Ten arts and culture groups on Vancouver Island and the islands in the Salish Sea are getting more than $440,000 help to improve their spaces or buy equipment.

Ten arts and culture groups in the Kootenays and the Thompson Okanagan are getting more than $317,000 help to improve their spaces or buy equipment.

Professional artists and others who work in the arts can get more support to help with challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic though a new grant program.

The Province is further increasing resources to address racism and expand multiculturalism throughout B.C. as part of the economic recovery from COVID-19.

Artists and organizations are getting more to help them through the pandemic, with increased funding and extended deadlines to apply for arts and culture recovery supports.