Community Arts Council of Vancouver

What Community Arts Council of Vancouver does

The Community Arts Council of Vancouver (CACV) is a registered Canadian charity and nonprofit society founded in 1946, recognized as North America's first arts council. It operates from a hybrid office at the Woodwards building (#440 – 111 West Hastings Street) in Vancouver, British Columbia, with a small staff of approximately 13 people. The organization delivers a portfolio of community-focused arts programs, including the flagship annual Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival (VOAF) at the Roundhouse Community Centre, the Community Arts Fund (grantmaking), Reframing Relations (youth workshops), the Neurodivergent Artist Collective, the Helm x CACV Workshop Series, the Artist in Residence program, and venue-based programming at the McBride Fieldhouse and Annex Theatre. Its primary beneficiaries are local Vancouver artists — particularly outsider, neurodivergent, and Downtown Eastside-based creators — alongside community arts organizations and the general public. All programming is offered free or at low cost to remove financial barriers to participation.

CACV's revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a Canadian arts nonprofit. It draws on government grants from Creative BC, BC Gaming, BC Arts Council, the City of Vancouver, Canadian Heritage, and the Canada Council for the Arts; individual and corporate donations processed through CanadaHelps and in-kind securities; periodic online auctions via 32auctions; and an individual/corporate membership program that includes newsletter access, event discounts, and promotional benefits. No membership pricing tiers are publicly disclosed. The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its digital infrastructure is built on WordPress, Eventbrite, CanadaHelps, and 32auctions. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on a website, monthly e-newsletter, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), community calendar listings, calls to artists, and cross-promotion with partner organizations. CACV is governed by an independent working Board of Directors and holds no parent company or investor ownership.

Name

Community Arts Council of Vancouver

Legal name

Community Arts Council of Vancouver

Website

https://cacv.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Community Arts Council of Vancouver is a registered Canadian nonprofit arts council (founded 1946) that supports local artists through programs like the Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival, the Community Arts Fund, and the Neurodivergent Artist Collective, serving Vancouver artists, community organizations, and the general public with free or low-cost programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (71132), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD), Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Arts grant funding
• Outsider arts festival
• Community arts council
• Workshop programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: CACV receives funding from government bodies including Creative BC, BC Gaming, BC Arts Council, City of Vancouver, and Canadian Heritage to support programming including the Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts charitable donations through CanadaHelps, in-kind donations of Canadian securities, and runs periodic online fundraisers through 32auctions. Tax receipts are issued for donations.
3. Membership Fees: Individual and corporate membership programs provide benefits including newsletter access, event discounts, and promotional opportunities. Fees support organizational operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Community Arts Council of Vancouver (CACV) is a registered nonprofit arts organization that delivers community-led arts programming including the annual Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival, arts grant funding through the Community Arts Fund, artist development workshops (Helm x CACV, Reframing Relations), venue-based programming at the Annex and McBride Fieldhouse, the Neurodivergent Artist Collective, and an Artist in Residence program. It supports Vancouver-based artists, with an emphasis on outsider and marginalized creators, by providing exhibition, performance, grant, and professional development opportunities free or at low cost to participants.

Product overview

Community Arts Council of Vancouver operates as a non-profit arts organization offering a portfolio of community arts programs rather than a unified software product. The core programs include the Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival (VOAF), an annual festival supporting outsider artists; the Community Arts Fund providing grants for arts initiatives; Reframing Relations workshops for youth; and the Neurodivergent Artist Collective. The organization also manages venue facilities including McBride Fieldhouse and Events at the Annex, and delivers workshop series and artist residency programs. Programming is largely free or low-cost, supported by grants, donations, and membership fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival (VOAF): Annual festival celebrating creativity of Vancouver outsider artists who break the mould.
• Community Arts Fund (CAF)
• Reframing Relations
• Neurodivergent Artist Collective
• McBride Fieldhouse
• Events at the Annex

Products and services

• Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival (VOAF) Annual festival celebrating creativity of Vancouver artists working outside the mainstream art world, offering exhibition, sales, performance, and learning opportunities for visual and performing artists facing social exclusion.
• Community Arts Fund (CAF) Grant program providing financial support for a wide range of arts initiatives including visual arts, music, dance, theatre, and community arts projects.
• Reframing Relations Workshop series engaging youth in meaningful conversations about relationships, designed to foster dialogue and understanding through artistic processes.
• Neurodivergent Artist Collective (NAC) Collective developed to support neurodivergent artists, providing community and resources for creative expression.
• Events at the Annex Arts programming and events hosted at the Annex Theatre venue in Vancouver.
• McBride Fieldhouse Community arts facility and venue supporting local artistic programming and community engagement.
• Helm x CACV Workshop Series Collaborative workshop series providing skills development and artistic training opportunities.
• Artist in Residence Residency program placing artists in community settings to develop and deliver arts projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1500+ attendees and $14,200+ art sales at VOAF 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue partner for Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival, hosting the annual festival since 2017
• Outsider Art Festival (Helsinki, Finland)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership established 2023 for artist exchanges, film screenings, and collaborative programming. CACV team conducted research visit with Arts Abroad grant from Canada Council for the Arts.
• SAD MagminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArts publication celebrating 15th anniversary, hosting collage activity at VOAF exhibition hall
• Enable: Arts SocietystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative workshop partner for Enable: Nourishment and Ritual (R)evolution events at Annex Theatre
• Downtown VanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDowntown Vancouver improvement district supporting community arts events and workshops
• Vancouver Civic TheatresstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal theatres organization providing Annex Theatre venue support for CACV events
• Couch Jams CollectivestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic collective collaborating on I Wish U Roses event featuring Haleluya, Manyenya, Ebonempress, and Majo performers
• PoMoArtsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPort Moody arts centre hosting VOAF 2023 Touring Exhibition in Canadian Pacific Gallery
• Gaia Museum Outsider Art (Randers, Denmark)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch visit destination during Arts Abroad trip. Museum founded 2002, provides studio spaces for 25 artists with disabilities, supports artists beyond gallery walls.
• Copenhagen Outsider Art GallerystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch visit destination. Private outsider art gallery founded 2016, only such gallery in Copenhagen, engaging with local outsider artists across Denmark.
• Roots and Rivers ConsultingstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm that facilitated development of CACV's 3-year Strategic Plan (2023-2026) through engagement strategies and strategic planning facilitation

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Creative Growth Art Center: Oakland, California-based nonprofit serving artists with disabilities through studio space, exhibitions and gallery representation. Directly comparable to CACV's outsider arts and Neurodivergent Artist Collective programming focus.
• Toronto Arts Council: Toronto's municipal arts funding agency that grants to artists and organizations. Operates the same arts council + grantmaking model as CACV but at much larger scale and serves Toronto's metropolitan creative community.
• Ontario Arts Council: Provincial arts funding agency in Ontario that distributes grants to artists and organizations. Comparable to CACV in mandate (arts council with grantmaking) but operates at provincial scale across Ontario with significantly larger budget.
• Arts Umbrella: Vancouver-based nonprofit delivering arts education and programs for young people. Comparable community arts mission in the same Vancouver market, with broader youth programming focus.
• Saskatchewan Arts Board: Saskatchewan's provincial arts council providing grants, programs and services. Direct peer to CACV in mandate and operating model, though at provincial rather than city scale.
• BC Alliance for Arts + Culture: Provincial arts advocacy and services organization based in BC that supports arts organizations across British Columbia. Operates in the same geographic market as CACV and shares the community arts development mission.
• Artscape: Toronto nonprofit that operates community arts facilities and venues on a long-term lease model. Comparable to CACV's venue-based programming (McBride Fieldhouse, Annex Theatre) and physical-space development ambitions.
• Heart of the City Festival: Vancouver-based annual community arts festival focused on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Directly parallels CACV's VOAF and DTES-focused programming, serving overlapping communities and artists in the same neighborhood.

Broad incumbents

• Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: Major Canadian arts institution delivering programming across visual arts, performing arts, Indigenous arts and more. Much larger and broader than CACV, but shares the mission of advancing Canadian arts practice and supports similar artist-development functions.

Regional players

• Museum of Contemporary Art Vancouver: Non-collecting contemporary art museum in Vancouver presenting exhibitions of local, national and international artists. Comparable as a Vancouver-based nonprofit arts organization but focused on exhibition programming rather than community arts and grantmaking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CommunityArtYVR
• Facebookfacebook.com/communityartsvancouver
• Instagraminstagram.com/communityartsyvr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-arts-council-of-vancouver

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Arts Council of Vancouver