Vancouver City Council Approves 2018 Cultural Grants

The following is excerpted from a communication issued by the City of Vancouver.

Rungh Cultural Society was among the 2018 Cultural Grant recipients. | Image: City of Vancouver.

Nearly 50 Vancouver organizations will receive funding following the approval of the 2018 Cultural Grants by Vancouver City Council November 13. From dance and theatre, to arts and photography groups, each of the grant recipients aligns with the priorities of the Creative City Strategy, with $130,000 going towards organizations that support Indigenous-led projects.

Organizations and groups were selected as part of the new Creative City Strategy grants process, which assesses potential recipients using an equity lens. The grant allocations also reflect the community needs expressed through the Making Space for Arts and Culture plan, which was approved during the summer.

"Every organization receiving funding positively impacts the communities they serve, from supporting the principles of reconciliation to increasing equity and access," said Branislav Henselmann, managing director of Cultural Services. "The grants approved by Council today will support groups and individuals underrepresented in the City’s current funding programs."

"Rungh Cultural Society is thrilled to receive a Creative City Strategic grant. This equity seeking grants assessment process which centres traditionally marginalized voices is not only timely, but overdue. In partnership with the DOXA Film Festival, Rungh plans to activate cultural work centered in intersected communities whose histories are being lost. The Creative City Strategy shows strong promise to catalyze necessary changes to the City's support for arts and culture," said Zool Suleman, executive director of Rungh Cultural Society.

Another grant recipient is Savage Productions Society, which is producing O'wet - a new play by Musqueam artist Quelemia Sparrow, with animation work by Indigenous filmmaker Amanda Strong. "It’s important for the City to support new, original work that reflects a strong commitment to reconciliation with an all-Indigenous creative and production team," said Quelemia Sparrow. "Specifically, this collaborative work reclaims the ways of knowing Xway Xway (Stanley Park) through the visceral experience of a spiritual canoe journey and helps restore local Indigenous visibility on the land that has been our home since time immemorial."

For the full list of grant recipients, read the report by clicking here.