Vancouver adopts Cultural Access Program ordinance, sets funding rules and local eligibility requirements

The Vancouver City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the city's Cultural Access Program ordinance and adopted a program policy on Sept. 15 that define how a new 0.1% sales-tax fund will support arts, culture, heritage and science organizations.

The council vote follows months of work by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Commission and a community task force. The policy establishes six program categories and a minimum funding stability rule of 60% reserved for those categories each year, with 40% left flexible for the commission to allocate to high-priority projects. The policy also requires grantees to demonstrate that at least 55% of their programming serves Vancouver residents and facilities.

Supporters said the program will expand access to cultural programming and provide predictable funding for local nonprofits. Michelle Tan, a member of the Culture, Arts…