Updates from Culture & Events

City of Nanaimo // AUGUST 2023

Concerts in the Park Survey
We thank you for a spectacular 2023 season!

Images from l-r: Concerts in the Park 2023 performers, Gab Gosselin, From the Earth, Myc Sharratt, Tasha Adams, Island Time Saxophone Quartet, Colliding Canyons, Details, The Grinning Barretts, Velvet Stardust, Cosmosaurus (not pictured)

Did you attend our Concerts in the Park Series? We want to hear from you! Let us know what you loved and what you think could use some improvement, what impressed  you in 2023, and what your ultimate wish list is for 2024. Click the link below to access the survey online.

These seasonal concerts are an opportunity for established and emerging local musicians to showcase their talent against the backdrop of some of our most beautiful park spaces. Over the past two months, these concerts drew crowds of up to 450 people, and once again proved to be a fantastic way to underscore the diverse musical talent in and around Nanaimo! We are so amazed at the calibre of talent within our musical community, and we thank our equally amazing audiences for their support of this fantastic series – many of whom became familiar faces from week to week!
 

Click for Survey

City of Nanaimo Culture Grants Intake
Submission cut off Tuesday, October 10th @ 4:00 pm

Image: Photo by hannah grace on Unsplash

2024 City of Nanaimo Culture Grant Intake – Now Open!
Deadline October 10, 2023 – 4:00 PM

Grants can now be submitted online through our online uploading system. Please remember that we can help you troubleshoot this process if you require assistance. Most answers can be found on our FAQ page. If you are still in need of help after reading through the FAQ page, we are an email away at culturegrants@nanaimo.ca. Please reach out!

Go to grants online:
2024 Culture Operating Grants
2024 Culture Project Grants
2024 Downtown Event Revitalization Funding

What is NEW is for 2024 Funding?
NEW Financial Threshold – Operating Grants
In an attempt to remove financial barriers for smaller groups seeking Operating funding, a new Financial Threshold which determines the level of financial reporting required will now be instated. Please read section A4 of the online application / PDF file to determine if this threshold pertains to your request.

Mandatory Grant Preparation Zoom Meeting Attendance
It is our hope to help guide you / your organization toward success this grant season! As such, attendance by a representative of your organization at a Grant Preparation Zoom meeting will be required as part of the application process. Choose from several general or grant specific meeting types and dates available (under the “Important Notes” section of each Guidelines and Application form page on the City website), and add a reminder to your calendar. Copy and paste the Zoom link of your choice into your browser, and join the conversation on the day of the meeting, or for further assistance please email culturegrants@nanaimo.ca.

Did you receive a City of Nanaimo Culture Grant in 2023? Your Final Report is due!
Please note that most Culture Grant Funding Final Reports will be coming due 60 days post completion of the event/project/or year for which you or your organization received funding and/or in advance of the deadline for applications. Your organization must submit a report in order to be eligible to reapply for funds in 2024. If you have questions about submitting your report in advance, please reach out to us! Please note that if your project is not yet completed, or if you are still within 90 days of completion, an interim report must be submitted prior to your 2024 funding application. 2024 applications will not be considered if interim or final grant reports have not been submitted by the due date. Funding Report forms are available online:

Funding Report Forms online:
Culture Operating Grants – FINAL REPORT FORM 2023 and Budget Form 2023
Culture Project Grants – FINAL REPORT FORM 2023 and Budget Form 2023
Downtown Event Revitalization Funding – FINAL REPORT FORM 2023 and Budget Form 2023
 

More about City of Nanaimo Grants

Upcoming Opportunities
Calls to Artists - Fall 2023

Image: Examples of projects by artists on the 2021-2023 Urban Design Roster

Coming soon!

Stay tuned to our social media accounts and City of Nanaimo website for the following Calls to Artists, due to go live in the next few weeks.  Will we be seeing your application?  Submission details specific to each opportunity will be provided with each call.
 

Street Banner Design
This program offers artists and designers an opportunity to submit proposals for original banner artwork that will be hung in Nanaimo’s downtown area.

PROSPECTIVE CALL DATE: Mid September
DEADLINE: Monday, October 23


Youth Poet Laureate
The Youth Poet Laureate serves as a “young people’s poet” raising awareness of poetry, the literary arts and the positive impact literature and poetry can have on community life. (Ages 13 – 24)

PROSPECTIVE CALL DATE: Mid September
DEADLINE: Monday, October 30


Urban Design Roster
This program offers artists and designers an opportunity to be involved in civic urban design and small-scale artwork related to City infrastructure. Applicants do not have to be a resident of Nanaimo, but must have a good understanding of and relationship to the City in order to apply to this call.

PROSPECTIVE CALL DATE: Late September
DEADLINE: Monday, November 13

Poetry Readings with Kamal
Enjoy the beauty of literary art with Nanaimo's Poet Laureate

Is it Fall, by Kamal Parmar, 2023
Image: Janna Logan

If you are in the neighbourhood, you can catch a Poetry reading with Kamal Parmar, City of Nanaimo Poet Laureate at the following locations in September!

• South Cowichan Library, September 9th, 2-3PM
• Courtenay Regional Library, September 17th, 2-3PM

More about the Poet Laureate

Millstone by Curtis Grahauer
2022 Temporary Public Art project to be installed

Image: Promotional still from Millstone, Curtis Grahauer, 2022

Very soon, visitors to Bowen Park will find a new, interactive art project installed and ready to be explored.  Curtis Grahauer's 2022 Temporary Public Art project, Millstone, is a film project that documents the progressive, seasonal transformation of the Millstone River over the course of one year. 

As participants walk the Millstone River trail of Bowen Park, they will have the opportunity to scan QR codes on signage placed at selected viewpoints, watching the ebb and flow of the ever-changing Millstone River from the artist's point of view.  Meticulously composed over many months, this project provides a unique glimpse into our evolving urban green spaces and seeks to welcome new audiences to film as an art form.  

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With respect & gratitude, we acknowledge that our work is carried out on the
territory of the Snuneymuxw people

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