It's no secret that funding is becoming increasingly difficult to attain in the arts. In August 2024, the Federation of BC Writers sent out a survey to literary organizations around the province. It was a sustainability temperature check to see if the experiences we were having at the Federation were endemic of the entire community.

We are still analysing the results, but the initial data is worse than we expected.

27% COULD CEASE OPERATIONS WITHIN 2 YEARS

8% ALREADY ARE1

Across all grant funders for organisations that had received funding in the past, 64.15% noted it was much harder or somewhat harder to attain. Only 7.04% noted that it was somewhat or much easier to attain and the easier funding was not coming from funders dedicated to the arts.

Only 9% of all charitable donations are made to arts organizations in Canada2

The Federation of BC Writers has worked diligently for years to deliver outstanding programming while maintaining low costs to participation.1. 27% or 7 out of 26 organisations in the survey noted that it was somewhat likely they would need to cease operations within 2 years and 8% or 2 of the 26 have already cease operations or are in the  process of ceasing operations.
2. 2024 Giving Report from Canada Helps