Vancouver task force outlines draft Cultural Access Program and proposed grant structure funded by local sales tax

City cultural staff and members of the Culture, Arts & Heritage Commission task force on Monday presented a draft Cultural Access Program that would use revenue from a local sales tax to fund grants intended to expand access to arts, culture, heritage and science in Vancouver over a seven‑year cycle.

Stacy Donovan, Vancouver’s cultural services manager, said the program’s central intent is “to expand equitable access to arts, culture, heritage, and science in Vancouver,” and that the task force framed public benefits under four themes: expanding access and engagement, strengthening the cultural ecosystem, driving economic and community vitality, and fostering innovation.

The draft divides funds across five grant categories and administration. Donovan and Linda Reed (Culture, Arts & Heritage Commission)…