CreativeBC

Summary

British Columbia’s CreativeBC program fails to help aspiring artists and instead gives funds to already established performers and questionable workshop events. The Career Development Program has supported 875 grants, totalling $9.8 million since its inception in 2018.

Problem 

The program has the intention of helping and promoting BC’s creative industries, such as aspiring artists, and boosting investment in the province. However, it allows individuals and organizations to get funds they do not need from the BC government. This is particularly true for the “Established Artist” grant under the Career Development program and the Music Industry Initiative.  

Solution

1: Discontinue the “established artist” grant.

Artists/Groups should be income-tested at a fixed rate of $75,000 in net income from their commercial music activities to receive funding from CreativeBC.