Grants


Art and creative expression are at the heart of our community and gatherings. GVIAS Art Grants enable new and experienced artists to build and bring their creations to our events, helping to create a vibrant atmosphere that inspires connection and play. 

Art Grants are intended to support and promote artistic projects that foster the participatory nature of our events, pulling people in to experience, touch, play, and connect with something unique and unforgettable. Grants are awarded for projects that are radically expressive, community-based, interactive, and ignite the senses. 

Funding is available to subsidize the design and construction of new artwork, refurbishment of existing projects, or transportation costs to bring your art to an upcoming event. We encourage emerging talent and seasoned professionals to apply. If building and creating is new to you, start small and find some friends to help you bring a vision to life.The intention is to enable artists to display their art and add to the collective, participatory spirit in the Burning Man community and at GVIAS events.


Art Grant Rounds (2024)

Applications will be open in 2 rounds. Only Round 1 applications will qualify for Directed Tickets.

  • Round 1: April 6 – April 21
  • Round 2: April 21 – June 3 *pending confirmation we have some remaining funds for Round 2

Notes:

  • We will NOT accept applications after 11:59pm on the closing day of the grant round
  • Applying to be juried in the first round will increase likelihood of being awarded money for an art project
  • We will not guarantee any remaining funds for the 2nd round of jurying 

Open Rounds

Upcoming Grant Rounds


Jurying Criteria

We have 3 categories for judging applications:

  1. Interactivity: Does this art invite play? Does this art engage multiple senses? Does this art invite participants to interact with or directly influence it? Does this art encourage participant interaction with one another?
  2. Artistic Excellence: How “Wow!” is the idea? Is it memorable? Is it unique and original? Would participants seek out this project? Does this project excite participants?
  3. Accessibility: Can participants of all abilities engage with the art? Does the design plan allow for the greatest number of participants to enjoy it? Has the artist considered ways to create an unrestricted experience for participants of diverse abilities?

We also have a list of mandatory screening criteria that all projects must meet to be eligible for funding: 

  • A clear and convincing delivery plan (build plan, crew size, assembly/teardown)
  • A feasible budget, schedule, and overall concept 
  • A plan for funds required for your project that will not be covered by a GVIAS art grant
  • Commitment that your project will be present at the upcoming GVIAS event that you are applying for

Application

Interested? Click the “Apply Now” button to get started!

We do not offer grants to those submitting for Effigy/Temple, the application for Effigy/Temple can be found here.


Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding is available? 

Funds for art grants vary from event to event. Depending on the event budget, the number of art project applications, and whether your budget includes items that art grants do not fund, you may not be awarded the full sum of the grant application that you submit.

Notes:

  • Applying to be juried in the first round will increase likelihood of being awarded money for an art project. We will not guarantee any remaining funds for the 2nd round of jurying.
  • Contractual Obligations/Requirements
    • Artists will be provided 100% funds up front and are no longer required to submit receipts but are required to keep their receipts for a period of 90 days after the event where their art is to appear in case of audit
    • All grants will be required to submit proof of completion (photos or videos of project at BITF) on or by October 14th to [email protected] (see below “How will i get paid?”).

If proof of project is not received, the artist will be deemed “Not in Compliance”. Refer to FAQ for details: https://gvias.org/grants/

Who can apply for a GVIAS art grant?

Any individual artist, team of artists or established group (for teams of artists, please have one person submit an application for the group) may apply. Applicants must be a member of Greater Vancouver Interactive Art’s Society (GVIAS). Membership is free and can be obtained by applying through the GVIAS website at this link: https://gvias.org/gvias-membership/.

Are theme camps eligible for art grants?

Theme camps may apply for artistic installations in publicly accessible areas of their camp that add to the enjoyment for everyone. Art grants are not provided for general camp infrastructure or decor.

What will my grant $ cover?

GVIAS Art Grants will cover the cost of the materials required to build your art project. Depending on the event budget, the number of art project applications, and whether your budget includes items that art grants do not fund (see FAQ), you may not be awarded the full sum of the grant application that you submit.

Your grant will NOT cover:

  • Fixed assets totalling 50% or more of your total project budget (e.g. a drill, speaker, generator, shade structure, deep cycle battery)
  • Consumables (e.g. food, alcohol, fuel, body paint, stickers or other project swag, batteries)
  • Pre-made decor items
  • Labour costs

Transportation funds are designed to assist artists with the cost of transportation of art projects to/from GVIAS events.

Transportation funds are a max of $300 per project and will cover:

  • Gas
  • Rental trailer/vehicle required for transport
  • Ferry ticket
Can I get an art grant to make a chill space? 

Maybe. Chill spaces are a part of the experience, but Art Grants are primarily to support interactive art that creates participatory experiences. The jurying process for chill spaces is competitive, and funds awarded are limited. 

If you are applying to create a chill space, we encourage you to get creative, think outside the box, and imagine a project that clearly meets the jurying criteria above. The majority of your budget should be for artistic creations you/your team are making yourselves, rather than standard infrastructure such as carports.

How will I get paid?

Successful applicants in the Main Round must sign a contract to receive their grant. 100% of the grant amount is paid upon signing the contract. 

The grants are paid out via email money transfer using the primary artists contact email.

Completion of the project includes : 

  • Submit proof of completion (photo or video of project at BITF) no later than 30 days after the event.
  • Artists who do not submit proof of project at the event in which they received a grant for will be deemed “Not in Compliance”. Refer to FAQ for details: https://gvias.org/grants/

Submission of receipts is not required, but artists are asked to retain receipts for 90 days after the event for which their art was funded. An audit of your project may be initiated by the Grants Committee if there is reason to question the use of grant funds or your submitted budget compared to the finished product.

How do I apply for a grant?

Simple. Complete our application form.

How do I submit a contract?

If successful, you will be sent a grant contract by email, instructions on how to sign will be included.

What happens if I miss a deadline to submit application, contract or additional information?

Our deadlines are firm. If you miss a deadline to submit an application you will have to wait until grants rounds reopen to apply. If you miss a deadline for submitting a contract you will forfeit your grant.

What happens if I am unable to fulfill my contract?

If you do not fulfill the obligations agreed to in your contract, GVIAS may find you “not in compliance” and refuse you funding in the future. This includes failing to show your project at the event promised].

Artists Not in Compliance

 Introduced in 2020. (Yes we know it’s 2024)

Artists who are not in compliance with their contracts will be handled as follows:

  • Artists who receive funding but do not deliver may be deemed as not compliant at the discretion of the Grant Committee
  • If you are not compliant you WILL NOT be eligible for an Art Grant in the future until:
    • Your art is present at a GVIAS event
      OR
    • You pay back the funds to GVIAS that were awarded to you
A note on sustainability & power needs

Burners pride themselves in devising better, more efficient ways of doing things. We encourage artists to imagine and experiment with ways to sustainably source materials, minimize waste, and utilize renewable energy sources. 

Here are some considerations as you dream up your project:

  • Are there ways to source materials needed for your project more sustainably? Ie, borrow from someone in the community, re-use or repurpose materials
  • Resource: How to Figure Out Electrical Loads for Theme Camps
  • Since 2023, the BitF DPW has provided a library of modest battery systems available in case of unexpected electrical issues. 
  • Developing a renewable energy plan to power your project helps reduce our impact on the planet and can help reduce noise and wastage from generators and other traditional power sources. Questions on optimizing your project’s energy use can be directed to [email protected]

Membership Is Free

But Some Assembly Required

We are guided by the 10 principles of Burning Man. These principles guide our interactions with one another and the environment and have a strong ethos of participation. As such, our events and the society are entirely dependent upon community participation.

Membership isn't required to participate, but members enjoy a number of perks including access to a community of doers and dreamers.

GVIAS Mailing List

Never miss a GVIAS Event, signup today!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA.
The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Copyright © 2024 Greater Vancouver Interactive Art Society.
All rights reserved.