Thanks to funding from the BC Arts Council, the BC Touring Council is investing $170,000 in 26 arts groups through the Community Presenter Youth Engagement (CPYE) program.

These grants will help 26 recipients representing 25 different communities throughout the province.

The CPYE program offers grants for a range of activities that promote youth and family engagement in the arts. These include live performance, mentoring and collaboration, outreach and community engagement, and works by youth for youth. The touring council delivers this program with funding provided by the Government of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council.

Examples of grant recipients include:

• Chilliwack Arts and Cultural Society – Chilliwack $9,249
• Key City Theatre Society – Cranbrook $5,879
• Winding Rivers Arts and Performance Society – Ashcroft $7,833

Projects funded through the CPYE program will occur between July 2016 and June 2017.

For a full list of recipients, visit: https://www.bcartscouncil.ca/mediaroom/recipients.htm

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development –

“A strong arts and culture sector starts with our youth. By investing in activities that cultivate youth engagement in the arts, the BC Touring Council helps foster a lifelong love of the arts among our up-and-coming artists and audiences, growing B.C.’s creative economy. Congratulations to all the recipients.”

Merla Beckerman, chair, BC Arts Council –

“Increased funding from the Government of British Columbia allows the BC Arts Council to support programs that enhance youth engagement in the arts. Placing a stronger emphasis on our next generation of innovative artists is an important step in developing our creative economy and providing young British Columbians with opportunities for rewarding careers in this exciting sector.”

Joanna Maratta, executive director, BC Touring Council –

“This program offers a vital opportunity for small to large performing arts presenters to create, deliver and facilitate activities in their communities that include the direct participation of British Columbia youth. Young people will have the opportunity to experience artists presenting live dance, music and theatre in professional venues, benefit from innovative artistic and technical training, and take part in many mentoring and experience-based activities in professional cultural facilities.”

Quick Facts:

• Incorporated as a not-for-profit in 1976, the BC Touring Council exists for successful and sustainable touring and presenting of the performing arts in British Columbia. It provides professional development and online services to over 300 members, including presenters, artists, artistic companies and agents/managers.
• In partnership with the BC Arts Council, the BC Touring Council delivers the Community Presenters Assistance, Community Presenter Youth Engagement and Aspiring and Emerging Artists Touring and Training Initiative Programs.
• The B.C. government is spending more than $60 million on artists, arts and culture organizations in 2016-17, including about $17.5 million in community gaming grants.
• BC Arts Council is the Government of British Columbia’s key funding agency for arts and culture in the province. In 2016-17, it is providing $24 million through an independent peer-review process to help artists and cultural organizations flourish in communities throughout Brisish Columbia.
• In February 2016, the Province launched the three-year Creative Economy Strategy to help grow the creative sector. The strategy focuses on four key areas:
  • Leveraging talent and creative clusters.
  • Accessing new markets.
  • Maximizing investment.
  • Enriching communities.
• The United Nations has identified the creative economy as one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors for income generation, job creation and export earnings.
• With 24,800 artists, British Columbia has more artists per capita than any other province.

Learn More:

• BC Touring Council: http://bctouring.org/
• BC Arts Council: http://www.bcartscouncil.ca
• Creative Economy Strategy: http://www.gov.bc.ca/creativeeconomy