Definitions

This list of Inspire Vancouver terms will help you understand program funding and how it works.

• Arts: Creative works in visual arts, performing arts, music, theater, dance, literature, and other forms that enrich public life and learning.
• Arts Organization: Groups offering programs in dance, design, folk arts, literary arts, multi-disciplinary arts, music, media arts, theater, or visual arts.
• Administrative Costs: Expenses for running cultural programs, including staff, outreach, evaluation, technology, and maintenance.
• Capacity Building: Investments that strengthen an organization’s effectiveness and sustainability, such as training, space upgrades, or tech improvements.
• Culture: Shared traditions, values, languages, and creative expressions that shape a community’s identity and well-being.
• Cultural Center: Areas in Vancouver where cultural organizations and activities are concentrated.
• Cultural Facility: Buildings or spaces used to host cultural programs or community events.
• Cultural Organization: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Washington focused on arts, culture, heritage, or science, serving the Vancouver public.
• Cultural Access Program: Program providing financial support to cultural organizations and increasing access to cultural activities.
• Equity: Reducing disparities and creating opportunities for everyone to participate in arts, culture, heritage, and science.
• Fiscal Sponsor: A nonprofit that manages funds and administrative responsibilities for a sponsored cultural project.
• Heritage: History, traditions, landmarks, folklore, and cultural resources passed down through generations.
• Heritage Organization: Groups preserving, documenting, interpreting, or sharing the past, including people, places, and events.
• Historic Preservation: Protecting and restoring historically significant buildings, structures, or sites.
• Placemaking: Creative work that strengthens connections between people and shared places through community engagement.
• Public Benefits: Measurable benefits from cultural programs, including access, equity, and inclusion.
• Sponsored Cultural Entity: A non-tax-exempt group that partners with a fiscal sponsor to provide public cultural programs.
• Start-Up Funding: Money for initial program costs, like legal or overhead expenses, with expected reimbursement later.