B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund

Last updated on July 23, 2026

On this page

About the fund 

The B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund (BCFFE) provided targeted, time-limited support to community event organizations across B.C. Through this investment, the fund helped organizations deliver fairs, festivals and events, strengthening the province's events sector and supporting its ongoing recovery. 

How to use your funding

Recipients were required to indicate the intended use of grant funds in their  application. Approved funding may only be used for eligible expenses directly associated with the funded event. Grant funds not spent must be repaid.  

Expand All | Collapse All
 

Eligible expenses

You can use grant funds to pay for:

  • Consultation with Indigenous communities and honorariums for Indigenous community members 
  • Operational costs directly related to the event execution, such as event staff, volunteer management or equipment rental
  • Artists' fees
  • Wages or contractor fees for event production 
  • Health and safety requirements 
  • Insurance related to event execution 
  • Venue rental fees
  • Marketing and promotion
  • Signage and collateral 
  • Program guides 
  • Hospitality costs (e.g. food/beverage sold at event) 
 

Ineligible expenses

You can't use grant funds to pay for:

  • Operating costs for the organization producing the event (e.g. utilities, debt repayment, office expenses) 
  • Seed money for start-up businesses 
  • Capital expenditures (construction, renovation or purchase of property or equipment) 
  • Feasibility studies
  • Fundraising activities
  • Gifts
  • Prize money
  • Legal fees

 

Event cancellation / change of scope

The Ministry understands that unforeseen circumstances, including severe weather and climate-related events may affect your ability to deliver your event as planned.  If your event is postponed, cancelled, changes substantially in scope, or does not use all approved funding,  please contact us as soon as possible to discuss available options. We work closely with event organizers of affected events and remain flexible in supporting organizers to use funds for eligible activities in accordance with funding guidelines. 

If your event is impacted, please contact the BCFFE team at BCFFE@gov.bc.ca to advise us of any event cancellations or date changes. 

Reporting

You must spend all grant funds on the event outlined in your application. If the funds are not fully spent on the event or your event changes substantially in scope, you must contact the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport to discuss your repayment options. 

You will be required to submit a post-event report that outlines the following information: 

  • Total number of attendees
  • Total number of jobs supported
  • Total number of volunteers engaged
  • Description of how grant funds were used
  • Description of community impact and/or testimonials

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport will provide you with a report template. 

Reports will be due three months after the event concludes. Failure to submit a final report may affect future funding decisions or may result in the repayment of funds to the Province.

Your agreement with the ministry

Funding decisions

Funding decisions will be communicated in writing. Successful applicants will be required to enter into an agreement with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, which will outline the terms of the agreement including reporting requirements and restrictions on the use of funds. 

All decisions are final. There is no appeal process for unsuccessful applicants to the fund. 

Auditing 

Organizations awarded grant funds may also be subject to post-payment audits to ensure compliance with the fund guidelines. Ineligible use of funds or unspent funds may result in grant funds becoming repayable to the ministry. 

Get help

Contact the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport with questions.