MAPLE RIDGE – New Democrat MLAs Lisa Beare and Bob D’Eith say strengthened support from the BC NDP government will help local artists and art organizations recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

“Whether it was books, poetry, music, or television and film, the arts helped many of us cope with the challenges brought on over the last few years. These grants will help our arts sector, which is so important to British Columbians, to come back even stronger,” said Lisa Beare, MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows

The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council/Acts Art Centre will be receiving $30,000 from a Resiliency Supplement Funding Grant.

“I am proud of the actions our government has taken in making available this substantial investment in funding for the arts and culture sector,” said Bob D’Eith, Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film and MLA for Maple Ridge-Mission. “This funding is vital in setting B.C. up for recovery, and meets the needs of the sector to increase flexibility in grant funding criteria that better reflects the diversity of the arts sector which is a central part of the Arts Impact Grant Program.”

This funding to local artists and organizations comes from more than $12.4 million in one-time funding to the BC Arts Council. The BC Arts Council will distribute $7.9 million in resilience supplements to over 300 organizations currently receiving operating assistance.  These grants recognize the impact the pandemic has had on sector organizations. Grants will range from $15,000 to $60,000. Additionally, 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 and/or community.

This 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 and/or offering dedicated arts and culture programming, including non-profit organizations and Indigenous governments and community organizations.

Learn More: 

To learn more about these grants and see the list of recipients, visit: More recovery support coming for B.C.’s art, culture sector | BC Gov News