, dance, mixed-media, performance, video and others. Emerging artists who don’t have access to major funding are encouraged to apply.
Note:
- Grants are for art projects that begin after the grant decision is made (January, February, or March depending on the round that you apply in) and that end by June.
- Grants may not be used for retro-funding (e.g. if the decision date is in January, we cannot fund projects that happened in December).
- Preference is given to applicants who have not applied for and/or received government funding within the past three years (e.g. BC Arts Council, Canada Council, Creative BC).
- Your artwork must follow acceptable community standards. DTES Small Arts Grants do not support works that are deemed to be cultural appropriation or that exploit an individual’s vulnerability. For example, when photographing, ask yourself: “Would I like to be photographed or videotaped in this situation?”
What Can I Use the Grant Money For?
You can use the grant for expenses that are needed for your art project. This includes products such as art supplies or hiring professional services like a copy editor for your book. You can also use it to take classes or workshops related to your creative practice, or provide honorariums to anyone who contributes skills or knowledge to your art project. Note that grants are not intended to pay for food, rent, or studio rent. Artists cannot pay themselves a fee.
Are you interested in an individual grant, or a group project grant?
- Individual grants range from $500 to $1,000, and are designed to support a single artist to develop their skills.
- Group project grants range from $1,000 to $4,000, for groups of between two and four people, and are designed to support a group of artists to collaborate in making and showcasing art.
To find out more, please choose between an Individual Grant, or a Group Project Grant.
Apply Online
Start your application by creating an account here. You can follow the instructional video below to complete your application.Applications will be accepted and processed in a rolling basis until funds run out. You will hear about the status of your application within 6-8 weeks from the day of submission.
Video Chapter Navigation:
00:00 Introduction
01:42 Creating a new account
03:46 Logging into the system
04:54 I forgot my password
06:01 Choosing your application
06:50 Creating a new application for a project
13:35 The Artist and the Downtown Eastside (part 1)
19:13 The Artist and the Downtown Eastside (part 2)
24:00 Your Project: What it is and how you'll do it (part 1)
26:06 Your Project: What it is and how you'll do it (part 2)
36:50 Your Project: What it is and how you'll do it (part 3)
44:52 About the artist
50:31 Support materials
59:03 Review
01:00:25 Previewing your completed application
01:01:34 Submitting your completed application
01:02:59 Troubleshooting the 2021/2022 DTES SAG Application Form
01:04:14 Terms and conditions: Individual Application
01:09:19 Terms and conditions: Group Application
Transcript
Read the video transcript (written tutorial) here.
Apply with a Paper Application
You can download and print the documents below, or pick up a paper application from the Carnegie Centre. For any questions, please contact the Program Coordinator at: dtesartsgrants@gmail.com.- Application for Individuals (.pdf)
- Application for Groups (.pdf)