COURTENAY – New Democrat MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard says people in the Comox Valley will benefit from improvements to a local arts space thanks to the BC New Democrat government’s continued support of artists throughout B.C.

“The Comox Valley Art Gallery has always been a hub of inspiration and connection for people in our community,” says Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox. “I look forward to seeing the improvements that they will make with the support of this funding.”

The Comox Valley Art Gallery is receiving a grant of $208,800 for capital improvements.

Through the Arts Infrastructure Program a total of 84 arts and cultural organizations will share in $4 million in grant funding. The program provides grants to arts and cultural organizations to develop and enhance spaces that support B.C.’s arts and cultural practitioners. Eligible activities include planning and consultation and capital improvements, such as improving safety features; increasing accessibility; or purchasing specialized equipment.

In April, the BC Arts Council introduced its Extending Foundations: Action Plan 2022-2024 which marked a shift in focus in the way the council provides funding to respond to calls to action for reconciliation, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

In alignment with these commitments, 50 per cent of grants in this recent round of Arts infrastructure funding was distributed to organizations from rural or remote communities or those led by or rooted in Indigenous and equity-deserving communities.

Learn More:

To learn more about these grants and see the list of recipients, visit: news.gov.bc.ca/26762