Cultural Grants
We offer 4 categories of arts and culture grants to non-profit organizations on an annual basis. The purpose of these grants is to enrich the art, culture and heritage experience for Kelowna residents. An organization must be incorporated as a non-profit society and operate primarily in Kelowna to be eligible for a grant. Organizations may apply for grants under more than one category in the same calendar year.
2024 Cultural Grant applications are now closed.
Thank you for all your submissions, cultural grants are now closed for 2024. Submissions for 2025 will open this fall.
Organization development grants aim to assist non-profit organizations in undertaking activities or initiatives that will develop the organization’s capacity and sustainability. Funding can be used to cover 100% of the consulting or tuition/registration costs, to a maximum of $5,000. Two or more organizations may partner on an organization development project and undertake joint planning or training.
More information, including contact information, program guidelines and the screening tool is available on our main grants page
Please apply through the online application system.
Accepting grant applications for 2025 in fall 2024.
General operating grants are available to arts, culture and heritage organizations that carry out most of their work in Kelowna. These grants support the operations of the organization, but are not to be used for start-up, events or capital projects. This grant acknowledges the work these organizations do and how they positively contribute to Kelowna's quality of life, identity and economy. Grants are extended to recipients who demonstrate vision, accountability and a spirit of community service in their operations.
For more information, view the program guidelines.
Accepting grant applications for 2025 in fall 2024.
Project grants are available to community organizations that provide a festival, event or project that feature arts, culture and/or heritage for the benefit of Kelowna residents. Eligible organizations are not required to be from the arts, culture or heritage sector.
All festivals, events and projects must be accessible to the public, offer a unique experience and prominently feature arts, culture or heritage content. Funding is provided for up to a maximum of three years on a matching 50/50 basis.
For more information, view the program guidelines.
Core operating grants are here to provide consistent and reliable annual support to professional, established non-profit arts and cultural organizations which provide impactful, quality programs and services, demonstrate sustainable operations and contribute to the realization of our cultural vision, principals and goals as outlined in the Cultural Plan. Funding assists these organizations with operational sustainability and enables them to develop and deliver their wonderful programs and services to the community.
For more information about the program, view the program guidelines.
In addition to our Arts and Culture grants we offer a variety of grant opportunities each year focusing on other areas such as events, social development and park and neighbourhood improvement initiatives.
EXPLORE ALL THE PROGRAMS AND APPLY ONLINE
Check out the FAQs on our grant webpage to steer through any challenges you may be facing.
We are presented with numerous opportunities to share the successes and stories of Kelowna's creative sector. This helps build support for arts, culture and heritage in our community. Therefore, a condition of the cultural grant funding is that all organizations will provide three high-quality, clear images that portray the programs and services they are offering to the community.
The images must be free of copyright from the photographer and you must have signed or written permission of any identifiable person included in the picture for unlimited usage rights for us and your organization.
For more information, check out the photo submission guidelines, which includes waiver templates.
Learn more about the organizations and projects we have supported through our grants.
In 2024, a total of $180,200 was awarded to five organizations. The core operating grant recipients are listed below in alphabetical order.
| Name | Amount Received |
| Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art | $28,395 |
| Ballet Kelowna | $39,315 |
| New Vintage Theatre | $21,850 |
| Okanagan Symphony Orchestra Society | $67,705 |
| Opera Kelowna | $22,935 |
The General Operating grant program received 17 applications requesting a total of $137,500 in funding. Of theses, 15 applications were successful, and $117,700 in funding was awarded. The General Operating grant recipients are listed below in alphabetical order:
| Name | Amount Received |
| Arts Council of the Central Okanagan | $8,500 |
| Central Okanagan Heritage Society | $9,000 |
| Centre Culturel Francophone de L’Okanagan | $9,500 |
| Chamber Music Kelowna | $10,000 |
| Cool Arts Society | $10,000 |
| Creative Okanagan Artist and Event Development Society | $9,500 |
| Dolyna Ukrainian Cultural Society | $6,000 |
| Inner Fish Theatre Society | $9,200 |
| Inspired Word Café | $10,000 |
| Kelowna City Concert Band | $5,000 |
| Kelowna Kiwanis Festival | $8,500 |
| Kelowna Pipe Band Society | $5,000 |
| Okanagan Festival Singers | $4,500 |
| Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmakers | $8,500 |
| Ponderosa Fibre Arts Guild | $4,500 |
The Project grant program received 13 applications requesting a total of $89,240 in funding, 11 of these applications were successful and $63,320 in funding was awarded. The project grant recipients are listed in alphabetical order below:
Aesthetiks Lab Society - Fashion WEEKend: $10,000
An event celebrating fashion as an art form by showcasing local and provincial fashion designers of all ages.
Creator's Arts Studio – Kelowna Dance Teacher Training Program: $3,120
A structured dance teacher training program that is multi-disciplinary and services the dance sector as a whole.
Global Citizens Events - Sustainable Development Challenge: $4,800
An opportunity for youth of all ages, from elementary to high school, to learn and create an art project showcasing one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals
Inspired Word Cafe: $2,000
An event focused on the concept of ‘turning a new leaf’ in the arts by showcasing local talent, comedy and music.
Kelowna Japanese Language Society - Japanese Language & Calligraphy: $5,000
Hosting weekly Japanese language and calligraphy classes.
Kelowna Taiwanese Cultural Society - Film Festival and Cultural Festival: $8,500
A festival to showcase and celebrate Taiwanese culture while fostering an appreciation of diversity within the community.
Niteo Africa – Stories around the world: $7,800
A series of events celebrating multiculturalism through sharing cultural folktales and storytelling
Federation of Canadian Artists - Okanagan Branch Art Exhibition: $3,100
A Juried art exhibit featuring local artists with the addition of art exhibitions focused on youth artists and artists with diverse abilities.
Orchard Valley Quilters Guild - Kelowna Quilts workshop series: $4,000
A series of quilting workshops exploring various techniques offered to members of our community.
Upstage Kelowna Show Choir Society – Show Choir Concert: $5,000
A choir production enhanced with a variety of performance styles, visual effects and musical genres.
We are regularly asked if we know any grant writers in our community. In order to better serve our non-profit organizations, we’ve decided to put a list together of local grant writers they could connect with.
We would like to invite all Grant Writers in the Central Okanagan to register by completing the webform. You will be required to tell us a bit about yourself, area(s) of expertise, experience and fees (optional). If you are a writer but new to grant writing and willing to support organizations in a volunteer capacity, we would like to hear from you.
Register by completing the webform to be on the list today!
If you or your organization is in need of a grant writer, or grant reviewer, please email Cultural Services for our list of writers.
