Applications Open for Culture Project Grant (Canada)

Deadline: 06-Oct-2026

The City of Nanaimo’s Culture Project Grant supports local non-profit arts, culture, and heritage organizations undertaking projects that benefit the Nanaimo community. The grant can fund up to 25% of total project costs and supports activities that strengthen cultural participation, community identity, collaboration, and Nanaimo’s creative economy. The Culture Project Grant is available to Nanaimo-based non-profit organizations with an arts, culture, or heritage mandate. Eligible projects can include public arts activities, cultural festivals, partnerships, collaborations, and organizational capacity-building initiatives, provided applicants meet the program’s eligibility and reporting requirements. The City of Nanaimo recognizes arts and culture as important contributors to social and economic development, quality of life, community identity, and civic pride. Guided by the City Plan – Nanaimo ReImagined, the Culture & Events team uses the Culture Project Grant to support projects that create meaningful cultural and community benefits. The program is intended for projects that contribute to Nanaimo’s cultural, social, and economic vitality while creating opportunities for public participation and engagement. The Culture Project Grant can provide funding for a maximum of 25% of total project costs. Applicants must demonstrate support for the project from other sources. The City grant is therefore intended to contribute to a broader project budget rather than cover the entire cost. Organizations can submit up to three applications per year, provided each application is for a separate project.

The program encourages projects that:

Applicants must meet the following requirements: Both professional and volunteer-driven organizations can apply. An eligible organization may submit up to three applications per year. Each application must relate to a separate project. Organizations considering multiple applications should ensure that each proposed project has its own clear objectives, activities, budget, and expected community outcomes. Eligible projects must fall within one of the program’s four main project areas. Projects can involve public-facing arts activities and community-based cultural initiatives that provide opportunities for residents to participate in or experience arts and culture. Funding can support cultural festivals that contribute to Nanaimo’s cultural life and provide meaningful opportunities for community participation. Projects involving innovative partnerships or collaborations between organizations are encouraged. These projects can help organizations share resources, reach new audiences, and strengthen relationships within Nanaimo’s arts and culture sector. Projects focused on strengthening an organization’s ability to deliver arts, culture, or heritage activities can also be eligible. Capacity-building initiatives should contribute to the organization’s effectiveness and broader cultural impact. The following types of projects are not eligible: Applicants should ensure that their proposed project clearly fits within an eligible project category before applying. The grant is designed to help organizations deliver projects that provide cultural and community benefits. Supported projects should demonstrate how they will: Applications are assessed using several key considerations, including: The program also places strong emphasis on: Applicants are required to attend a mandatory grant information session. Organizations should make sure they complete this requirement before submitting their application and use the session to understand the program requirements and application process. Organizations that previously received funding must submit the required final report for the previously funded project before applying for new funding. Applicants should therefore ensure that all reporting obligations from earlier City-funded projects have been completed. Organizations can prepare a strong application by focusing on the following: Applicants should remember the following requirements:

Applicants should avoid:

The Culture Project Grant is a City of Nanaimo funding program that supports eligible non-profit arts, culture, and heritage organizations undertaking projects that benefit the local community. The grant can fund a maximum of 25% of total project costs. Nanaimo-based incorporated non-profit organizations with an arts, culture, or heritage mandate can apply if they meet the other eligibility requirements. An eligible organization must have operated for at least one year. An organization can submit up to three applications per year, with each application covering a separate project. Eligible projects fall into four main areas: public events and community arts projects, cultural festivals, collaborations and partnerships, and organizational capacity-building initiatives. No. Activities outside Nanaimo are not eligible. No. Capital projects are listed among the ineligible activities. No. Bursaries and scholarships are not eligible for funding. Yes. Attendance at a mandatory grant information session is required for applicants. No. Applicants must submit the required final report for previously funded projects before applying for new funding. The City of Nanaimo’s Culture Project Grant provides financial support for eligible local arts, culture, and heritage organizations delivering community-focused projects. With funding of up to 25% of total project costs, the program supports public arts activities, cultural festivals, partnerships, collaborations, and capacity-building initiatives that contribute to Nanaimo’s cultural and community life. For more information, visit City of Nanaimo.