MLAs Sheila Malcolmson, Doug Routley, and Adam Walker say strengthened support from the provincial government will help local artists and art organizations in the Mid-Island region recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
A release issued on Friday, April 1, from Walker’s office read that more than 25 artists and organizations in the Mid-Island region, including Nanaimo, Cowichan Valley, Gabriola Island, and Parksville Qualicum Beach will benefit from this recovery funding.
Two Parksville Qualicum Beach organizations include the Qualicum Beach Historical and Museum Society and the Oceanside Community Arts Council.
This funding to local artists and organizations comes from more than $12.4 million in one-time funding to the BC Arts Council.
READ MORE: Province announces $2M in arts and culture funding under 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.
“These organizations in (Parksville Qualicum Beach) do valuable work connecting people to the community and I am glad we are supporting them as they rebuild from the pandemic,” said Walker, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum. “We are investing in a stronger tourism sector for visitors and a vibrant culture for people who live here.”
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.
To see the list of recipients, and for more information about these grants, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/26517.
– NEWS Staff, submitted