New Democratic Party MLAs Sheila Malcolmson, Doug Routley and Adam Walker say strengthened support from the BC government will help local artists and art organizations in the Mid-Island region recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
More than 25 artists and organizations in the Mid-Island region, including Nanaimo, Cowichan Valley, Gabriola Island, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach, will be benefitting from recovery funding. That includes the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society.
The funding to local artists and organizations comes from more than $12.4 million in one-time funding to the BC Arts Council. The council will distribute $7.9 million in resilience supplements to more than 300 organizations currently receiving operating assistance.
The grants recognize the impact of the pandemic on sector organizations. Grants range from $15,000-$60,000. Additionally, the BC Arts Council will direct $4.5 million to top up the Arts Impact Grant program. Arts Impact Grants enables applicants to prioritize what activity or activities will provide the greatest and most meaningful impact to their organization, practice or community.
“From Gabriola Island to the Cowichan Valley, we are blessed with a rich arts and culture sector,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “Local artists and organizations have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to adapt their operations and continue to provide creativity and inspiration, at a time when it was needed the most. I am happy to see so many organizations in our community, including the Gabriola Arts Council and the Chemainus Theatre Festival, benefit from this new funding.”
The grant program signals a new focus on flexibility, equity, inclusion, and diversity in how the BC Arts Council supports arts and culture organizations. Funding is available to organizations and collectives with an arts and culture mandate or offering dedicated arts and culture programming.
