$300,000 Vancouver Music Fund to Elevate Indigenous and Underrepresented Voices
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The following is excerpted from a release issued by the City of Vancouver.
The City of Vancouver and Creative BC have partnered on three new music grant programs to support Indigenous and underrepresented artists and organizations within the City of Vancouver and the unceded traditional homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. These programs will be funded by the City’s $300,000 Vancouver Music Fund, approved by Council in January, and administered by Creative BC. In addition to these programs, Creative BC will leverage their existing music support programs for overall investment in Vancouver artists, programs, and initiatives.
The City of Vancouver funding for the one-time Creative BC programs will support new and emerging artists and industry professionals who experience systemic barriers to funding. Eligible groups may include those who identify as:
Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and other Indigenous Peoples
People of Colour
People who live with disabilities
Minority language speakers, cultural communities, and refugees
Trans, gender diverse, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people
The City’s Vancouver Music Fund includes three grant streams in partnership with Creative BC:
Demo Program: Supporting new and emerging artists from underrepresented groups to create demo recordings and engage in mentorship and skill development with a BC producer.
Music Video Program: Supporting the creation of music videos for new and emerging artists from underrepresented groups to build audiences.
Industry Catalyst Program: Supporting projects that develop Vancouver’s music ecosystem and build the capacity of underrepresented groups. Individuals and collectives can apply, in addition to companies and organizations.
Applicants may apply to Creative BC for a grant of up to 100% of budgeted eligible expenditures, removing the usual requirement for matching funding, a barrier for many underrepresented groups. The deadline for applications for all three programs is July 24, 2019. For more information on how to apply, visit creativebc.com.
Information sessions on these funding opportunities will be held on Monday, June 17, at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre, in partnership with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council, and on Tuesday, June 25, at Creative BC. The First Peoples’ Cultural Council will promote the City of Vancouver funding opportunities alongside existing programs to support Indigenous artists and industry professionals. Visit the creativebc.com to RSVP for information sessions.
As part of the ongoing development of Vancouver’s Music Strategy, the City will host its second, free Community Conversation Series event at The Pace (520 Alexander Street) on June 26, where the public can learn more about the main themes of the strategy and share their opinions to help shape the future of music in Vancouver. The final Vancouver Music Strategy will be delivered to Council in September 2019. For more information about how to participate, click here.
