BCA is a tenant-governed, not-for-profit society that works towards creating affordable studio and cultural spaces in Vancouver’s Chinatown and the unceded Territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We serve artists, cultural producers, and organizations with deep ties to the historically rooted communities around us.
We are looking for up to 3 new members to join our Board of Directors. Because we are tenant-governed, we especially encourage current BCA tenants, subletters, and organization employees to put their names forward. This is a tenant-wide open call, part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and open governance, and we welcome expressions of interest from anyone connected to the communities we serve. BCA: tenants for tenants.
What the Board does?:
The Board sets BCA’s strategic direction, oversees our finances and annual audit, hires and supports the Senior Management, approvals of rental rates and policies, and acts as ambassadors for BCA in the community. Directors serve a three-year term, meet at least quarterly, and sit on committees as needed. A minimum honorarium of $250 per quarter is provided to support your work and attendance.
Who we’re looking for……
We are building a board that reflects the communities we serve. We are especially looking for people with skills or experience in:
Governance: non-profit boards, policy development, or organizational leadership.
Community leadership: trusted relationships with other tenants, organizing experience in arts, cultural, or neighbourhood communities, particularly Chinatown, the DTES, and BIPOC communities
Financial skills: budgeting, accounting, audit, or financial oversight
Also helpful: grant writing, fundraising, real estate or facilities management, human resources, and experience writing or building policy.
Formal credentials are not required. Lived experience, community knowledge, and non-traditional career paths are valued here; and an interest in learning about arts and culture non-profits is also great. If you are interested and not sure if you are qualified, reach out anyways! Lived experience is very relevant and valued. There are also opportunities for mentorship and learning.
We encourage applications from people who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, disabled, 2SLGBTQIA+, low-income, and we recognize that these identities intersect and shape lived experience.
What we ask of every Board Member:
Put the health of the larger BCA community first. Most of our Directors are also tenants. We ask all board members to recognize their own biases; personal, professional, and organizational- and to set individual interests aside when making decisions that affect the whole community. When a conflict of interest arises, directors disclose it and step back from that decision, in line with our Conflict of Interest policy.
Work within our Code of Ethics, which centres mutual respect, open communication, accountability, and active opposition to racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of discrimination.
Commit the time: roughly 4-8 hours per month, including quarterly board meetings, committee work, and community events.
Eligibility Minimum: Directors must be at least 18 years old. If you are a tenant applicant, you should be in good standing; up to date on rent, or if you’re not able to pay, that you’ve let us know ahead of time. We get that life happens; what matters to us is communication and transparency when it does.
How Board Members are Nominated
The existing Board of Directors are tasked with nominating a slate of directors, with appointments being made at the Annual General Meeting, currently planned for October 14th, 2026
How to express interest?:
Send a short paragraph telling us who you are, your connection to BCA or the communities we serve, why you’re interested, and what you’d bring to the board; along with your CV. Prefer to talk it through instead? Email us and we’ll set up a time for a call.
Deadline: September 26, 2026
Email: bcaboard@bcabca.ca
Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. :)
