Dozens of cultural organizations will be paying close attention to this Tuesday's (January 24) Vancouver city council meeting.

That's because that's when local politicians are scheduled to vote on staff recommendations for $2.6 million in advance arts grants.

The largest is a $545,250 first-quarter installment to the Vancouver Art Gallery.

It's one of five falling under the category of "major institutions".

The four others also in line for first-quarter installments in this group are the Museum of Vancouver ($189,500), H.R. MacMillan Space Centre ($129,850), Vancouver Maritime Museum ($100,000), and Science World ($26,250).

Another $936,120 is recommended as quarterly installments for 51 operating organizations, with the largest being $160,000 for the Arts Club Theatre Company.

The next 10 largest recommendations for quarterly installments are for the Vancouver International Children's Festival ($126,500), Vancouver East Cultural Centre ($115,000), Ballet BC ($100,000), Coastal Blues and Jazz Society ($95,000), PuSh Performing Arts Festival Society ($80,000), Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society ($80,000), Vancouver Dance Centre ($78,000), Firehall Theatre Society ($75,000), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra ($70,000), and the Contemporary Art Gallery ($70,000).

Another $681,100 has been recommended for 42 other organizations in annual assistance and through a biennial assessment process. Green Thumb Theatre for Young People ($60,000), Cineworks Independent Filmmakers Society ($36,000), and Théâtre la Seizième ($35,000) are in line for the three largest grants in this group.

"The Advance grants policy and Biennial assessment process helps maintain healthy financial positions for the groups to continue to contribute to a diverse and thriving cultural economy," a staff report states.

The staff recommendations can only be approved with at least eight affirmative votes on the 11-member council.