Province Continues Support For Fairs, Festivals, Events

B.C.-based events that are still feeling the effects of the pandemic are getting more funding to help them recover.

“Fairs, festivals and events are the heart of our communities and contribute to making this province a vibrant place to live and visit,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.

“Our government is proud to support the people who organize and attend these events so we can continue to rebuild our events and tourism sectors for today and the future.”

The Province is providing $15 million in one-time grants to eligible events through the B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events fund (BCFFE).

Event organizers will be able to tackle ongoing challenges the sector faces, such as reduced revenue and sponsorships, and rising costs of equipment and services.

Pandemic-related impacts on events and communities were amplified by the worst wildfire season in 2023, causing event cancellations and a decline in visitors to certain areas of the province.

Event funding will also support those areas affected by the 2023 wildfires and is meant to help boost visitation and generate economic activity for communities.

The program  launched in 2021, which provided one-time grants to support the safe return of events earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligible events include sporting events, arts and culture events, community celebrations, agricultural fairs, and rodeos. Examples of eligible expenses include operational costs, Indigenous consultation and honorariums, venue rental, marketing, wages, and promotion.

Applications will be accepted until Feb. 25th for events happening between April and the end of September.

To see the full release, visit Government of British Columbia.