We will be adding information to our Olympic resources as Vancouver moves closer and closer to the 2010 Winter Games. In the meantime, check out background information on Theme Seventeen of the bid book, on Olympism and Culture (PDF), and an overview of cultural programs (PDF), courtesy of the City of Vancouver, Office of Cultural Affairs.

Olympic News

Funding Opportunities for the Arts

Two 2010-related agencies offer funding opportunities for the arts: LegaciesNow - ArtsNow, and the 2010 Secretariat through the BC Cultural Services Branch. Both programs are available across the province, though eligibility varies depending on the program applied for. Below is a short primer to help you determine which of the programs might be suitable for the artists and organizations you work with. For complete guidelines and applications forms, visit the websites listed below.

LegaciesNow - ArtsNow
Deadline: varies by program

ArtsNow will be working over the next three years to enhance the creative capacity of individuals, organizations and communities throughout BC, and has developed three pilot programs to address the areas of capacity building for organizations, culture planning, and community engagement.

The three programs are:

Creative Communities: The Creative Communities Program offers matching funding for communities to undertake cultural development initiatives in association with community leaders. This program assists with structured fact-finding and consensus-building scans and assessments to identify a community's cultural assets, needs and opportunities. It also supports the creation of cultural development plans to detail the strategies and resources required to ensure that arts and culture are effective contributors to the economic and social health of a community or region. Deadline: ongoing.

Catalyst: The Catalyst Program provides funding for BC cultural organizations to undertake initiatives that will enhance their sustained ability to realize their artistic goals and achieve excellence by building their artistic and organizational capacity, and/or the capacity of their audiences.

Innovations: The Innovations Program offers assistance to organizations or communities that want to create new opportunities for people in BC to engage in cultural activities. Like all ArtsNow programs, it focuses on activities that can have a lasting impact or are a catalyst for change within BC communities and the cultural sector.

For more information, including guidelines and application forms, visit:
www.2010legaciesnow.com

Spirit of BC Arts Fund (through the BC Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development, Cultural Services Branch)
Deadline: varies by program

The Spirit of BC Arts Fund (formerly known as the Olympic Arts Fund) will assist arts and cultural organizations to realize creative projects that contribute to the development of arts and culture in British Columbia.

Two programs under this fund have been announced:

Spirit of BC Commissioning Program: This program will assist arts and cultural organizations to commission and develop original works of art that contribute to the vitality of arts and culture in British Columbia. Some program details:

• Funding will be used to commission and develop original works of art for public presentation;
  
• The program will assist with creative artists fees, workshops, readings, research, development or copying costs;
  
• Maximum assistance available is 50 percent of eligible commissioning and development costs to a maximum of $25,000;
  
• Additional assistance for the production or touring of commissioned works may be requested from the Spirit of BC Opportunities program.
  

Spirit of BC Opportunities Program: This program will assist arts and cultural organizations to realize creative projects that contribute to the development of arts and culture in British Columbia.

• Projects must contribute to the realization of original, creative arts and cultural initiatives;
  
• Projects should demonstrate BC's cultural and artistic diversity and/or demonstrate a commitment to province-wide access;
  
• The development of public-private partnerships in support of artistic activity is encouraged;
  
• The program will assist with fees, production expenses, marketing, touring and promotional strategies, remounts of existing work;
  
• Maximum assistance available 50 percent of eligible project costs.
  

For more information, including guidelines and application forms, visit:
http://www.cse.gov.bc.ca/2010Secretariat/ArtsFund/spirit_of_bc_arts_fund.htm

Olympic Timeline

For more information on the Vancouver Organizing Committee, or VANOC, visit the offical website of the 2010 Olympics.

2005 – Venue construction to begin. Venues to be completed by 2007-2009.

2006 – VANOC attends Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games, including a cultural presentation at the Closing Ceremonies.

2006 – 2010 – Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

2008 and 2009 – Vancouver and Whistler to host "test events" in every Olympic and Paralympic sport. These would be national and international sport events to test Vancouver’s organizational, operational and volunteer programs for the 2010 Winter Games.

2008 – 2009 – Call for volunteers and volunteer training for 2010.

2009 – Tickets become available for 2010 events.

2009 – The Olympic flame originates from Olympia, Greece. The torch relay begins 114 days prior to the opening ceremony.

2010, January 15: Olympic Arts Festival starts.

2010, February 12-28: Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler.

2010, March 12-21: Paralympic Winter Games in Whistler.

Links

Official website of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Official website of the Olympic Movement
2010 Commerce Centre
City of Vancouver
Tourism Vancouver
Tourism BC
Hello BC
Government of British Columbia

Last Updated: Friday, April 20, 2007