The BC Arts Council is distributing over $8.4 million to more than 300 artists and arts organizations representing 68 British Columbia communities.

This funding supports a range of artistic endeavours, such as community festivals, publishing, youth engagement and visual arts.

The awards are the result of applications examined through the BC Arts Council’s independent peer-review process between March 1 and May 31, 2016.

Highlights of the most recent funding include:

• Community festivals – 67 awards; $200,000
• Operating assistance – 80 awards; $5,540,600
• Publishing – 21 awards; $619,993
• Project assistance – seven awards; $45,000
• Visual arts  – 47 awards; $454,100
• Youth engagement – 79 awards; $1,477,000

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

“Arts and culture enrich our province in so many ways. The spectrum of activities invested in by the BC Arts Council raises our quality of life and helps grow B.C.’s creative economy. This round of grants supports individual artists, youth engagement programs, arts organizations of all sizes, publications, community festivals and more—all of which help drive the BC Jobs Plan and contribute to healthy and vibrant communities.”

Merla Beckerman, chair, BC Arts Council –

“From symphony orchestras to music festivals, from professional ballet to cutting-edge theatre, British Columbia’s dynamic arts and culture scene provides inspiration and enjoyment to residents throughout our province. Thanks to the dedication of our expert juries and an independent adjudication process, funding support can be provided to a wide variety of artists and arts organizations that are so vital in fostering both a healthy economy and delight in our day-to-day lives.”

Quick Facts:

• 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.
• In 2016-17, with funding provided by the Government of British Columbia, the BC Arts Council is providing $24 million to help artists and cultural organizations flourish in more than 200 communities throughout B.C.
• Since 2001, the BC Arts Council has distributed about $259 million to artists, arts groups and cultural organizations across British Columbia.
• The BC Arts Council draws upon the expertise of British Columbia’s arts and culture community to provide an independent peer-review adjudication process.
• 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, B.C. has more artists per capita than any other province.

Learn More:

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

For more information about the BC Arts Council, visit: http://www.bcartscouncil.ca

For more information about the Creative Economy Strategy, visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/creativeeconomy