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News Release

Inspire Vancouver Announces First Grant Awards, Providing More Than $2.4 Million To Community Organizations Across Vancouver (Photo) - 11/05/26

Vancouver, Wash. –  Inspire Vancouver, the City of Vancouver’s Cultural Access Program, has awarded its first slate of grants, totaling more than $2.4 million. The City’s Culture, Arts, and Heritage Commission approved 45 awards on Nov. 3, marking a historic milestone for the program and for Vancouver’s arts, culture, heritage and science community. The awards went to 32 recipients, including local nonprofits and individuals and groups supported by nonprofit fiscal sponsors.

 

Inaugural Inspire Vancouver grant recipients

  • Bravo! Concerts Northwest
  • Cascade Forest Conservancy
  • Clark County Battle of the Bands
  • Clark County Historical Museum (Three Grants Awarded)
  • Columbia Dance (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Columbia Play Project (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Confluence (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Noah Barclay
  • Couve Zine Swap
  • Dandelion Teahouse & Apothecary (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Ekklesia Theatre
  • Friends of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
  • iUrban Teen (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Kādence Collective
  • Ke Kukui Foundation (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Latinos Unidos Y Floreciendo
  • Magenta Theater (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Moku'aina A Wakinekona Hawaiian Civic Club - SW Washington Region (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Msanii Creative Expressions (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington
  • Pegasus Puppet Theatre
  • Queer Community Network
  • Re-Imagined Radio
  • Ronald Hanley
  • Sakura 39ers Youth
  • Shifted Theory
  • TheARTScentered (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Vancouver Ballet Folklorico (Three Grants Awarded)
  • Vancouver Bee Project
  • Vancouver Movie Fête
  • Vancouver's Downtown Association
  • Vietnamese Community of Clark County

Inspire Vancouver received 97 eligible applications in its first grant cycle, with requests totaling over $6 million. The strong response reflects both the depth of Vancouver’s arts, culture, heritage and science community and the demand for a dedicated local funding source.

 

The awarded recipients will offer a variety of exciting new public programming for Vancouver residents, including:

  • Free and low-cost events
  • Cultural celebrations and learning opportunities
  • Art workshops and classes
  • Learning experiences for youth
  • Community-driven public art creation

Inspire Vancouver awarded funding across three grant categories: Innovation, Impact, and Comprehensive. These grants provide stable support to local nonprofits and emerging organizations, helping them sustain and grow the work that makes Vancouver a creative, connected, and vibrant city. The program places special emphasis on expanding access for people and communities who have historically faced barriers to participation.

 

Award recommendations were made by an independent Grant Review Committee (GRC) made up of community members from outside the Culture, Arts and Heritage Commission and City staff. GRC members reviewed and scored applications considering public benefit, budgets, equitable access, and alignment with program goals. The GRC voted unanimously to advance its final recommendations, which the CAHC then voted to approve.

 

“This is a milestone for Vancouver’s arts, culture, heritage, and science community. These grants will put dollars directly into the hands of organizations that are already doing work in our community,” said Diana Betancourt, Inspire Vancouver program supervisor. “With this new funding they can grow and create new programs that bring people together and make cultural experiences available to residents across Vancouver. We are grateful to everyone who applied and excited to see the impact this new funding source will have on our city.”

 

Inspire Vancouver is one way the City of Vancouver puts tax dollars directly to work for the community. The program is funded by a 0.1% sales tax which is expected to generate up to $7 million annually for the community.  The first grant cycle of Inspire Vancouver is a shorter, eight-month period, so the amount available to award was less than in a typical 12 month cycle. Any cultural access funding that was not used this year will remain in the Inspire Vancouver program for future grant cycles.

 

Applications for the 2027-28 grant cycle will be opening in spring of 2027. To learn more about Inspire Vancouver and upcoming grant opportunities, visit www.inspirevancouver.org.

 

 

###

 

 

Attached Media Files: Children playing with large foam blocks during a Columbia Play Project pop-up event with the Vancouver Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. The Columbia Play Project is one of the 32 inaugural Inspire Vancouver grant recipients.,

Inspire Vancouver Announces First Grant Awards, Providing More Than $2.4 Million To Community Organizations Across Vancouver (Photo) - 11/05/26

Vancouver, Wash. –  Inspire Vancouver, the City of Vancouver’s Cultural Access Program, has awarded its first slate of grants, totaling more than $2.4 million. The City’s Culture, Arts, and Heritage Commission approved 45 awards on Nov. 3, marking a historic milestone for the program and for Vancouver’s arts, culture, heritage and science community. The awards went to 32 recipients, including local nonprofits and individuals and groups supported by nonprofit fiscal sponsors.

 

Inaugural Inspire Vancouver grant recipients

  • Bravo! Concerts Northwest
  • Cascade Forest Conservancy
  • Clark County Battle of the Bands
  • Clark County Historical Museum (Three Grants Awarded)
  • Columbia Dance (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Columbia Play Project (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Confluence (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Noah Barclay
  • Couve Zine Swap
  • Dandelion Teahouse & Apothecary (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Ekklesia Theatre
  • Friends of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
  • iUrban Teen (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Kādence Collective
  • Ke Kukui Foundation (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Latinos Unidos Y Floreciendo
  • Magenta Theater (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Moku'aina A Wakinekona Hawaiian Civic Club - SW Washington Region (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Msanii Creative Expressions (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington
  • Pegasus Puppet Theatre
  • Queer Community Network
  • Re-Imagined Radio
  • Ronald Hanley
  • Sakura 39ers Youth
  • Shifted Theory
  • TheARTScentered (Two Grants Awarded)
  • Vancouver Ballet Folklorico (Three Grants Awarded)
  • Vancouver Bee Project
  • Vancouver Movie Fête
  • Vancouver's Downtown Association
  • Vietnamese Community of Clark County

Inspire Vancouver received 97 eligible applications in its first grant cycle, with requests totaling over $6 million. The strong response reflects both the depth of Vancouver’s arts, culture, heritage and science community and the demand for a dedicated local funding source.

 

The awarded recipients will offer a variety of exciting new public programming for Vancouver residents, including:

  • Free and low-cost events
  • Cultural celebrations and learning opportunities
  • Art workshops and classes
  • Learning experiences for youth
  • Community-driven public art creation

Inspire Vancouver awarded funding across three grant categories: Innovation, Impact, and Comprehensive. These grants provide stable support to local nonprofits and emerging organizations, helping them sustain and grow the work that makes Vancouver a creative, connected, and vibrant city. The program places special emphasis on expanding access for people and communities who have historically faced barriers to participation.

 

Award recommendations were made by an independent Grant Review Committee (GRC) made up of community members from outside the Culture, Arts and Heritage Commission and City staff. GRC members reviewed and scored applications considering public benefit, budgets, equitable access, and alignment with program goals. The GRC voted unanimously to advance its final recommendations, which the CAHC then voted to approve.

 

“This is a milestone for Vancouver’s arts, culture, heritage, and science community. These grants will put dollars directly into the hands of organizations that are already doing work in our community,” said Diana Betancourt, Inspire Vancouver program supervisor. “With this new funding they can grow and create new programs that bring people together and make cultural experiences available to residents across Vancouver. We are grateful to everyone who applied and excited to see the impact this new funding source will have on our city.”

 

Inspire Vancouver is one way the City of Vancouver puts tax dollars directly to work for the community. The program is funded by a 0.1% sales tax which is expected to generate up to $7 million annually for the community.  The first grant cycle of Inspire Vancouver is a shorter, eight-month period, so the amount available to award was less than in a typical 12 month cycle. Any cultural access funding that was not used this year will remain in the Inspire Vancouver program for future grant cycles.

 

Applications for the 2027-28 grant cycle will be opening in spring of 2027. To learn more about Inspire Vancouver and upcoming grant opportunities, visit www.inspirevancouver.org.

 

 

###

 

 

Attached Media Files: Children playing with large foam blocks during a Columbia Play Project pop-up event with the Vancouver Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. The Columbia Play Project is one of the 32 inaugural Inspire Vancouver grant recipients.,