More than 250 artists and arts organizations throughout B.C. are benefiting from over $2.7 million in BC Arts Council (BCAC) grants to support a more inclusive and diverse arts sector.
“These grants are an important part of increasing access to arts funding for a broader range of organizations and individual artists,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “These grants are being provided at a critical time when B.C. artists and arts organizations are rebounding from the pandemic to increase opportunities and benefit a greater diversity of artists and arts organizations working in B.C.’s vibrant arts and culture sector.”
The BCAC is working to build a more diverse and equitable funding structure to support the arts and culture community. The work is in alignment with government priorities and responds to stakeholder feedback received from consultations held by Bob D’Eith, Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film.
The funding includes scholarships, project assistance for performing artists and professional organizations, and arts-based community development. Grants range from $3,000 to $48,000.
Priority was given to equity-deserving organizations and artists as well as to communities outside of the Capital Region and Greater Vancouver. Distribution of grant funding included:
- $25,000 to Runaway Moon Theatre to support the first phase of development of a community parade of trees that are native to the province;
- $28,000 to Kermode Friendship Centre to support the engineering and installation of the carved Honouring Our Children Totem Pole, a community celebration, the creation of a documentary, and a community-building cultural-awareness dialogue;
- $9,000 to artist TarunNayar to support ModernBiology, a live and online presentation of environmentally, electronically composed Indian classical music; and
- $10,450 to Smithers Gallery Association to support a two-week compensated artist residency program for marginalized or under-represented artists or art forms with a guaranteed exhibition.
