A recent report from the City’s General Manager of Arts, Culture and Community Services, highlighted Pride in Art Society:
“ The following highly-regarded organizations reflect the existing criteria at high level and signal future granting directions that could align with the Creative City Strategy:
Pride in Art (PiA) Society has grown from its small, grassroots origins in 1998 to be a cutting-edge producer/presenter/curator of the annual Queer Arts Festival and the newly-opened SUM Gallery. The gallery is a flexible exhibition and performance space for queer art. The staff and board represent and serve LGBTQ2+ communities and audiences who encompass many intersections of identity across race, ability, and socio-economic status. PiA is engaged in a nation-wide search for trans, gender diverse, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer candidates to succeed the founding Artistic Director in a planned transition process. ”
Additionally, the City of Vancouver releases a statement on April 4, 2019:
Diversity and creativity take centre stage with City’s approval of $5.85 million in grants for Vancouver’s arts and culture scene
Vancouver City Council approved a total of $5.85 million in cultural grants to 195 organizations to support Vancouver-based organizations, projects and artists. The approved grants meet the City’s current goals to support artistic, cultural and creative work, and the many facets of the artistic community. The grants include funding to 14 new groups and help advance the City’s priorities to support breadth of diversity and cultural expression as well as sustainable growth in the sector.
“Investing in local groups is a key element to strengthening Vancouver’s already thriving arts and culture scene,” said Mayor Kennedy Stewart. “The grants approved by Council recognize the impact these diverse groups have—and will continue to have—on our city.”
As part of Vancouver’s ongoing investment in arts and culture, the grants support a range of cultural organizations and artistic disciplines:
- The Savage Society’s Indigenous storytelling productions through theatre and animation
- The Cultch’s world-class dynamic and inclusive presentations of theatre, dance, music, and the visual arts
- Vancouver Co-operative Radio’s diverse programming in over 12 languages, artist residencies and training for media artists, and monthly cultural events
- The Powell Street Festival Society’s annual free celebration of Japanese Canadian arts and culture
- Pride In Art Society’s annual Queer Arts Festival and newly-opened SUM Gallery for queer art exhibitions and performances
- Kokoro Dance Theatre Society’s productions and operations at KW Studios in the Downtown Eastside
- Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture’s live music performances, literary events, visual art exhibitions, artist development workshops, public gatherings, and artist talks
Council also approved ongoing funding to five long-standing major cultural institutions in Vancouver:
- Vancouver Art Gallery
- Museum of Vancouver
- H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
- Vancouver Maritime Museum
- Science World
| View the list of grant recipients |
The grant recommendations approved by Council were informed by an assessment process, which included City staff and community members who reflected a range of expertise and experiences within the local arts and culture sector, and with a large majority of members identifying as First Nations, Indigenous and People of Colour.
As part of ongoing efforts to broaden community outreach, City staff held information sessions at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and the Aboriginal Friendship Centre and provided American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation at each session.
Through the Creative City Strategy, an updated comprehensive new framework and vision for art, culture and creativity is under development.
The Creative City Strategy will reflect the City’s commitment to Reconciliation and Equity, include previously under-represented voices and communities, build partnerships across communities, and develop strategies to strengthen arts and culture.
Each year through Cultural Services, the City of Vancouver invests more than $12 million through grant streams including operating, annual assistance, project, community arts, theatre rental grants, arts capacity and the independent artists’ fund.