Artists and cultural organizations, including community arts councils, will share $8.36 million in the latest round of BC Arts Council grants, funded by the B.C. government, Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Bill Bennett said today.

The funding comes from $16.8 million provided by the B.C. government to the BC Arts Council for fiscal year 2012-13. Approved grants will provide essential operating support for local museums and art galleries, as well as media arts organizations in many British Columbia communities. Council enlists input from B.C.'s arts community to evaluate grant applications through an independent peer review process.

For a list of all recipients included in the latest round of BC Arts Council grants, visit: http://www.bcartscouncil.ca/mediaroom/recipients.htm

B.C. government funding for the BC Arts Council in 2013-14 will reach a record high $24 million, including support for BC Creative Futures, a strategy to help British Columbia's creative industries continue to grow.

BC Creative Futures includes $6.25 million to foster a creative workforce by encouraging creativity among young British Columbians through increased engagement with the arts. The BC Arts Council administers six programs to benefit British Columbia's emerging creative leaders by providing:

• More student attendance at performances by professional artists.

• More artists, including Aboriginal artists, to share their work with students in the classroom.

• More after school arts activities.

• More scholarships for British Columbia's post-secondary students to study the arts at prestigious universities and institutions in B.C., across Canada and around the globe.

Quotes:

Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Bill Bennett -

"The BC Arts Council continues to provide outstanding service and support for arts and culture in our province. These newly approved grants illustrate how council's significant financial support from the B.C. government helps key local arts organizations contribute to the quality of life and economic vitality of communities throughout British Columbia."

BC Arts Council chair Stan Hamilton -

"I'm very proud of the BC Arts Council's strong commitment to deliver effective resources in a fair and timely manner on behalf of the B.C. government to help the province's talented artists and dynamic cultural organizations. I commend council's board, staff and supporters for working together with the arts community to ensure that arts and culture continue to develop and thrive in British Columbia."

Quick Facts:

• Established in 1995, the BC Arts Council serves as the B.C. government's key development and funding agency for the arts.

• Council consults with the arts and culture community to develop policies, programs and strategic priorities for the sector.

• Last year, council approved over 1,000 grants in more than 200 communities in every region of the province.

• Funding recipients represent British Columbia's amazing diversity of artists and cultural organizations in urban and rural communities.

• The latest round of approved grants represents council's largest single funding release ($8.36 million out of $16.8 million) during 2012-13.

• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested almost $210 million through the BC Arts Council to support British Columbia's artists, arts and cultural organizations.

• Since 2001, the B.C. government has provided more than $2.6 billion in support for arts and culture in British Columbia, including the screen-based entertainment industry.

Learn More:

For more information, visit the BC Arts Council's website at: http://www.bcartscouncil.ca

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

Learn about BC Creative Futures at: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/arts_culture/bccf.htm

Contact:

Matt Gordon
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 896-4923 (cell)