BC Arts Council Provides $5.1-Million in Grant Awards
VICTORIA – Individual artists and arts organizations across B.C. will receive $5.1 million in BC Arts Council grants, announced Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Kevin Krueger and Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development today.
“This funding is part of the government’s continued investment in our province’s vibrant arts and culture community,” said Krueger. “The Province is committed to the long term health of B.C.’s arts sector and recognizes the key social and economic roles that heritage, arts and culture play in our society.”
The council will award 338 grants to individual artists and arts and cultural organizations representing a range of disciplines including music, visual arts, literature, theatre and dance. Once the council has notified grant recipients of their funding allocations, specific details of each award will be available on the BC Arts Council website, at www.bcartscouncil.ca.
“One of the BC Arts Council’s key goals is to ensure that excellence, creativity and diversity in BC’s arts and cultural sector are recognized and encouraged” said council chair Jane Danzo. “This funding helps us meet this goal while enriching artistic practice in communities across B.C.”
A total of $10.9 million in funding for the 2009/10 Arts Council budget, which includes this round of grants, has been provided through the Ministry of Housing and Social Development’s Community Gaming Grants program.
“Revenues from the Community Gaming Grants program will assist the BC Arts Council in the provision of this year’s grants to artists and arts organisations, and also reiterate the Province’s on-going support for B.C.’s arts community.” said Coleman, whose portfolio also includes gaming.
The BC Arts Council is an independent agency that supports a range of activities including funding for professional artists and arts organizations, community initiatives, training and scholarships. Its funding decisions reflect recommendations that come out of a careful, peer-review process. Since 2001, the BC Arts Council has provided over $124 million to assist artists and arts and cultural organizations throughout B.C.
