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The Saanich Peninsula Arts and Culture Grant (SPACG) Program is a partnership between ArtSea, the Town of Sidney, and the District of North Saanich.
ArtSea is pleased to administer the SPACG program, to offer grants and bursaries to support local arts and culture initiatives. Funds for the grants and bursaries are provided by the Town of Sidney and the District of North Saanich.
If you are an individual that resides on the Peninsula, or a group/collective that provides programs to the residents of the Peninsula, we invite you to learn more about this funding stream!
Exciting Updates to the SPACG Program for 2024:
- Applications will now be accepted throughout the year. Expect notification within 6 weeks of providing a complete application.
- Applications are no longer limited to one submission per year. We will now accept and adjudicate applications for each initiative separately. For instance, organizations that host multiple performances throughout the year can submit separate applications for each program.
- There are no limits set for the amount of funding that can be requested; however applicants will typically request between $200 – $5000 depending on the initiative. Please note: SPACG funding is not intended to be the sole source of funding for programs.
SPACG Grant and Bursary Application Process
Step 1:
Review Program Guidelines
Step 2:
Select appropriate application form
SPACG Forms and Resources for Applicants
Did you see the January 25th, 2024 news article about the updates to the SPACG Program?
Individuals, organizations, groups and collectives based on the Saanich Peninsula can apply for Saanich Peninsula Arts and Culture grants. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
The Saanich Peninsula Arts and Culture Grant program is now accepting applications throughout the year.
The ArtSea Community Arts Council manages the program and says this change gives artists and groups the flexibility to apply for support when it best aligns with their creative timelines.
…Read the full article. (click to expand)
Individuals, organizations, groups and collectives based on the Saanich Peninsula can apply for the grant to help with organizing arts and culture initiatives for the benefit of residents.
Applications are also no longer limited to one submission each year. The program will now accept applications for each initiative separately.
There is technically no funding limit, but applicants usually request between $200 and $5,000.
The grants are not intended to be the only source of funding for initiatives. Applicants must be current ArtSea members.
The funding is coming from the District of North Saanich and the Town of Sidney.
Initiatives could include workshops programs, training, performances or presentations.
An example of a successful applicant is Deep Cove Folk, who received funding for a contest asking artists to write songs about the Saanich Peninsula.
The artist who writes the song that the judges believe is the best overall will win $1,000, and two runner-up prizes of $500 will also be given out. Deep Cove Folk co-director Tim Rogers says Deep Cove Folk has received around $4,800 for the project.
Those interested in applying for the grants can do so at artsea.ca.
Creative timeline: Peninsula arts grant applications now open year-round – Peninsula News Review
SPACG Q & A – Question and Answer (click to expand)
Saanich Peninsula Arts and Culture Grant Program, Q&A:
Q: Where do I find the application for the Peninsula Arts and Culture Grant Program?
A: The application can be filled out online – the Individual Application and Group Application links. This webpage also includes information about the Peninsula Arts and Culture Grant, as well as application guidelines and requirements.
Q: Do I need to be a registered non-profit or charity to be eligible for this funding?
A: No! It is not necessary for applicants to be a registered society, but charitable organizations and non-profits are welcome to apply. This funding stream is available for existing programs, as well as new and innovative initiatives that benefit the residents of the Saanich Peninsula. Please see the section: Who can apply?
Q: Can businesses and for-profit organizations apply?
A: No. This funding stream is for individuals, groups, and organizations that are not a part of a registered business. Please see the section: Who can apply?
Q: I am not a current member of ArtSea. Can I still apply?
A: While you can apply, your application will not be considered until you become a member of ArtSea. If you are not a member by the submission intake deadline, your application will not be considered during the intake period. To learn more about becoming an ArtSea Member.
Q: Where does the funding for the SPACG Program come from?
A: ArtSea identified a need to provide a consistent and reliable funding source for arts and cultural initiatives on the Saanich Peninsula. To respond to this need, ArtSea developed the framework of the SPACG program in 2020 and proposed it to the municipalities on the Saanich Peninsula as a partnership program. In 2021, The Town of Sidney, The District of North Saanich, and the District of Central Saanich agreed to provide grant funding for a new community program that would be administered by ArtSea. ArtSea is thrilled to work together with our municipal partners to support arts and culture in our community. Please see section: SPACG Funding Partners.
Q: Can initiatives that receive funding through the Town of Sidney or the Districts of North or Central Saanich also receive funding through the SPACG Program?
A: Initiatives that receive funding support from the Town of Sidney, the District of North Saanich, or the District of Central Saanich are not eligible to also receive funding through the SPACG Program, since funding for SPACG grants and bursaries are provided the Municipalities on the Saanich Peninsula. Please see section: SPACG Funding Partners.
Q: Can we apply for programs that have already started?
A: Yes, you can apply for funding for programs started (and will be complete) within the same year that the application is submitted, but you cannot apply for programs that are already complete (funds are not available for cost-recovery or debt reduction). Please see section: Dates and Deadlines.
Q: Can we apply more than once?
A: There are two scheduled application intakes each year; individuals or groups/organizations can apply once every 12 months. Please see the section: Dates and Deadlines.
Q: Can I apply for a portion of a larger project?
A: Yes. Be sure to provide a budget for the portion that you would like funded, as well as project details for the larger initiative.
Please see the section: Eligible Expenses.
To download a budget template (PDF) document, please see the section: SPACG Forms and Resources for Applicants.
Q: Can applications be submitted via email?
A: Our preference is that applications are filled out using the online Individual Application or Group Application available this page. PDF copies of the Individual Application and Group Application forms are available for download and can be submitted via email to: grants@artsea.ca, along with supporting documentation. Please ensure that you have read all sections of the guidelines and requirements, and that all required sections are complete (required sections are indicated by asterisks*). Please see the section: SPACG Forms and Resources for Applicants
Q: If my grant or bursary funding is approved, am I required to submit a report for my program or initiative?
A: Yes. All SPACG funding recipients are required to submit a report upon completion of their program or initiative, or within one year (12 months) of receipt of the funding. Please see the section: SPACG Report.
Q: If this is the first time applying for funding, can I get assistance?
A: Yes. Should you require assistance with completing the application, please email: grants@artsea.ca
Q: Will I/we be at a disadvantage if I am applying, or if my group is applying for the first time?
A: No. We encourage individuals and new groups to apply. Part of our mission is to be a springboard for new arts and cultural initiatives in the community.
Do you have questions for which you did not find the answer?
Email your question to grants@artsea.ca
Download PDF Applications (click to expand)
Our preference is that applications are submitted using the appropriate online application forms; however, if this presents a challenge, PDF versions of the forms can be downloaded and submitted via email to: admin@artsea.ca, or dropped of at the ArtSea Gallery: 9565 Fifth Street, Sidney BC V8L 1T3.
SPACG Grants Awarded
ArtSea and the municipalities on the Saanich Peninsula would like to congratulate the following grant recipients, and thank them for their contribution to arts and culture in our community!
Deep Cove Folk was awarded SPACG funding to support their inaugural “Songwriting Project”. They will be asking people from all across our community (e.g., high schools, First Nations and an “open” category) to submit songs they’ve written about life on the Saanich Peninsula (e.g., mentioning names of places, people or events or, perhaps, based on historical events). Selected songwriters will be offered the opportunity to perform their creations at Deep Cove Folk. The qualifying songs and essays will also be published on the DCF website. In cases of young contributors, we will also offer one-on-one mentorships with some of the accomplished songwriters in our community, with the goal of helping to kickstart their artistic endeavours.
Deep Cove Folk Initiative: learn more, or submit your song: https://songproject.deepcovefolk.ca/
Deep Cove Folk launches project seeking songs about the Saanich Peninsula
Article by Brenan Mayer, PNR Jan. 11, 2024
The winning songwriter will take home $1,000
Deep Cove Folk has launched a contest asking artists to write songs about the Saanich Peninsula.
The contest’s judges will be looking for songs that are clearly situated in local communities. The tunes could mention names of local people, events or people.
“There aren’t a lot of really good songs about the Saanich Peninsula,” Deep Cove Folk co-director Tim Rogers said. “We’re hoping we can plug that hole.”
The project will have categories for Indigenous people, high school students and an open category.
“We certainly want to represent as many different points of view as we can,” Rogers said. “The product we are hoping to see will be a compendium of songs about the Saanich Peninsula. Sort of like a musical history.”
The artist who writes the song that the judges believe is the best overall will win $1,000, and two runner-up prizes of $500 will also be given out.
“One of the major goals is to get more people appreciating, thinking about and understanding the importance of music to the community,” Rogers said. “We’re trying to increase the general interest in local music.’
Rogers says some of the tunes may be performed by local choirs. Winners will also be offered opportunities to perform their songs, and the artist chosen in the high school category will get to take part in a mentoring session with an accomplished songwriter.
The judges haven’t been chosen yet, but Rogers says they will be musical experts.
“We’re thinking of trying to get people that are fairly well-known,” Rogers added. “I’m currently negotiating with a number of people to be the judges.”
Submissions must include a short essay about the song which includes the inspiration for writing it and how it fits into life on the Saanich Peninsula. Musicians can even submit songs they’ve already written.
Rogers says the ArtSea Community Arts Council has provided around $4,800 for the project.
“That’s going to help is with the prize money and allow us to put up posters,” Rogers added. “They’ve been very generous.”
Songs can be submitted at songproject.deepcovefolk.ca before the March 31 deadline.
The ArtsREACH program was awarded SPACG funding to provide ‘artist in residence’ workshops in the 3 identified Community Link Schools (vulnerable schools as identified by the Ministry of Education- Brentwood, Sidney and Kelset Elementary schools as well as Lau Welnew Tribal School. The final goal will be to display the art by these students at the Panorama Rec Centre (the Rec centre will have children’s art that they have produced on site and we will combine the art display). As well we hope to have ‘smaller displays’ to rotate around the Peninsula area~ (possibly) malls, Assisted living centres, library, hospital. The families will come and be so pleased (and proud) of the young artists, Rec Centre and other venues will enjoy and celebrate and ‘talk amongst themselves as they look at the displayed art….just as a group would in other galleries. Art for the love of art. Children do not often have opportunities to show their art in a public setting.
artsREACH Art Exhibit
Funding provided through the SPACG Grant in 2023 helped artsREACH to deliver some fantastic arts programming to 45+ children.
Children’s artwork, created through this program, is being showcased at Panorama Recreation from January 31st until March 16th 2024.
An informal open house will be held on
Sunday Feb 11th 2024 from 2-4pm.
The Sidney and Peninsula Literary Society was awarded SPACG funding to support the 2023 Sidney LitFest. The project celebrates readers, writers and the written word. The festival opened with celebrated author and CBC host of Quirks and Quarks, Bob McDonald and a discussion of his new book, The Future is Now: Solving the Climate Crisis with Today’s Technologies. The festival also included a moderated panel discussion with five authors reading from their works, activities with author led workshops and author readings, a small panel discussion, and a moderated author discussion.
The Peninsula Folk & Fiddle Society, is a non-profit arts organization run by music lovers, based on the Saanich peninsula and dedicated to the presentation of diverse traditional and contemporary music styles including but not limited to Celtic, Roma, Black American Music, Bluegrass, First Nations, Jazz, Folk, Singer-songwriter and Indie. The Folk & Fiddle Festival is held annually over three days at The Mary Winspear Centre and additional surrounding venues. We are the only music festival on the Saanich Peninsula and the only Folk Festival in the greater Victoria area. We work with indigenous communities including the three reserves on the Saanich peninsula to build cultural understanding and diversity through music presentation and education. We believe that diverse and high quality music presentations are key to building strong communities, and strong communities are the fabric of our nation. The festival brings people from the CRD to Sidney and that brings money to the Sidney area as many people eat in Sidney and shop before the concerts
Over 700 people attended the festival and we have been planning this year to have some extra public free concerts.
As we head into our 37th season in 2024, Eine Kleine Summer Music continues to be dedicated to presenting concerts performed at the highest artistic level, by our very own local, provincial, national, and international musicians in dynamic and memorable concerts to share with our audiences of the Saanich Peninsula. We are very grateful for the generous donation from ArtSea. This donation will directly help us to achieve our goal of bringing outstanding performers to EKSM this upcoming season. It will allow us to achieve our utmost goal – to share, enrich, and bring contentment and joy to our valued and devoted audience and to our dedicated volunteers.
Images and Brochure from the 2023 Eine Kline Summer Music Concerts
EKSM is run by an all volunteer board of directors as well as 2 artistic directors who are given honoraria. Tickets are kept as low as possible allowing top quality performances affordable for seniors, students, and the general public of the Saanich Peninsula. The musical works for the concerts are selected from the best of the classical repertoire. EKSM hopes to spread appreciation for chamber music making t less intimidating and in fact, most enjoyable for the residents of the Saanich Peninsula.
The Sidney Concert Band was awarded SPACG funding to help with the purchase of a a PA system to amplify our vocalists and our Master of ceremonies at various events in the community (schools, concerts, etc.). This system will be used at our weekly rehearsals for our director’s communication ability and for our vocalists. We will also use this system while doing concerts at local schools and our yearly concert in the Sidney Bandshell. We have previously rented a PA system for these events.
The Via Choralis Performance Society was awarded SPACG funding to support their musical performance, “Till a’ the Seas Gang Dry–Songs of Love and Devotion.” This project is a continuation of our service to the community: providing reasonably priced, quality entertainment performed by a local community choir and giving local musicians an opportunity to display and develop their talents.
The Palm Court Light Orchestra was awarded SPACG funding to support The Palm Court Light Orchestra 2023/24 Season. The purpose of the orchestra is to perform what is known as light orchestral music, palm court music or salon music. It presents an annual concert series of three concerts at the Charlie White Theatre, Sidney. It presents music that is rarely performed . It also performs Canadian musicians presents Canadian artist both local and national. The Orchestra has a special relationship with our Sidney audience , especially our senior audience which is why we present afternoon concerts, music that they enjoy, and affordable prices in a secure, caring environment. We perform music that relates to the age of our audience. Often described as nostalgia it has both educational and historical significance.
Program Partners
This Saanich Peninsula Arts and Culture Grant program is administered by ArtSea Community Arts Council, adjudicated by a team of ArtSea volunteers, and funded by the Town of Sidney, and the District of North Saanich.
ArtSea is grateful for the financial support received from the following organizations that help the ArtSea team to plan and present a variety of programs throughout the year, including the administrative costs associated with the SPACG Program.
Together we are pleased to support initiatives that will enrich our communities and add to the arts and cultural landscape of our region.
ArtSea is fortunate to operate within the unceded territory of the Coast Salish People – within the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation – Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout and Tseycum peoples.