Individual Arts Grants for Media Artists (Canada)

Grants are available to support the creation of new works. For film, this may include the production and/or post-production phase. The artist (for film projects, the director) holds complete creative control over the final work and throughout all production stages.

This program does not support projects intended for commercial creative industries (films intended for commercial distribution, television programming, or streaming services; video games, etc.). Critics and curators of Media Art may apply to Individual Arts Grants: Visual Artists for assistance with independent critical writing or curatorial projects.

This program provides one-time grants for specific projects. Applicants may combine funding from other sources to realize their project but must ensure the independence of the work from any rights restrictions that might come from other funding sources.

Focus Areas

• BC Arts Council supports independent digital and media arts practices in the following areas:
  • Moving images (film and video practices, including narrative, experimental, expanded cinema, and installation-based works);
  • Audio/sound art (including sound sculptures and installations, sound walks, or other use of sound and listening as the foundation of artistic expression, generally for presentation in gallery spaces); or
  • New media and digital arts (including interactive installation, immersive and interactive environments, web-based art, or other information and communications technologies used for artistic expression).

Funding Information

• Maximum request amount is $25,000.
• You may request up to 100% of the eligible project expenses. Your subsistence request may be up to $750/week to a maximum of $15,000.
• They encourage you to submit a realistic budget outlining the funds required to feasibly carry out the project.
• BC Arts Council intends to support successful applications at 100% of the request. However, in some cases, grants may be awarded for less than requested.

Eligible Projects

• Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:
  • A film director seeking production funds for an independent, small-budget short documentary film.
  • A multimedia artist seeking funds to pay collaborating artists for a creation workshop for a sound-based work in their community.
  • A new media artist seeking funds to pay for creative consultation, space rental, and fabrication costs associated with a new installation work.
  • A film director seeking post-production funds for a small-scale narrative film to hire editors, colorists, as well as equipment and space rental.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible, you must:
  • Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada.
  • Be a B.C. resident who ordinarily resides in B.C. and has lived in B.C. for at least 12 continuous months immediately prior to the application closing date.
  • Be an independent media artist, who has completed all basic training (not necessarily in academic institutions).
  • Be recognized as professional by other practitioners working in a similar artistic practice.
  • Be committed to working full-time at your practice when financially possible.
  • Demonstrate professional status by submitting a CV or resume that demonstrates you have the following:
    • Completed appropriate and relevant training that has prepared you to work in your field of practice. Training may be through post-secondary institutions, traditional knowledge transfer, or apprenticeship with a qualified practitioner.
    • A minimum two years of professional practice in your field following basic training.
    • As a professional independent media artist, have created and completed at least one project that has been professionally presented as part of a public program for which a professional fee was received (CARFAC, IMAA, or equivalent). Eligible activities may include exhibition in a professionally curated exhibition for which you received BC Arts Council professional fees as described above or having your work screened at a professional film festival at which a professional fee was received.
    • For Indigenous Media Artists: Received at least one grant to assist with the creation of media art through the First Peoples’ Cultural Council Indigenous Arts Program.
  • Have final creative control over the proposed work (for example, director’s credit).
  • Fairly compensate artists, arts and cultural practitioners, technicians, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers. Compensation must align with project and community contexts and industry standards within the field of practice. Follow international intellectual property rights standards and cultural ownership protocols.
  • Follow the Criminal Records Review Act which requires that people who work with or may have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults must undergo a criminal record check by the Criminal Records Review Program.
  • Have completed and submitted any overdue final reports on previous BC Arts Council grants by the application closing date for this grant program.
  • Note: Commercial activities, works resulting from commissions or pay-to-play activities do not contribute towards establishing eligibility.

For more information, visit British Columbia Arts Council.