Doug Routley says people will enjoy more live music events and performances this year thanks to the BC New Democrat government’s continued support of artists and the live music sector throughout B.C.
“Whether it’s Cultivate Festival on Gabriola, or Laketown Shakedown or Sunfest in the Cowichan Valley, these exciting events attract people from all over to our region,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “I am proud of the resiliency of local artists and musicians over the past two years and this funding means that they can continue to offer the entertainment that we need and enjoy.”
Sunfest Country Music Festival Ltd receives $37,500, Laketown Rock Music Festival Ltd. for the 2022 Laketown Shakedown Festival $35,000 and the Gabriola Arts Council for Cultivate Festival $17,500.
The funding for Gabriola Island and the Cowichan Valley comes from an additional $2.5 million investment from the New Democrat government to Amplify BC to support music companies and live operations. Amplify BC is B.C.’s music fund delivered through Creative BC, the Province’s lead agency for creative-sector funding and development.
This $2.5-million supplement is in addition to the $22.5 million already being delivered over three years in recognition of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on live music performances and the music industry, and the sacrifices that were made to keep everyone safe.
B.C. celebrated Creative Industries Week May 16-20, an industry-led awareness week with organized events showcasing B.C.’s creators through online events and social media campaigns.