The Province is providing $75,000 to help the City of Port Alberni make local arts and culture an important part of the community's 100th anniversary celebrations, Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong announced.

Funding will come from the 2010 Sport and Arts Legacy, established to carry on the spirit of community celebration that played such a key role in the success of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This funding is part of the $800,000 announced last week, aimed at helping B.C. communities make local arts and culture an important part of their upcoming milestone anniversary festivities.

The BC Arts Council, an independent agency of the Province of British Columbia, granted $54,700 to the Alberni Valley Museum and $13,184 to the Community Arts Council of the Alberni Valley. Both are local arts and cultural organizations in Port Alberni.

Quotes:

Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development -

"Celebrating local history and culture helps to strengthen community pride and identity. We will continue to work with local governments to help B.C. communities around our Province to be the best possible place for families to live and work. Congratulations and a very happy centennial to the City of Port Alberni."

John Douglas, Mayor of Port Alberni -

"The City of Port Alberni is very appreciative of the provincial government's support of and participation in our centennial celebrations. This grant from the Province will allow us to ensure that the entire community has an opportunity to be a part of our year-long centennial celebrations that will leave a lasting legacy highlighting all that Port Alberni has achieved.

"The City of Port Alberni prides itself on our rich heritage and culture that has so clearly shaped our past and present. The centennial is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the community's achievements and showcase the remarkable stories behind the people, organizations and businesses that make Port Alberni so special."

Quick Facts:

• The Province will maintain funding levels to arts and culture in 2012-13, spending more than $53 million on artists, arts and culture organizations.
• Government is also maintaining funding to arts and culture through the Community Gaming Grant Program. In 2012-13, the Province anticipates that $17.5 million will once again be distributed to the arts and culture sector.
• Since 2001, the provincial government has provided more than $2.6 billion in support of arts and culture in British Columbia, including the screen-based entertainment industry.

Learn More:

Check out the provincial government's role in supporting artists, arts and cultural organizations through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development at: http://www.gov.bc.ca/cscd

Contact:

Jeff Rud
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 953-3677