BC Family Day Activity Grants

BC Family Day Grant Program Guidelines 2023

Family Day was introduced in BC in 2013 to recognize the great contributions that families make to our lives, our communities and our province. Supporting families is essential to building strong, happy, and healthy communities. In celebration of this important day, special activities in communities around the province are being held for families to enjoy, both in person and digitally, throughout the Family Day weekend.

BC Family Day Grants provide one-time support to local museums, art galleries, cultural institutions and First Nations communities in coordinating family-based, admission-free community activities. BCMA will ensure that families throughout British Columbia will have the opportunity to enjoy a range of cultural activities, both in person and online, free of charge.

In-Person / Hybrid Activities

Grants up to $2,000 are available to eligible organizations to cover a portion of the costs associated with delivering a free community Family Day activity. Eligible costs include but are not limited to: facility costs, hiring artists, COVID-19 safety, equipment rentals, etc. This category is also available to activities with both in-person and online elements.

Digital Only Activities

Grants up to $1,500 are available to eligible organizations to cover a portion of the costs associated with delivering a free virtual Family Day activity. Eligible costs include but are not limited to: materials, hiring artists, software subscriptions, equipment rentals, marketing, etc.

Family Day Activity Grant Criteria:

In order to qualify for a grant, you must meet the following criteria:

• Your organization is a current BC Museums Association Member. For information about our membership program, please visit our website.  [NOTE: First Nations groups, Indigenous Cultural Centres, and equity seeking groups are encouraged to apply. If obtaining a membership in the BCMA is a barrier to your organization, the BCMA may waive this part of the criteria. Please get in touch if this is a concern:  development@museum.bc.ca.]
• Any proposed in-person activities must take place within the applicant’s community.
• All proposed activities must take place during BC Family Day long weekend (i.e., February 17, 18, 19, or 20, 2023).
• Your proposed Family Day activity must be free and accessible to everyone and all ages.
• There must be no financial requirements of the general public to participate.
• Your proposed Family Day activity must be family-oriented.
• Your proposed Family Day activity must be designated and “branded” as a BC Family Day activity.

Other important things to know:

• We will only award one grant per activity location.
• The grant is intended to cover a portion of the activities’ costs.
• Grant awards are up to $1,500 for virtual activities and up to $2,000 for in-person or hybrid activities.
• Awards will be based on projected impact of your activity in your community and your organization’s need.
• Grant awards will prioritize that a diversity of regions and institutions are represented in the final recipient list.
• The goal of this program is to distribute funds to as many communities as possible to help BC families gain access to our wonderful arts and cultural heritage institutions on BC Family Day 2023.
• You must acknowledge the financial support of the Provincial Government in any activity promotional material with the language: “This activity is supported by the Province of British Columbia.”
• Your approved activity will be posted on the BCMA Family Day Community Activity Listing page.
• You will be required to submit a brief post-activity report.

Application and Adjudication Process

Grant Application Deadline:  4:30 pm PST on January 30, 2023.

You may wish to prepare your answers in advance and cut-and-paste them into the online form, as you will not be able to save the online form. Prepare your answers here.

You may be contacted if additional information is required by adjudicators.

Applications will be adjudicated, and awards will be communicated no later than February 6, 2023. All decisions made by the BCMA will be final.

Public-facing activity information will be collected following the approval of your application. Activities will be listed on a directory at familyday.bc.ca.

Resources

Online courses

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.