VICTORIA – New Democrat MLAs Mitzi Dean, Grace Lore, Rob Fleming, Lana Popham, and Murray Rankin say strengthened support from the BC New Democrat government will help local artists and art organizations in Greater Victoria recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
Over 50 artists and organizations in the Capital Regional District will be benefitting from this recovery funding, including:
- Belfry Theatre
- Victoria Native Friendship Centre
- Esquimalt Community Arts Hub
- CineVic Society of Independent Filmmakers
- Puente Theatre
- Pacific Opera Victoria
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, 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 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.
Quotes:
Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin
“The arts are a vital part of our lives, and whether it is music, dance, visual arts, or theatre, they provide a creative outlet for people to express themselves. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, our government knows how important it is that we support local arts and culture organizations.”
Grace Lore, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill
“Victoria is full of talented people with a lot to offer and I look forward to seeing how this funding will help local artists and community organizations to continue to enrich our community and foster creative expression.”
Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake
“Many of these organizations have been contributing to our communities for years, whether they are training the next generation of artists, or putting on a show for the community to enjoy. Their work has already made a big difference for many people, and I am confident this funding will go a long way towards ensuring they are here to stay.”
Lana Popham, MLA for Saanich-South
“The pandemic was hard on our arts and culture sector across Greater Victoria and this funding will make a big difference for artists who were unable to work or had to shift gears due to COVID restrictions. Now with summer ahead of us, I am looking forward to experiencing the rich culture that our local arts organizations have offered our community for decades.”
Murray Rankin, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head
“The arts and culture scene in Victoria provides joy to countless people, whether they perform or participate themselves or simply observe and take in other’s talents. Throughout the pandemic, it has become evident how vital it is for people to have positive outlets and I am glad we are investing in the continuity of local arts organizations.”
Learn More:
To learn more about these grants and see the list of recipients, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/26517