B.C. event organizers make urgent call for renewal of provincial festival fund

CBC

23-02-2025

Event organizers in British Columbia are urging the provincial government to renew funding for fairs, festivals, and cultural events, warning that without immediate support, some of the province's biggest summer attractions could shrink — or disappear altogether.
More than two dozen organizers signed an open letter addressed to Premier David Eby and Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Spencer Chandra Herbert, calling for the renewal of the B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund (BCFFE) or a suitable replacement.
The fund, introduced in 2021 to help events restart after pandemic restrictions, has not been renewed since its last application process closed in 2024.
The funding covered as much as 20 per cent of an event's total budget, up to a maximum of $250,000, and organizations that put on multiple, separate events were eligible for up to $500,000.
'On thin ice'
Scott Gurney, owner of 17 Black Events and organizer of Brewery and the Beast, says the festival sector is still reeling from the impacts of COVID-19.
"The sector hasn't recovered at all. It's still on thin ice, and we're just barely keeping our heads above water," he said.
Gurney says increasing ticket prices to cover costs would discourage attendance, especially given the increased cost of living. He also notes that for many popular events, like the Honda Celebration of Light and Italian Day on Commercial Drive, which remain free to attend, increasing ticket prices isn't even an option.
The cyclical nature of the events industry makes it hard for organizers to adjust to economic challenges compared to businesses that operate year-round, Gurney says.
"Places that are open 365 days a year have an opportunity to gradually increase their prices and absorb the difficulties," he added. "But some events operate once or twice a year, and you really only get one shot in a 12-month period to do business."
"Without a replacement fund or some sort of long-term sustainable funding, we can 100 per cent expect more closures."
Some of the other festivals that signed the letter include the Children's Festival, Bass Coast, Bard on the Beach, Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), Just for Laughs, FVDED in the Park, Honda Celebration of Light, Rifflandia and PuSh.
Meanwhile, the Vancouver Mural Festival announced its closure last month due to funding shortfalls, and some like the PNE are already considering programming cuts.
Rising costs and economic impact
PNE president and CEO Shelly Frost says organizers are facing significant financial constraints.
"Coming out of COVID, and especially with the threat of tariffs, the cost of everything has skyrocketed. The cost of talent, suppliers, infrastructure, setup and teardown—those costs are really significant," Frost said.
The PNE generates more than $200 million annually for B.C.'s economy and employs about 4,000 people during its annual August fair alone, Frost said.
"Cost constraints are significant and so we are looking at areas that can be scaled back," she said. "Obviously, that's not a place where any of us want to be."
Frost says local events need support now more than ever, especially as cross-border tensions push British Columbians to promote homegrown festivals.
According to government data, B.C.'s arts, culture and heritage sector contributed more than $8.6 billion to the province's annual GDP in 2021 and employs over 150,000 B.C. residents.
Call for long-term stability
Claire Sakaki, executive director of Bard on the Beach, an outdoor Shakespeare festival that has been running for 37 years, says the BCFFE program has been a "lifesaver" and its renewal is essential for organizations like hers.
"We are hoping that fund will continue. It has helped over 1,100 arts and cultural organizations throughout the province," she said.
Some festival organizations, including Bard, receive annual operational funding from the province and federal government outside of the BCFFE. But for Bard, Sakaki said the operational funding only contributes about four per cent of their budget.
Vancouver Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung is also joining the call, urging the province to establish a stable, long-term funding model.
"If we lose those festivals, we really lose a lot of the heart of our city," she said. "This isn't just about one festival, this is playing out across the board," she said.
During the 2024 provincial election campaign, the B.C. NDP pledged to provide stable, year-over-year funding for fairs, festivals and events.
In a statement, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport acknowledged the concerns raised in the event organizers' open letter and reiterated its commitment to supporting events across the province.
"Given uncertainty in the current economic and fiscal context, all ministries are reviewing existing programs with a focus on ensuring that public dollars are used to ensure programs remain relevant, are efficient, protect services, and grow the economy."
The BCFFE has provided nearly $80 million since it was introduced in 2021, post-pandemic, according to the ministry.