Vancouver, B.C. (July 7, 2026) – Today, Creative BC announces 63 Amplify BC grants through the Live Music program (the Program), totalling $1.9M distributed to recipients across the province for live music events and businesses.
The Live Music program is a core program of the Province of British Columbia’s Amplify BC fund, supporting the growth, sustainability, and competitiveness of B.C.’s music industry. It offers grants of $2,000 to $50,000, covering up to 50% of eligible expenses, through two streams: Presentation, which supports live music events, and Business Development, which invests in capacity-building initiatives for music companies and organizations.
The Program strengthens live music in B.C. by investing in business development and live performances that generate economic activity, create jobs, and expand opportunities for local presenters and artists. By supporting capacity-building and performance initiatives, the Program helps drive growth across the province’s music ecosystem while enhancing cultural experiences for audiences.
It further supports music tourism and performance opportunities, and ensures that a broad range of presenters are included—particularly those from systemically excluded groups who have faced barriers to participation in funding programs and increasing investment in underrepresented and regional areas across the province.
Eligible activities for the Presentation stream include funding for live music events such as music festivals, concert series, year-round programming, and one-off performances, while the Business Development stream drives business activities such as capital infrastructure improvements, job creation, audience development and market research.
The 2025/26 Live Music program is part of the Province of British Columbia’s historic $22.5M investment in music funding to support the infrastructure and growth of B.C.’s music industry through 2027.
- 47 recipients will be supported through the Presentation stream including Music on Main Society, Bass Coast Festival, Squamish Arts, Salmon Arm Folk Music Society, and Public Disco.
- 16 recipients will be supported through the Business Development stream, including Timbre Concerts Ltd., Shambhala Music Festival, The Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society, ValhallaFest, and The Pearl.
See the full list on the Knowledge Hub.
To learn more about the Live Music program, visit Creative BC’s website: www.creativebc.com/funding-programs/live-music
Quotes:
Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
“Live music isn’t just about great shows, it also creates jobs, drives tourism, and brings people together in communities throughout B.C. From local stages featuring emerging artists to major events that draw visitors from around the world, our music sector is a powerful cultural and economic force. Through Amplify BC, we’re proud to support artists, venues, and organizers who contribute to our world-class music industry, helping to make our province a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.”
Robert Wong, Vice President, Creative BC
“Live music is essential to B.C.’s creative ecosystem, bringing people together, creating jobs, and supporting artists and businesses across the province. Through Amplify BC, we’re investing in the people and organizations behind these experiences, supporting both on-stage performances and behind-the-scenes development, to help build a more resilient, inclusive, and thriving music industry. As a whole, B.C.’s music industry contributes $484 million in economic activity for the province, underscoring the impact of continued investment in this vibrant and growing field.”
Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival, Program Recipient
“Support from Creative BC’s Live Music Presentation stream allowed us to organize a free funk/soul night to open the Garden City Grooves Festival, featuring an exclusively Indigenous lineup to support reconciliation and First People’s cultural revival in our community. The program has also helped us triple the number of women featuring on our lineup at the Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival, taking a big step towards gender parity in our programming, while allowing us to keep ticket prices low and several shows free despite rising costs.”
Corey Payette, Urban Ink, Program Recipient
“Creative BC’s support through the Live Music grant for Where the Rivers Meet Concert made it possible for us to bring together Indigenous composers, singers, musicians, and community in a powerful celebration of contemporary Indigenous music. This work is deeply connected to a larger vision of creating platforms where Indigenous stories, languages, and music are centered on major stages and experienced collectively. Support like this not only helps bring ambitious projects to life, it also strengthens relationships, builds visibility for Indigenous artists, and encourages future audiences and presenters to invest in this work.”
Media Contact:
Creative BC
Lisa Escudero
media@creativebc.com
+1 604-730-2235
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About Creative BC
Creative BC is an independent non-profit society created and supported by the Province to sustain and help grow British Columbia’s creative industries: motion picture, interactive and digital media, music and sound recording, and magazine and book publishing. The society delivers a wide range of programs and services with a mandate to expand B.C.’s creative economy. These activities include: administration of the provincial government’s motion picture tax credit programs; delivery of program funding and export marketing support for the sector; and provincial film commission services. Combined, these activities serve to attract inward investment and market B.C. as a partner and destination of choice for domestic and international content creation. The society acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help B.C.’s creative sector reach its economic, social, environmental, and creative potential both at home, and globally. Website: www.creativebc.com
Featured image: Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival 2025, photo by Colin Smith.