The First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) invites Aboriginal artists and arts organizations to submit proposals to the Aboriginal Arts Development Awards and Aboriginal Young Engaged in the Arts program by Oct. 31, 2016.

The FPCC delivers these programs with funding provided by the Government of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council.  

The Aboriginal Arts Development Awards strengthen First Nations and Aboriginal arts through four programs: Emerging Individual Artists, Organizations and Collectives, Arts Administrator Internships and Mentorships, and Sharing Traditional Arts Across Generations. The Aboriginal Youth Engaged in the Arts program supports youth participation in creative and artistic activity. The grants are open to both traditional and experimental forms.

In 2015-16, the FPCC distributed $877,000 to 77 projects, including:

• $100,475 awarded to 21 emerging individual artists.
• $247,145 to 14 organizations and collectives.
• $139,000 to five arts administrator internships.
• $203,380 awarded to 20 Sharing Traditional Arts Across Generations projects.
• $187,000 to 17 Aboriginal Youth Engaged in the Arts projects.

Funded projects represented all regions of the province and a range of artistic disciplines, such as visual arts, media arts, music, dance and writing. The projects include traditional methods of beading, basketry, weaving, steaming bent boxes, creating regalia, carving, spinning, flint knapping, drumming and storytelling.

FPCC has been delivering the Aboriginal Arts Development Awards through a partnership with the BC Arts Council since 1996. Support for the program has also been provided by the New Relationship Trust since 2009, and the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation since 2013.

For more information about the Aboriginal Arts Development Awards, visit: http://www.fpcc.ca/arts/Programs/

For a full list of 2015-16 recipients, visit: https://www.bcartscouncil.ca/mediaroom/recipients.htm

Quotes:

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

“The B.C. government values and honours the immense contribution that Aboriginal artists bring to our province’s identity and creative economy. The Aboriginal Arts Development Awards provide another opportunity for artists to further develop their craft while enriching their culture. Thank you to the First Peoples’ Cultural Council for nurturing Indigenous artists in B.C.”

John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation –

“The First Peoples’ Cultural Council does important work encouraging the growth and development of Aboriginal artists and the preservation of cultures that are fundamental to both the past and the future of British Columbia. I commend them for their innovative work and encourage all eligible artists and organizations to take advantage of this opportunity to demonstrate their skills and creativity.”

Merla Beckerman, chair, BC Arts Council –

“Artistic expression is deeply rooted in Aboriginal cultures. The BC Arts Council recognizes the importance of Aboriginal arts and the need to support and celebrate the rich history and present-day successes of these cultural expressions. By providing funding to the Aboriginal Arts Development Awards program, both traditional and contemporary Aboriginal arts practices can continue to grow and flourish, creating a positive effect in communities across British Columbia.”

Tracey Herbert, CEO, First Peoples’ Cultural Council –

“We are thrilled with the success of FPCC’s arts program, and thankful for ongoing support from our funding partners. As the First Peoples’ Cultural Council continues to grow the program, it’s exciting to see Indigenous arts practices flourish as artists revive traditional practices and knowledge.”

Elizabeth Williams, language co-ordinator & Wo'umxhl Simalgyex Daycare co-ordinator, Gitwangak Education Society –

“Multi-age learning is the basis of Gitksen teachings – adults, families and Chiefs teach the children and youth. The Aboriginal Arts Development Awards funding allows two communities to come together consistently to preserve traditional songs and dances. Our languages and culture are able to continue as we grow with these additional media and materials.”

Quick Facts:

• The First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) is a B.C. Crown corporation with the mandate to support First Nations in their efforts to revitalize their languages, arts, cultures and heritage.
• FPCC has distributed more than $40 million to Aboriginal communities in B.C. over the past 26 years.
• FPCC also provides funding to Indigenous communities in B.C. for their language and culture projects and monitors the status of B.C.’s Indigenous languages through the Report on the Status of B.C. First Nations Languages, produced every four years.
• 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 the Government of British Columbia is providing the BC Arts Council with $24 million to help artists and cultural organizations flourish in more than 200 communities throughout the province.
• Launched in February 2016, the Government of British Columbia’s three-year Creative Economy Strategy is supporting and growing the creative sector. This strategy focuses on four key areas:
  • Leveraging talent and creative clusters.
  • Accessing new markets.
  • Maximizing investment.
  • Enriching communities.

Learn More:

First Peoples’ Cultural Council: http://www.fpcc.ca/

BC Arts Council: http://www.bcartscouncil.ca

Creative Economy: http://www.gov.bc.ca/creativeeconomy