Festivals Burnaby

Celebrate in your community with a festival or special event

Does your not-for-profit organization need a grant to stage an event or festival? Festivals Burnaby provides funding to eligible organizations in Burnaby to support existing and new events, festivals and projects in the community. For more details of the program, see program resources below or get in touch with the Grant Program Administrator.

Organizations applying for grants that fall outside of the Festivals Burnaby Grant Program should apply to the Community Grants program.

Guidelines and forms

Community festivals should be developed in the spirit of celebration, innovation and entertainment so the audience experiences:

a celebration of community spirit and achievement
the joy of coming together for a common cause or interest
diversity in the community
the uniqueness and artistic expression of local and visiting talent
pride in their community's arts and culture, heritage and community

Programs not supported by the Festivals Burnaby grant program

We encourage organizers for these types of events to pursue other funding sources outside the City of Burnaby:

strictly sports/athletic tournaments
events where the main purpose is fundraising
strictly commercial events/enterprises
events occurring outside of Burnaby
school fairs/events (except centennial celebrations)
retroactive projects (i.e., projects that have already happened)
a society's or association's capital expenditures or base operating expenses
for individuals or political or religious activities

How to apply

Before you start the grant application process, please contact our staff to ensure you're eligible for the Festivals Burnaby grant program:

Phone: 604-294-7106
Email: [email protected]

Once you know you're eligible, read the guidelines and then select the application form that fits your proposal. Once you submit it, your application will be reviewed by the Executive Committee of Council and then by City Council.

Guidelines

Program criteria and grant guidelines

Budget guidelines

Graphic standards

Application forms

Please download these forms to your computer before filling them out (data may be lost if you fill them out in your internet browser). Apple device users must have Adobe Acrobat Reader (available via the app store) installed to complete these fillable forms.

Neighbourhood events

Festivals and special events: small scale

Festivals and special events: large scale

Budget forms

Budget form (excel document)

Final report form

Final report

Application deadlines

Neighbourhood events

No specific deadlines–applications are received throughout the year (except July and August).

Small scale - festivals and special events

Two deadlines annually–March 15, 3 pm and October 15, 3 pm.

Large scale - festivals and special events

Two deadlines annually–March 15, 3 pm and October 15, 3 pm.

You must submit your application form along with support material prior to deadlines. No exceptions are made for late applications. Please note that if the deadline falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, applications and any support material may be delivered or postmarked on the next business day.

Only one grant per year will be allocated to the same organization.

Within the program guidelines, the actual allocation of funds will be at the discretion of the Financial Management Committee and under the authority and final approval of City Council.