Who Really Gets Public Art Grants in Vancouver

 🎨 Who Really Gets Public Art Grants in Vancouver?

If you’ve been an artist in Vancouver for decades, you know the heartbreak 💔: opportunities seem to go to the same people, the same networks, the same “friends of the system.” Talent and vision should matter—but often, it’s who you know that counts.

Public art is supposed to reflect all of our city—its cultures, stories, and communities. But if the same few artists are chosen repeatedly, whose voices are missing?

It’s time to ask hard questions and demand real solutions.

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❓ Hard-Hitting Questions

• Who decides who gets funding? Are the rules clear and public?
• Are the same networks winning repeatedly? How often?
• How much funding goes to local Vancouver artists vs. outsiders?
• Where are Indigenous artists in these projects? Especially on unceded territories.
• Are youth and elderly artists represented? Are marginalized voices included?
• Is the selection committee diverse? Or just “the usual suspects”?
• Are repeat recipients getting bigger grants than newcomers?
• Do audits exist? Who checks fairness?
• Are applications accessible? Can someone without a “network” compete?
• Does the public get a say? Shouldn’t community spaces reflect everyone?
• Are mentorships available for underrepresented artists?

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💡 Ideas & Solutions for Fairer Public Art

• 🔄 Rotate panel members regularly to avoid conflicts of interest.
• 📊 Public funding records: make grant lists with amounts awarded easy to see.
• ✊ Equity quotas: set minimum representation for Indigenous, local, and culturally diverse artists.
• 🙈 Anonymous applications: judge ideas, not networks.
• 👩‍🎓 Mentorship programs: help youth and new artists compete.
• 🚫 Limit repeat winners to open doors for more artists.
• 🏘 Community input: involve residents and local stakeholders in public art decisions.
• ✅ Regular audits: check for bias in funding.
• 💻 Accessible applications: reduce bureaucracy to include smaller artists.
• 📰 Public reporting: show demographics, locations, and how funding is spread.

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🌱 Projects to Unite Youth & Elders

Art can also heal communities broken by addiction, isolation, or intergenerational gaps. Here are some project ideas:

• 🎭 Intergenerational Theatre: Youth and elders write & perform short plays together, sharing life stories and lessons.
• 🖌 Mural Co-Creation: Youth and elders collaborate on murals in schools, parks, and transit areas.
• 📸 Photo Story Projects: Elders share their memories; youth document them visually or through social media.
• 🎶 Music & Song Workshops: Mix traditional songs and contemporary beats, encouraging cross-generational collaboration.
• 🌿 Community Gardens & Art Spaces: Create murals, sculptures, or installations in gardens, allowing young people and elders to work side by side.
• 📝 Writing & Memory Circles: Youth and grandparents co-write stories, poetry, or zines about community life.

These projects not only build bridges between generations, but also give everyone a voice, opening paths for creativity, understanding, and healing.

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💬 Final Thoughts

Artists create the soul of a city 🎨💛. But when funding favors friends over merit, decades of talent go unseen, and our public spaces fail to reflect all of us.

It’s time to demand transparency, fairness, and equity. Public art in Vancouver should belong to everyone—not just the “usual circle.”