More than 300 artists and cultural organizations from 94 communities are benefiting from the latest round of BC Arts Council adjudications, which is awarding $7.5 million in grants.

In addition to more than $6 million in operating assistance, this funding supports a range of programs, such as creative writing, professional development and community projects.

These latest awards are the result of applications examined through the BC Arts Council’s independent peer-review process between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2016.

Highlights of the funding include:

• Community arts councils (operating) – 68 awards: $900,001
• Museums (operating) – 34 awards: $1,445,000
• Visual arts organizations (operating) – 32 awards: $2,013,000
• Arts service organizations (operating) – 18 awards: $715,000
• Creative writing – 49 awards: $440,000
• Professional projects – 37 awards: $365,250

Quotes:

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

“Congratulations to the many recipients of the latest round of BC Arts Council funding. Supporting arts service organizations and community arts councils, in particular, helps leverage our investment in B.C.’s creative economy in virtually every corner of British Columbia.”

Merla Beckerman, chair, BC Arts Council –

“This extensive round of awards demonstrates the diversity and breadth of financial support the BC Arts Council provides to arts councils, community projects and key arts and culture organizations across the province, as well as project and professional development funding for individual artists. This current announcement also includes the first round of approved enhanced capacity funding, which will help organizations build capacity and better respond to strategic priorities, challenges and opportunities.”

Quick Facts:

• The Government of British Columbia is investing approximately $60 million in arts and culture in 2017-18, including $24 million through the BC Arts Council and about $17.5 million through community gaming grants.
• Since 2001, the BC Arts Council has distributed about $283 million to the province’s arts and culture sector.
• Community arts councils, galleries, museums and individual artists are among the many different types of recipients benefiting from BC Arts Council funding 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
• 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: http://www.bcartscouncil.ca/mediaroom/recipients.htm

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

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