Creative Spark Vancouver

Applications are now closed! Please check back for our Spring intake.

Small projects can make a big impact. Emerging artists across all artistic and cultural disciplines living in the City of Vancouver who have an interest in building their careers and working with young people in an arts or culture-based capacity are invited to apply for Creative Spark Vancouver.

If you relate to the statements below, then this grant is for you:

• I’m an Emerging Artist in any artistic or cultural discipline and I am interested in exploring my career opportunities
• I’m interested in working with young people (ages 5-18) and need support to start
• I have a project idea but don’t have the funds to cover the required materials and supplies

The artist's project must engage young people (ages 5-18) and focus on arts-based learning in any artistic discipline. Creative Spark Vancouver enables emerging artists to gain experience on small projects that could lead to new career opportunities, new community relationships, different perspectives on arts and education, future learning opportunities and exciting multi-faceted projects.

Who Can Apply?

Emerging artists who are residents of the City of Vancouver or members of the Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh First Nations and live in that Nation’s unceded territories or the City of Vancouver. Emerging artists can be of any age in any artistic or cultural discipline (e.g. community arts, dance, disability arts, Indigenous arts or culture, interdisciplinary, literary, media, multidisciplinary, music, textile/fiber art, theatre, visual arts). Registered organizations and businesses are not eligible to apply.

For the purpose of this grant, an emerging artist is defined as one who:

• is enrolled in, or has specialized training in arts and culture (university graduation or equivalent, self-training, or training in a culturally-specific tradition);
• is in the early stages of their career, usually within the few first years of pursuing a career in their field;
• has a small history of presentation, production, or publication;
• is looking for support and resources to build confidence in their practice;
• is committed to devoting more time to artistic activity, when possible financially; and
• self-identifies as emerging.

This definition has been inspired by a number of sources, including CARFAC BC's video, Artists Talk: What is an Emerging Artist?

Grant Amount

Creative Spark Vancouver offers up to 100% funding for projects!

Individual artists can apply for up to $3,000.

Collectives or groups of emerging artists working together can apply for up to $5,000.

Projects with budgets over those amounts will need to secure additional funding to balance their budgets. Grant funds are intended to cover artist fees, project materials and supplies, rentals and honoraria.

Goals of this Grant

Before you apply, please make sure your application meets the Creative Spark Vancouver goals:

• To build the capacity and confidence of emerging artists working with young people and art and culture-based learning;
• To provide young people opportunities to engage actively in art and culture, particularly artists and young people from equity-seeking communities; and
• To critically engage with reconciliation, decolonization, equity, and accessibility.

ArtStarts has made some changes to the Creative Spark Vancouver grant so that we can still fund projects while operating safely in accordance with public health precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have changed the timeline for the grant, allowed for projects to happen via distance, and expanded eligible expenses to support projects happening online or via distance. We hope that this revised grant format supports emerging artists in continuing to work with young people while following established public health guidelines. 

Please give the revised grant guidelines a close look to understand all of the options available to you and your project! We are available via email to answer any questions you may have or help brainstorm alternate project delivery models! You can get in touch at [email protected] 

How to Apply

• The link to the online application form can be found at artstarts.com/creativesparkvancouver.
• Fill out the application form while referring to these Grant Guidelines and the Frequently Asked Questions below. Both solo and collaborative projects use the same form.
• A draft of the application can be saved while you are working on it. The system will send you a link that allows you to resume. 
• Ensure all sections of your application are complete and files uploaded.
• The application must be submitted by Tuesday, September 12, 2023 11:59pm. A copy of the completed application form will be emailed to you. 
• Late applications will not be considered for funding.

For more information, please contact Izzy Data, Program Coordinator - Grants

Tel: 604.336.0626 ext. 103 | Toll free: 1.855.292.7826 | Email:[email protected]

Project Examples

Not sure what creative project you might develop? Here are some examples of successfully funded projects to date:

• An online zine workshop series with teenagers and other youth providing drop in facilitation and mentorship to teens wanting to write their own zines. 
• An online family workshop for young people and their families to reflect on what dinner and eating means to their family and within their culture. 
• A five-day dance training intensive for dancers aged 14-19 to help bridge the current professional dance community to the future generation of local dance artists.
• A textile art project to construct meaingful artwork for a classroom reading corner, using salvaged fabric
• A puppetry workshop with Grade 1 students, from character creation to performance
• A series of arts-based workshops for self-identified Muslim youth, including photographic self-portraits and creative writing, to showcase their beauty and diversity and create a safe space for expression
• An weekly workshop where families learn about plants and berries that can be used for dyeing wool and develop their own weaving skills
• A four-month pilot program of drama therapy and theatre arts classes for children ages 6-12 to explore the healing power of drama
• A project that turns a park space into a musical playground for youth, with hands-on workshops about making instruments from household objects

This list is not at all comprehensive. We hope these examples inspire you and spark your imagination. Apply for a Creative Spark Vancouver grant and bring your own unique creative project to life!