The provincial government will begin accepting applications today (August 27) to support B.C.-based events through its new Fairs, Festivals, and Events Recovery Fund.

B.C. is providing up to $12.9 million in one-time grants to eligible event organizers to support their efforts to resume safely.

Grant amounts for each event will be up to 20 percent of the total event budget--to a maximum of $250,000 per application--and eligible events include sport, arts and culture events, community celebrations, agricultural fairs, rodeos, and exhibitions. 

Eligible expenses include operational costs, health and safety measures, venue rental, marketing, wages, and promotion.

"We know that people have been missing community fairs, festivals and events, and organizers have made tremendous sacrifices to keep us all safe," says minister of tourism, arts, culture, and sport Melanie Mark in a news release. "We're proud to support local events, so people can gather safely with family and friends, in groups and close to home as we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic."

Applications are being accepted until October 1, 2021, for eligible events that take place between July 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022.

For more info on the new Fairs, Festivals, and Events Recovery Fund visit the government website here.