Entering its 25th year in 2024, the City's Festival Investment Grant has seen more than $4 million in grants nurture the development and sustainability of high-quality annual festivals and celebrations. The pursuit of arts, culture and tourism opportunities is a key goal of the City’s Create Victoria Arts and Culture Master Plan.
Festival Investment Grants are intended to nurture outdoor festivals and celebrations held within the City of Victoria, facilitate their growth and ensure their continued success.
Planning a festival in the City of Victoria? Read on to learn more about the City's Festival Investment Grants.
2024 Festival Investment Grant Program
The City of Victoria is now accepting Festival Investment Grant applications for festivals and celebrations taking place in 2024. The deadline to apply is January 16, 2024.
Online Information Session
Potential applicants were invited to register to attend an online information session to learn more about the grant program and application process, and ask questions on Thursday, November 30 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
View the online information session recording.
Drop-In Sessions
The City is hosting two drop-in sessions from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Monday, December 4, 2023 and Friday, January 5, 2024 at 720 Douglas Street to assist individuals who require an accommodation to complete their application package. (Directions: 720 Douglas Street is located left of the main entrance to the Victoria Conference Centre, in the Administration Office.)
Documents and Forms
- Application Form
- Budget Template Form [XLSX/20KB]
- Festival Investment Grant Policy Guidelines 2024 [PDF/122KB]
- Festival Investment Grant Final Reporting Template
2023/2024 Grant Timeline
| Applications Open | November 14, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Online Information Session | November 30, 2023 |
| Application Deadline | January 16, 2024 |
| Adjudication | February 2024 |
| Grant Recipients Announced | March 2024 |
| First Grant Payment (80 per cent) | July 1, 2024 |
| Final Payment (20 per cent) Upon receipt of final report | November 1, 2024 |
| Applications Open for 2025 Festivals | November 2024 |
2023 Festival Investment Grant
In 2023, the City supported 46 festivals and celebrations with $390,470 in Festival Investment Grant (FIG) funding to enhance Victoria’s vibrancy, while celebrating our cultural diversity.
The City also supported a Canada Day funding stream to support community-led programming on July 1. As part of this pilot project, Penmar Community Arts Society was awarded funding to produce a large-scale Inner Harbour celebration, including live entertainment and family-friendly activities. (Note: This grant will not be offered in 2024.)
2023 Festival Investment Grant Recipients [PDF/56KB]