The Fairs, Festivals, and Events Recovery Fund is a new program launched by the Government of BC to assist the hard-hit events industry by providing eligible organizations with one-time grants for up to 20% of an event's total budget (to a maximum of $250,000 per application). 

“We know that people have been missing community fairs, festivals and events, and organizers have made tremendous sacrifices to keep us all safe,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “We’re proud to support local events, so people can gather safely with family and friends, in groups and close to home as we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic.”

Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport announcing new fund

Pictured: Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport announcing the new fund. (Photo Credit: Province of British Columbia)

To qualify for the grant, eligible events—sporting events/festivals, arts and culture events/festivals, community celebrations and gatherings, and agricultural fairs, rodeos, and exhibitions—must take place on a single day or on fewer than 21 days in a calendar year. Eligible organizations can submit more than one application if there are multiple, distinct events that qualify (recurring instances of the same event do not qualify). 

The fund, which will provide up to $12.9 million in grants, is available retroactively, as eligibility is for events taking place between July 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022. Other mandatory eligibility criteria for an event, as outlined on the Government of BC website, include:

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) can assist with the application by providing letters of support. To request a letter of support from TOTA, please email (recovery@TOTABC.com) the event/application and explain how it aligns with government priorities for tourism, sport or the arts. The deadline to request a letter of support from TOTA is September 24, 2021.

Applications are being accepted until 1 p.m. PST on October 1, 2021. For more information regarding eligibility, the application process, and follow-up reporting, visit the Government of BC website.

Click here for the press release.