ArtSea Community Arts Council

Art, Culture, Community

Industry Reports – Arts and Culture

– ArtSea requests equal funding from North Saanich –

Peninsula News Review Article
by Sam Duerksen, February 4, 2026

ArtSea is appealing to North Saanich to consider an increase in funding from $7,500 to $25,000 to match the annual investment by Town of Sidney.
Hilliard noted challenges facing the organization, such as operational costs, including insurance, utilities and materials, which she said have “increased significantly”.

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: https://peninsulanewsreview.com/2026/02/04/artsea-asks-north-saanich-to-triple-its-financial-support/

– Saanich to cover insurance costs for event organizers –

Saanich News Article
By Oliver Laurin, Feb. 24, 2026

Saanich council aims to help ease some financial burden of rising costs for non-profits and community organizations by helping offset the costs of major community events
Coun. Teale Phelps Bonderoff noted that this event, if organized by the municipality, would cost $350,000 to organize, resulting in “a very large cost to district taxpayers.”
“We’re getting an amazing event that’s run by a great group of volunteers,” he said. “The only thing that’s left to say is to thank them for providing an amazing event to the community and to do what we can to help make it happen.”

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: https://saanichnews.com/2026/02/24/modest-investment-saanich-helps-cover-insurance-cost-of-major-events/

– CRD takes steps toward regional funding of public theatres –

Times Colonist Article
by Michael John, July 15, 2025


More local taxpayers would share the costs of running the McPherson and Royal theatres, as well as the Charlie White Theatre at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre under the new model.
“…I’m a numbers guy, and arts contributes massively to the economy of this region, …If you have a vital arts community, you have a heck of a community.”
Paul Brent, the electoral area director for Southern Gulf Islands.

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/crd-takes-steps-towards-regional-funding-of-public-theatres-10943123

– CRD Report to Performing Arts Facilities –

2021 CRD Staff Report


The Performing Arts Facilities Select Committee directed staff to prepare a service plan and draft
an establishing bylaw to plan, develop and fund regional performing arts facilities through a new
region-wide service.

Regional Performing Arts Facilities are important to the social, cultural, economic health and wellbeing
of all across the region…

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: https://www.crd.ca/media/file/2021-09-08pafscagendapkg

– October 2025 Canadian Chamber of Commerce Report –

2025 Canadian Chamber of Commerce Report


The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab (BDL) to assess the economic footprint of Canada’s arts and culture sector.
Study overview: Canada’s arts and culture sector is a vibrant driver of economic growth, social cohesion, and quality of life.
British Columbia’s arts and culture sector contributes $24 billion in GDP and supporting 211,000 jobs. British Columbia returns $1.14 in GDP for every $1 in sector output, the highest out of all provinces.

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: https://chamber.ca/news/arts-and-culture-sector-contributes-131-billion-to-canadas-economy/

– 2025 Vital Signs Report –

2025 Victoria’s Vital Signs Report


Victoria’s Vital Signs, by the Victoria Foundation, is an annual community check-up that measures the vitality of our region, identifies concerns, and supports action on issues that are critical to our quality of life.
View of download the PDF report, or visit the Victoria Foundation website to learn more: https://victoriafoundation.bc.ca/vital-signs/.

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: https://victoriavitalsigns.ca/2025-year/

– Underfunding for Cultural Institutions, June 2025 –

Museums Matter, Why Do We Still Not Fund Them Like They Do?

BCMA Interim Executive Director Lorenda Calvert spoke before The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services with recommendations for Budget 2026 that would reflect the true value of our sector.
Right now, we’re asking our cultural institutions to carry an incredible load—educate the public, preserve heritage, support reconciliation, welcome tourists, keep up with technology—all while dealing with underfunding, burnout, and aging infrastructure. When studies show nine out of ten Canadians say museums matter – why don’t we fund them like they do?

Read the Full Statement (PDF)

Source: Museums Matter, Why Do We Still Not Fund Them Like They Do? – BCMA

– Arts and Culture Funding for 2025 –

Arts groups push for the reinstatement of the BC Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund

Launched in response to COVID-19 in 2021, the BCFFE Fund helped community event organizations recover from ongoing challenges related to cost increases, reduced revenue and sponsorships, rising costs of equipment and services, and severe weather events. …. Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, says the fund, like other such programs, is under review.
Inflationary pressures have hit the arts sector hard, according to the PuSh Festival. In its recent mailout to supporters, it said that the costs of travel, insurance, freight, and staffing have increased from 12 to 40 percent since 2022.

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: Gail Johnson https://www.createastir.ca/articles/news-bcffe-fund

– 2024 Vital Signs Report – Victoria Foundation –

2024 Victoria’s Vital Signs Report


Victoria’s Vital Signs, by the Victoria Foundation, is an annual community check-up that measures the vitality of our region, identifies concerns, and supports action on issues that are critical to our quality of life.
View of download the PDF report, or visit the Victoria Foundation website to learn more: https://victoriafoundation.bc.ca/vital-signs/.

Read the Article (PDF)

– 2023 State of BC’s Non-Profit Sector: Safety Net –

2023 State of BC’s Non-Profit Sector:
Safety Net

In 2023, the Non profit sector continues to be committed
to serving residents in their communities, providing health support to seniors, childcare
programs, food security, recreation, arts,
housing, emergency response activities…

Read the Article (PDF)

Project Partners: Victoria Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, VanCity, United Way

– Fall 2023 Arts, Culture, and Heritage Sector Insights –

Fall 2023 B.C. Arts, Culture, and Heritage Sector Insights Report


Responses from 431 artists, arts, culture, and heritage workers, and organization representatives are represented in this report, covering various themes such as:
Working in Arts and Culture; Financial, Housing and Cultural Space Stability; Obstacles; Trends; Feeling Safe; Calls for Support; Stress and Optimism
The report will be shared with government, funders, and other stakeholders to help inform decisions moving forward.

Read the Article (PDF)

Prepared by: The Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance

On behalf of the coalition of B.C.-based arts, culture, and heritage service organizations.

– A Vibrant arts scene is key to our creative economy –

Fall 2023 – Article. Douglas Magazine.


Greater Victoria has a vibrant arts and cultural scene that reminds one of the pillars of why people love to live here. It engages residents, attracts visitors and new talent to the region, inspires our entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, and enriches our spaces…
Across the Capital Region, arts and culture contributes about $800 million toward the DGP and employs over 10,000 people.

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: Douglas Magazine

Author: Dallas Gislason, August 2023.

– Victoria’s Vital Signs Report –


Vital Signs Report for Greater Victoria (2022)

This report was prepared by the Victoria Foundation and is the annual “check-up” for Greater Victoria. The report documents residents’ ratings on 12 key issues such as arts and culture, housing, environmental sustainability, and safety. Victoria’s Vital Signs report is based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals which were launched in 2015 after three years of collaboration with over 190 countries. 

Read the Report (PDF)

Source: Victoria Foundation

– Arts and Culture Impact Assessment –


Arts and Culture Impact Assessment Report (2021)

This report was commissioned by the Digital Impact Group (DIG) and conducted by Nordicity. ArtSea, along with many local organizations, municipal representatives, and local artists and artisans contributed to the study (completed the survey). The findings are results are very applicable to our community.

Read the Report (PDF)

Source: Digital Impact Group (DIG) / Creative Coast

Source: Nordicity

– BCAC funding Application Survey Report –


Survey Report Regarding
BC Arts Council Grant Application Process

This report highlights some of the challenges that are faced by organization that submit applications for grant funding. This report was prepared by the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, with input from 181 Organization in British Columbia that submitted a grant application in 2022 for operations funding from BCAC in 2023 and 2024.
BCAC is an annual funder for ArtSea; ArtSea submitted an application for funding (with the results still pending), and provided information for the survey, which was used to generate this report.  

Read the Report (PDF)

Source: Victoria Foundation

-CBC News: Critical Volunteer Shortage Nation-Wide –


Critical Lack of Volunteers (2023)

This is an article published by CBC News that touches on the critical shortage of volunteers that are making themselves available. The findings are results are very applicable to our community and to ArtSea as an organization that relies heavily on volunteers to plan and present our programs.

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: CBC News

– A Big Crowd Bids Farewell to the Bateman Gallery –


Funding Cuts and Limited Government Support (2023)

“Bateman Foundation chair David Schneider has tied the gallery’s closing to factors like funding cuts and limited government support — which he said are common in the arts-and-culture sector.”

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: Times Colonist

– Times Colonist: Point Ellice House Closes –


Critical Lack of Sustainable Funding (2023)

This is an article published by the Times Colonist that highlights the struggle faced by many arts and culture organizations to obtain sustainable funding.

Read the Article (PDF)

Source: Time Colonist

– CBC Video: Volunteer Canada CEO raised concerns about national volunteer shortage –

Source: https://www.cbc.ca/i/caffeine/syndicate/?mediaId=2164557891691

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